Travel Planning Services | the Departure Luxury Travel Planning

Never Lift a Finger:

Relying on magazine top 10 lists that barely scrape the surface, or online review sites where 5-star ratings can go to the highest bidder … it’s hard to know what info you can trust these days.

When it comes to planning your next vacation, there is a better way.

Welcome to The Departure, your partner for truly one-of-a-kind travel. Let us show you how easy it is to embark on a dazzling journey full of wonder around every corner—when you trust your escape to the travel pros.

White-Glove Service & A-to-Z Planning from The Departure

Hooking You Up with the Best of the Best

Tour Moscow with an ex-spy. Go behind the gate at Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard up close. Trek through the thick jungles of Uganda as you track endangered gorillas through the mountain mist.

At The Departure, we not only send you to spectacular destinations—we make sure you make the most of your time once you get there. From Antarctica to Zanzibar, our encyclopedic global knowledge and our access to the best—and most exclusive—guides and tour companies gets you an immersive, unforgettable experience, all tailored to how you like to travel.

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Be Pampered with The Departure Amenities

The Departure is affiliated with the most luxurious properties and brands worldwide. Our industry relationships mean our clients get the VIP treatment wherever they go—and some extra special splurges when they check in! Depending on availability, you may receive:

Early check in/late check out
Complimentary breakfast
Spa or resort credits
In-room surprises and treats
Room upgrades

And of course, nothing is more pampering than personal service. Whether you have a quick question, a nagging concern, or a new idea for your itinerary, you can always count on your personal travel advisor to respond quickly and guide you to your best options.

Here’s what’s in store:

Countdown to Departure:

Complimentary Planning Session

To get to know you and your travel dreams, we’ll first connect on your complimentary planning session. Together we’ll chat about your destination options, budget, and your personal travel style.

STEP 1

We’ll Start Planning

Once you decide to work with The Departure and pay your planning fee, the fun starts! We’ll work with our vendors to curate a proposed one-of-a-kind itinerary.

STEP 2

Refine & Book

We’ll go over your proposed itinerary with you line by line, adjusting anything you’d like. Once we finalize your itinerary, simply sit back while we take care of the rest—booking your hotel, transfers, tours, and more.

STEP 3

The Departure (Yay!)

Take off for your trip with confidence. You’ll receive your detailed itinerary via handy mobile app, as well as your travel advisor’s personal number. Contact us at any time if an issue or question crops up—or if you want to send us a few pictures from your trip!

STEP 4

Our Planning Process

SCHEDULE a CONSULTATION CALL

Our Planning Fees

Our fees are as follows—and we’ll chat with you about which fee applies to your trip on your complimentary planning call:

Full-Service Travel Planning

Air Ticketing Fee

VIP Travel Membership

Hotel and/or Cruise Only—complimentary

Hotel Research

We design, book, and manage every travel component for you.

Fees are based on up to 4 travelers.
Additional planning fees may apply for larger groups, incentive trips and destination weddings.

$200 for Mexico/Caribbean/Hawaii
$350 for full trip planning, up to 9 days
$500 for full trip planning, for 10+ days

$45 per traveler

As part of The Departure's VIP inner circle, we’ll establish a more personal relationship that helps me uncover both your short- and long-term travel goals and focus in on the details that truly matter.

$2,500 for a year's worth of unlimited VIP service

Annual Benefits:

Unlimited travel planning for an entire year
Consultation calls periodically throughout the year
A little extra VIP touch for each of your stays
Unlimited custom itineraries

If you already know where you want to stay or sail, let me book it for you (at no additional fee). That way you get the VIP perks and Virtuoso Voyage benefits.

Need help narrowing down the perfect accommodation for your destination? I’ll send you the three best options given your preferences while keeping your budget in mind.

$100 for 3 hotels with multiple room options

Happy Travelers

-Cindy,
Destination: Maldives

MacKenzie was an absolute joy to work with. From the beginning she worked to pinpoint and prioritize all our vacation necessities. In addition to organizing and scheduling our activities she worked to provide feedback and additional information on making our honeymoon special. At every step she ensured we were informed and aware of any requirements. The trip was unforgettable and stress free. We would highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a great experience and seeking to do no planning. We will be using her in our future adventures.

-Caroline,
Destination: Hawaii

This was the second trip MacKenzie has planned for me and my husband. She was super flexible in dealing with our changing needs. When we found out we were pregnant, she made sure all the activities we planned in Hawaii were safe and allowed for pregnant participants. She even sent us a bottle of sparkling cider as we celebrated our vacation turned Babymoon. She always takes into consideration our budget and needs. I am always nervous booking travel in places I've never been before but each time we are in a great and safe spot with tons of fun things to do. I will always be using MacKenzie going forward for big trips.

- Gabrielle
Destination: Mexico

"MacKenzie was extremely helpful every step of the way of the way. We approached her with no plan of what we wanted to do & just a destination; she found us the perfect hotel, vineyards, excursions. We received exclusive benefits at the hotel for booking through MacKenzie that definitely heightened the experience of our stay. We’re already looking into our next adventure and can’t wait to take advantage of The Departure’s extensive resources!"

- Liana
Destination: Switzerland

MacKenzie was a huge help in organizing our dream honeymoon. From coordinating hard-to-book transfers to recommending one of the most delicious restaurants we have ever been to (and securing a fabulous table to boot!), she was a wonderful partner in travel. Thank you, MacKenzie!