What Separates Fairytale Journeys by Bethany from other leading Travel Consulting Agencies?
Our mission is Family Travel Worry Free! And this is what we do for every single family we assist. This is probably the single greatest thing that separates us from other leading Travel Consulting Agency’s...We are small and proud of it! We have no intention of being big.
Being small gives us many luxuries that benefit the client. For one we are able to custom design every single itinerary for our clients. Clients come to us interested in traveling and we design their itinerary...NOT the other way around, which is how the bigger Travel Agencies work with about 80% of there clients. This is how we separate ourselves from other Agencies, we work with you and for you. Your trip is about you, not making our quotas and deadlines. Your trips are created just for you and you will never feel like just another number in our booking process.
Is there any one particular request from a client that is especially memorable? If so, were you able to accommodate them?
We have clients with special requests all the time! We love to make each trip magical and memorable weather it is your first trip or hundredth! Birthdays, anniversary, graduations we make sure each one is celebrated accordingly! We love to surprise each client even if this trip is not 'special' in there eyes, it is special to us!
What kind of resources do you have available to clients?
Resources for our clients begin from the moment they call us. First, we schedule a consultation to discuss their travel patterns, tastes and needs. At that time, they are able to ask us all the questions they have. We will work on the itinerary until the client is satisfied. Once they book, we send them very helpful pre-travel information.
We want to make sure they are prepared for their journey and realize that there will be lots of questions and possibly some anxiety. We send them a long document that contains the most frequently asked questions and their answers...but we deliver this information again, in small doses, as we get much closer to their travel date. Beginning eight weeks prior to travel, our clients receive weekly e-mails, only about 1-page in length, discussing pertinent travel information to help them prepare for their trip!
I have saved the best for last! The team! Besides being a huge wealth of knowledge we are here for you every day 24/7 while you travel so there is no need to worry should a situation arise or answer any questions you may have. We are also available to answer any questions pre and post travel. We are here to assist you!
Where does your passion for Family Travel stem from?
I was brought up in a large family. We did not have many vacations but when we did we were all together and it was some of the best times and memories I have ever made. I wanted to be able to share these feelings with other busy family’s and show them that a family vacation is not something to stress over and dread.
I now have my own family and I want to be able so share my love for travel with my daughter! I have spend countless hours studying and perfecting vacations for my clients as well as myself. I enjoy learning and teaching other family’s about the amazing destinations this world has to offer! Spending quality time with family is so important and I want to share that feeling with every family.
Do you think it takes a special kind of person to want to travel with extended family? Generally speaking, what demographic do your clients fall into?
I actually think it takes a special kind of person to NOT want to travel with Family- but they just done know what there missing! I have always enjoyed traveling with my family, immediate and extended. In general the media and other tend to make us feel that vacations are time to get away and leave the stresses behind. I find that frightfully sad! Vacations are a time to spend with your family’s and make memories that will last forever! What most people dont realize is the huge varity in travel experiences that are available, every member of the family can enjoy the trip and make these memories without any fighting and still leaving the stresses and doldrums of everyday life.
Generally speaking, our clients are either busy Parents with activity filled and stress laden lives or Grandparents who don't get to spend enough time with there grandchildren and children and need to reconnect.
Can you describe the process of planning a custom-tailored itinerary?
We receive an inquiry by phone, e-mail or from our website and the guest books a custom 30 minute discovery call for a $40 fee.
We send a questionnaire to the client which gives us a picture of what “does it” for them in terms of travel. We want to know where they have travel in the past, there favorite travel memories, resorts and destinations. We want to know what is the motivation for this vacation. This will help us shape their itinerary.
The questionnaire needs to be completed by the time of our call. We go into further detail about what they are looking for.
We then begin preparing an itinerary and within a few days, we send a quote with a few options. The Client will then book a 60-90 minute Planning session with us for $125, this also includes our planning and booking fee.
We revise the itinerary based upon feedback from the client during the call.
When the client is fully satisfied, we confirm the itinerary by taking a 25% deposit (When applicable some trips require more)
We send a Welcome E-mail to the client which introduces Fairytale Journeys by Bethany – so they know when to expect to hear from us again. At this point we recommend booking a package of four 15-20 minute followup calls.
One day after confirmation, we send an email containing our Frequently Asked Questions, with their answers. This covers the most popular questions like required vaccinations, visa and passport requirements, to the less popular, but still pertinent questions like how to get a cell phone and a list of reading recommendations.
At 45 Days ( Sometimes up to 90 for certain vacations) prior to travel, we process the final payment
Once we have received final payment, we prepare and send a full set of travel documents that contains their itinerary, contact details to leave behind with loved ones, brochures for the properties where they are staying, details of their tours, restaurant recommendations (and reservation info if applicable) and lots of other pertinent information.
Beginning about 8 weeks prior to travel, we send a weekly e-mail (about 1 page in length) hat contains the information from the FAQ, but split up in to small doses at a time. (These can then be printed out and added to the custom binder previously sent)
A week before the client departs, we send an e-mail wishing bon voyage and offering to answer any more questions.
A week after the client returns home we call to discuss the journey and find out the good, the bad and the ugly! We also send a feedback email for the client to fill out so we can further learn what our clients need and want out of our travel knowledge!
What seems to be the most popular family destination?
For a vacation that is state side, that would be without a question Walt Disney World. If we are talking international vacations it would be a tie between Cancun and A Caribbean Cruise.
Are there any special safety precautions that must be taken before traveling as a family?
Our clients are usually so surprised at how safe it is to travel with a family, after all they hear and learn from the media. Just like you wouldn't send a foreigner to the projects in Harlem or the south side of Chicago, we take similar precautions. We plan our itinerary with family’s in mind and your vacation will demonstrate that. We really hold our family’s hands the entire way so there’s no need to worry. As always, we recommend the same safety tips to every traveler – don't carry excess cash if you don’t need it, lock up your passport in a safe if there is one, don't wear excessive jewelry if it’s not needed, etc.
How much can one expect to pay for a memorable family vacation?
This totally depends on the length of travel and the destinations. On average most family vacations start at $5,000 and can go up from there! There really is no limit. This is just an estimation as every family is different and we work with every family individually.
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I encourage you to put traveling with your family at the top of your travel priority list (if you haven’t already done so) You will be so happy to have spent the time with your children when they are older. They are only young once! You potentially only have 18 vacations to spend with them when they are children, why not make the most of it? Vacation memories will last a lifetime for them and for you!