FAQ
Your Questions Answered
Hiring a travel advisor ensures a seamless, stress-free journey with expert guidance tailored to your preferences. With insider access, exclusive perks, and deep industry knowledge, they craft personalized itineraries that maximize your time and investment. From securing coveted reservations to handling unexpected disruptions, a travel advisor transforms your trip into a luxurious, worry-free experience—so you can simply relax and enjoy the adventure.
Absolutely! Your initial proposal is just the starting point—a curated foundation designed around your travel preferences. We’ll fine-tune the itinerary based on your feedback until it’s exactly what you envision. The more we collaborate, the better we can tailor future journeys to your unique style.
Email is our primary mode of communication during the planning phase, ensuring every detail is documented and easily referenced. I aim to respond within two business days. If you prefer a phone consultation, you may schedule a call on the CKM Travel calendar. While you’re traveling, we will remain accessible as much as possible. As time zones may make it difficult to answer immediately, you will often have our trusted local partners available to assist with any immediate needs. We will work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible and once you return home, We will review your experience so that we can continue to build upon it for your next trip. Â
Since our service is highly customized, the time and expertise invested in planning your trip are unique to you. If you decide to shift directions after significant progress has been made, a new planning fee will apply to accommodate the revised itinerary.
Since our service is highly customized, the time and expertise invested in planning your trip are unique to you. If you decide to shift directions after significant progress has been made, a new planning fee will apply to accommodate the revised itinerary.
All vacation packages are invoiced as a comprehensive experience, inclusive of every agreed-upon component. Many of our supplier contracts are confidential and do not allow for individual pricing breakdowns. Should you need to adjust your itinerary, we will provide an updated total trip cost.
At CKM Travel, we specialize in crafting personalized, unforgettable journeys tailored to your unique desires. Our planning fee reflects the time and expertise required to design the perfect trip, ensuring that every detail aligns with your vision.
The planning fee starts at $175 for domestic trips and $350 for international trips. This fee is necessary to begin the process of creating a customized itinerary for you. It includes the development of one initial proposal, along with up to three follow-up revisions. Your planning fee quote will be discussed after the initial consultation call based on the details and complexity of the trip.
Please note, this fee is separate from the cost of your trip and does not apply to your final travel expenses. The planning fee is collected after our initial discovery call, where we will discuss your expectations, preferences, and budget in detail.
We look forward to collaborating with you to create a seamless, extraordinary travel experience.
Our payment and cancellation policies are outlined in the Planning Fee Contract, which we’ll send to you after our initial consultation. For most of our comprehensive trips, the following payment schedule applies:
Deposit: 30%, due at the time of booking to confirm services
Final Payment: 70%, due typically 90 days prior to departure
Please note that for certain destinations, properties, or programs, payment terms may vary, and we will clearly outline any adjustments in your proposal. For hotel-only bookings, payment and cancellation terms will follow the specific policies of the hotel.
We can assist with booking your international flights, ensuring a seamless travel experience from start to finish. While we do not offer discounted Economy Class fares, we often have access to exclusive Business and First Class discounts, ranging anywhere from 1% to 15%. Let us check for the best available options to enhance your journey in comfort and style.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum of 6 months upon arrival in each foreign country you are visiting, and that all visas required for your trip have been obtained. It is also your responsibility to be aware of each countries’ entry and exit protocols. For further information relating to travel documentation (such as passports, visas, proof of health/vaccination certificates), health hazards, and other restrictions regarding travel to your domestic and/or international destination(s), and re-entry into the United States visit http://www.tsa.gov, http://www.dot.gov, http://www.cdc.gov, and http://www.cbp.gov on a regular basis.
Cancellation policies vary by supplier, and we always recommend comprehensive travel insurance to protect your investment. If you’re looking for a policy that includes Cancel for Any Reason coverage, let us know, and we’ll guide you through your options.
Why Travel Insurance Is Essential
In today’s travel landscape, comprehensive travel insurance is more important than ever. We strongly recommend that all our clients secure a policy that includes:
- Medical coverage while traveling – A minimum of $25,000 USD per traveler
- Emergency evacuation coverage – At least to the nearest adequate medical facility
- Trip cancellation protection – Covers cancellations due to medical reasons before departure
- Trip interruption benefits – Provides coverage for medical emergencies while traveling
Most insurance providers require you to purchase a policy within 14–21 days of your initial trip payment to ensure full coverage, particularly for pre-existing conditions. Please note that our planning fee does not count as an initial purchase, but if you have already booked international flights—whether with cash or points—the clock starts ticking from that date. If you’ve made any prior travel-related purchases, please inform us so we can better guide you.
As part of our service, we always provide a travel insurance quote for your convenience. However, it’s important to understand that fear of contracting COVID-19 is not a covered reason for cancellation. Additionally, border closures or airline cancellations due to pandemics or other global events are typically not covered by standard travel insurance policies. This is a common policy across all providers.
To ensure proper protection, we recommend budgeting approximately 3–5% of your total trip cost for travel insurance.
If you prefer to purchase insurance independently, do not assume your credit card provides sufficient coverage. Many credit card companies have reduced or eliminated their benefits, often limiting them to baggage loss or rental car coverage. If relying on your credit card, carefully review its policy to determine what is covered, whether you need to pay for the entire trip with the card, and any maximum coverage limits.
For personalized guidance on travel insurance options, feel free to reach out—we’re here to help ensure your journey is protected.
