Joyce Johnson

I've traveled enough to know which hotels and partners actually deliver, and I'm careful about who I recommend. What that gets you is knowing someone is expecting you when you arrive at your destination, perks you can't book on your own, and the small things handled before you notice they need handling. There's a version of every trip that's better than the one you'd book yourself. That's the job.

What I like most is the conversation before the planning — finding out what someone is actually hoping their trip will be. This is usually where the really great trips happen. Sometimes it means finding a spot that isn't on the usual lists. Sometimes it's the right room at the right hotel, or building a trip around an anniversary so nothing feels rushed. Either way, I want it to feel personal and easy — like someone thought it through, because someone did.

On my first trip to Ireland, I was traveling with a friend, and it wasn't working. Halfway through, we agreed to split up and meet back at the airport for the flight home. I spent the rest of that trip improvising — rebooking, rerouting, figuring it out as I went — and it turned out to be the best part of the whole thing. It's also why I'm the person you want when a trip goes sideways. I've been there, and I know how to fix it. That trip changed how I travel. Every trip since has changed how I see things, and that's what I want for my clients.