Questions worth asking.
Everything you need to know before we start planning your trip.
WORKING WITH US
-
Because the internet has no taste. You can spend hours cross-referencing reviews, chasing deals across a dozen tabs, and still end up somewhere that looked better in photos. A good travel advisor brings expertise, a curated network of properties and suppliers, and the kind of diligence that comes from doing this properly — not just clicking around. We know what actually delivers. We have relationships that get things done. And we care about your trip in a way that an algorithm never will.
-
It starts with a short introductory call — a chance to learn about the trip you have in mind, your travel style, budget, and group size. From there, we get to work: research, bookings, and logistics, all handled. You review the itinerary, we make any adjustments, and you show up. That's it.
-
Hotel sourcing and booking, day-by-day itinerary planning, dining and activity reservations, transfers and ground logistics, and on-trip support. For flights, we provide research and recommendations, but the actual booking is client-executed, which keeps you in control of your frequent flyer points and preferred seating.
-
Two ways. First, a planning fee: The Essentials at a $500 base, The Works at 15% of your total trip cost. Second, we earn commissions from hotels and certain suppliers when we make bookings on your behalf. This is standard industry practice and doesn't affect what you pay. The rate you'd see booking on your own is the same rate you get through us, sometimes better. The planning fee exists so our recommendations are always driven by what's right for your trip.
-
You can try — but the real cost of planning a trip yourself is time. Finding the right hotel takes research. Finding the right room at the right rate at the right property takes significantly more. Then there's the dining reservations, the activity bookings, the logistics, the what-ifs. It adds up fast. Through our Fora Travel affiliation, we also have access to exclusive rates, upgrades, and perks unavailable when booking on your own.
THE TRIP
-
Honeymoons, group travel, milestone celebrations, corporate travel, corporate retreats, and leisure travel for busy professionals. Domestic and international. We don't specialize in one destination — we specialize in planning trips that are worth taking.
-
That's half of what we do. Tell us who's traveling, what kind of experience you're looking for, your budget, and your timeline, and we'll come back with recommendations. You don't need to have a destination in mind to get started.
-
Always. Travel insurance is one of those things you hope you never need — and are very glad to have when you do. We can point you in the right direction when the time comes.
-
For The Works clients, trip monitoring is part of the service. We're your first call if anything needs to move while you're traveling. Our Fora Travel affiliation also means we have relationships with hotels and suppliers that can help resolve issues quickly. And we always recommend travel insurance, which covers the things that fall outside anyone's control.
FEES & PAYMENTS
-
Yes. The Essentials is a $500 base fee: destination research, hotel booking, and a clean itinerary for a straightforward trip. The Works is priced at 15% of your total trip cost, with a minimum fee of $2,500. It covers everything: hour-by-hour itinerary, all bookings, full logistics, dining reservations, and unlimited revisions. The fee scales naturally with your trip — the more involved the journey, the more work it takes to plan it properly.
-
For The Essentials, the fee is split in two — half upfront before we begin, half when your itinerary is delivered. For The Works, a $1,500 deposit is due when you engage — this locks in your spot and is applied toward your final fee. The balance (15% of total trip cost, less the deposit) is due upon delivery of your final itinerary.
-
Life happens — we get it. If you cancel before we've started any research, we'll refund your deposit in full. If we've already dug in but haven't made any bookings yet, we'll refund half of the deposit. Once bookings have been made, the planning fee isn't refundable — at that point, most of the work is done. Either way, any refunds from airlines or hotels go back to you based on their own policies, separate from ours. You can send us a cancel request at cancellations@themondelist.com.
-
Rush planning fees are non-refundable. Rush applies when planning is requested with a 48-hour turnaround or when travel is within 2 weeks of the planning request.
TRIPBOOK
-
Tripbook is our library of downloadable trip itineraries and destination guides — each one built from a real trip, thoroughly researched, with honest recommendations. Browse by destination and purchase. You'll receive a link to your download by email.
-
A trip itinerary is a specific, executable plan — a day-by-day guide built around a real trip, with recommendations for how to spend your time, where to stay, and what not to miss. A destination guide is a comprehensive reference for a place — neighborhoods, what it's known for, where to eat and stay, practical tips, and everything you'd need to make your own decisions confidently. Both are downloadable digital products.
-
Trip itineraries are $75. Destination guides are $150. Both are one-time purchases — download once, keep forever.
-
A downloadable PDF you can use immediately. The research is done and the recommendations are made — you take it from there and plan your trip on your own terms.
