The most common question we field at the start of an engagement is some version of: what does this actually cost? It is a fair question, and the answer should never be evasive. This note explains how Conine Coastal Travel charges, why, and what you are actually paying for.
Three streams, openly disclosed
Our compensation arrives through three streams. The first is a planning fee invoiced directly to the client at the start of an engagement. The second is supplier commissions paid by accommodations, transportation providers, tour operators, and cruise lines on bookings we place. The third is service markups on premium or exclusive arrangements where the supplier does not pay commission and the access itself is the product.
Every engagement letter we issue documents these three streams in writing. There is no opaque bundling, no hidden margin, no surprise fees at the end of the trip.
What the planning fee buys
The planning fee compensates for design work — discovery consultation, destination research, accommodation curation, experience selection, multi-leg routing, contingency planning, and the writing of the itinerary itself. A standard itinerary fee runs $500–$1,500. A complex multi-destination itinerary runs $1,500–$3,000. Extended journeys (three weeks or more, expedition cruises, multi-generation families) run $3,000–$5,000. Annual concierge retainers, for households planning multiple journeys per year, run $10,000–$25,000.
These are not arbitrary numbers. They reflect the hours that actually go into a journey. A single bespoke ten-day itinerary for a family of four can take 40 hours of advisor time before the client ever leaves home.
Why we have a $15,000 minimum trip value
Below $15,000, the unit economics of a custom itinerary do not work. The planning hours, the supplier coordination, the contingency planning, and the in-trip support cannot be delivered profitably at lower trip values. Rather than dilute the service, we hold the line and refer travelers below the threshold to other resources.
Exceptions exist for strategic relationships, referral partners, and Platinum loyalty clients. They are reviewed case by case and require director-level approval.
What you do not pay extra for
On-trip support, real-time itinerary adjustments, the post-trip review — these are part of the engagement, not add-on services. Clients who travel with us are not metering us by the call.
A note on transparency
If a travel advisor cannot tell you exactly how they are paid, in writing, before you sign anything, walk away. The industry has a long history of opacity, and the only durable defense is plain language.