-
Yes — if you want expert guidance on how to make a Tripbook product work for your specific trip, you can add a one-hour consult call for $250. It's a direct conversation with a travel advisor, available at checkout or after purchase.
-
No — the consult is paired with a Tripbook purchase only. If you're looking for full trip planning with everything handled, that's what The Essentials and The Works services are for.
-
Browse the Tripbook page, find the trip or guide you want, and purchase directly. Your download will be sent to you by email after payment.
INVITED
-
Invited is a series of small, curated group travel experiences designed around a considered, well-paced way of exploring a place. Each trip is hosted, limited to up to 8 guests, and built around neighborhoods, food, and atmosphere — balancing structured moments with time to explore independently. The goal isn't to see everything. It's to experience the right things, in the right way.
-
The first two Invited experiences are both in Mexico City — Volume I in October 2026 and Volume II in February 2027. Future destinations will be announced as they're confirmed.
-
Mexico City: Volume I is $4,400 per person. Volume II is $4,800 per person. Both include five nights in a boutique hotel, airport transfers, curated dining experiences, activities, and on-the-ground hosting. Flights, meals outside of curated experiences, and personal expenses are not included. A shared room option is available at a reduced rate for guests booking together.
-
Each Invited experience has an application process — spots are limited and reviewed to ensure the trip is the right fit for both you and the group. You can apply on the Invited page for the trip you want — all upcoming destinations are listed there.
-
Invited is a small group experience. The dynamic of the group matters as much as the itinerary. Applications help ensure that everyone who joins is genuinely aligned with the pace, tone, and structure of the experience.
-
If your application isn't a match for a particular trip, we'll let you know. Future Invited experiences may be a better fit depending on destination and timing.
-
A $1,000 deposit is required to secure your spot upon acceptance. The remaining balance is due 90 days before departure.
-
Deposits are fully refundable up to 120 days before departure. If you book within 120 days of departure, your deposit is refundable within 7 days from payment. After either of these windows, the deposit becomes nonrefundable. The final balance, due 90 days before departure, is nonrefundable. If you're unable to attend after the refund deadline, your spot may be transferred to another guest if a suitable replacement is found. We strongly recommend travel insurance to cover cancellation for reasons outside your control.
-
Yes — indicate on the application that you're traveling with another person. If you'd like a shared room, both guests must apply and book together. Shared accommodations are only available for guests booking together.
CORPORATE TRAVEL
-
Yes, and it's a different kind of service. For businesses, we offer managed travel on a monthly retainer: one point of contact, all bookings handled, and someone to deal with the inevitable last-minute changes so your team doesn't have to.
-
Hotel sourcing and booking, ground logistics, transfers, day-by-day itinerary coordination, and on-trip support. Flight booking isn't included at this time — we recommend using your preferred booking tool or corporate card for flights so your team keeps their points and miles. Everything else, we handle. Corporate retreats are also available on a custom quote basis.
-
It depends on team size and travel volume. Solo travelers and executives start at $600–750 per trip, or $1,500–3,500/month on a retainer. Small teams of 2–12 travelers run $4,000–12,000/month. Companies with over 12 travelers are priced on a custom quote. Get in touch and we'll put together something that fits how your team actually travels.
-
Yes. If you have a travel policy — spend limits, preferred hotel chains, approval requirements — we work within it. If you don't have one yet, we can help you set one up as part of getting started.
-
Probably more so than for a large one. Big companies have dedicated travel managers. Small teams are usually booking their own trips between meetings, which costs more in time than it saves in fees. If your team travels more than a few times a month, managed travel pays for itself quickly.
-
Corporate travel management runs on a monthly retainer, billed in advance on the same date each month. We require a three-month minimum commitment to start — it takes a little time to set up traveler profiles, learn how your team works, and get everything running smoothly. After that, either party can cancel with 30 days written notice. Full terms are in our Terms and Conditions.
-
Get in touch and tell us roughly how many people travel, how often, and where. We'll come back with a straightforward proposal — no lengthy RFP process, no obligation.
THE MONDELIST SHOP
-
All items in The Mondelist Shop are made to order and ship within 2–3 weeks of purchase. We currently ship within the United States only.
-
All sales are final. We don't accept returns or exchanges for sizing or change of mind — please consult the size guide before ordering. If your item arrives damaged or defective, contact us at shop@themondelist.com within 30 days of delivery with your order number and photos of the issue and we'll make it right.
-
Contact us at shop@themondelist.com within 30 days of delivery with your order number and photos of the issue. We'll review and offer either a full refund or a replacement.