Frequently Asked Questions
Custom travel arrangements for a stress-free vacation
Is By the Way Travel just another travel agency?
No way!
BTW Travel lets you choose how involved you want to be in your vacation planning. Whether you're just looking for itinerary ideas and want to book your vacation on your own, or whether you want BTW to organize and book your entire trip, I'm here to help.
Planning a successful trip takes a lot of time and attention to detail. There are flight schedules to analyze, hotels to research, activities to plan, and guided tours to coordinate. There are maps to study, restaurants to review, and packing lists to make. When you use the BTW Travel as your personal travel agent, all these time-consuming tasks are orchestrated for you; all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the anticipation of your pending vacation!
If all that sounds like a dream come true, then By the Way Travel is for you!
Who should use BTW Travel?
If you want a vacation that...
- Is well-thought out and organized
- Gives you the best of the touristy things to do, plus insider tips on hidden treasures many tourists miss
- Isn't overscheduled or rushed
- Provides you with detailed travel tips for your destination
...then By the Way Travel is for you!
What kind of services does BTW Travel provide?
BTW Travel can aide you in any or every aspect of your vacation. I can help you find and/or book your:
- Airfare
- Accomodations
- Tours
- Transportation
- Restaurant recommendations/reservations (including special dietary needs)
- Advance tickets to shows
- Museum/city passes
Can By the Way Travel assist those with special dietary needs?
Absolutely!
I am on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet myself, and have managed to travel to Italy on multiple occasions and still enjoy the culinary wonders there. If I can do it, so can you! And BTW Travel can help!
If you have special dietary needs, extra research will go into finding restaurants and menus that cater to your needs. No need to eat at the same place every day; I'll be sure to find a variety of places for you to choose from that provide local flair. There's no need to forego pasta in Italy or dessert in Paris — part of the fun of traveling is enjoying the cuisine!
What type of hotels or accommodations are provided in your itineraries?
All preset itineraries include small, boutique-style, smoke-free hotels or rental apartments that are known for their charm, cleanliness, and hospitality. Additionally, I look for places that are in safe neighborhoods and close to public transportation. In many cases, these hand-picked establishments are family-run, and aren't found on "big box" vacation package websites.
If I am working with you on a custom itinerary, I generally look for the same style of accommodations as my preset itineraries. If you have specific travel needs (such as being handicap accessible) or if you'd prefer a high-end luxury hotel, a low-budget motel or hostel, or a specific hotel chain, I'd be happy to find the perfect place for you to call your home-away-from-home.
Why do the preset itineraries leave on specific days? Can I leave on any day?
The preset itineraries leave on specific days to take advantage of local events, markets, and attractions that are only open on certain days of the week. You could leave for your vacation on any day, but you might miss out on some of the fun that the preset itinerary includes. If you're concerned about your vacation time matching up with the days in a preset itinerary, contact me, Jodi, and I'll make sure you get the best of your preset itinerary for your specific travel dates.
I have a group of (x number of) people. Can you organize a custom tour for us?
Absolutely! BTW Travel is more than happy to design a tour for any group of any size, whether you travel with a Travel Assistant or not.
Semi-escorted tours (with your own personal Travel Assistant to accompany you) need a minimum of 6 people.
You can choose to base your tour off one of the preset itineraries, or I can work with a destination you already have in mind, or I can give you suggestions for the perfect vacation spot for your group. By the Way Travel will work out all the tedious details including flight schedules, hotels, activities, and guided tours so your group can just sit back and relax.
What is a semi-escorted tour? What's the benefit of having a personal Travel Assistant?
What we DON'T DO: Escorted tours usually involve large buses with groups of people following a travel leader holding a flag on a stick. Schedules are tight and jam-packed, not allowing you much free time to explore on your own.
How we do our tours: BTW Travel's semi-escorted tours give you the benefits of a travel leader (called a personal Travel Assistant, or TA) to keep your group organized. Your customized tour will balance group activities along with a relaxed vacation schedule that gives everyone plenty of free time to see the things that interest them most.
What your TA will do:
Your TA will meet your group at the airport where she'll help guide everyone through the check-in process and get you smoothly through security. She's there to watch your bags while you run to the restroom or grab a cup of coffee, and she'll help you make your way through your destination airport and claim your luggage. At your destination, she's there to help you navigate the city, make reservations for dinner, keep you on schedule for guided tours, and take care of paying the hotel and private driver bills. And if any issues or problems arise with any of your vacation components (hotel, transportation, tours), she's there to take care of it.
What your TA will not do:
Your TA is there to assist the group, not hold your hand through the entire trip. The TA is not your personal tour guide. You are not required to stay with your TA at all times, nor is she going to accompany you everywhere.
Your Travel Assistant is there when you need her, and not when you don't. This is your vacation and your privacy is always respected. Your TA is just there to make sure everything runs smoothly and that you're having the best time ever!
I've tried calling the phone number on your site, but just get voicemail. Why?
BTW Travel is a hobby business for me, something I do just because I love it; which means, I have a regular day job, and can't always answer my phone. For the quickest replies, please e-mail me, Jodi Kuehn, at Jodi@BTWtravel.com. Otherwise, feel free to text message me at 612.865.2515. If you still want to talk to a live person, please call my number and leave a message; I'll call you back as soon as possible!
Europe in a weekend? Really?
You absolutely can go to Europe for a weekend! Most people are under the assumption that going to Europe is a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that is only achievable either once the kids are old enough to appreciate the trip, or when they retire and finally have time on their hands to take a long extended vacation. And most believe they must go to Europe for at least two weeks to get the most out of their trip. But when those people go to Europe, they often try to cram as much into their two weeks as possible, often not spending more than a couple of days in any one location anyway.
I organize my long-weekend vacations to maximize your time in each destination. Itineraries are full, but not crammed. You'll see the major sights and still have time to see what interests you most, whether it's museums, shopping, theater, or just lounging in a café. Don't try to see it all; rather, I'm of the mindset that it's best to see what you can while you can (none of us are getting any younger!), and you can always go back for more later! It's a European sampler — get a little taste, see what you like, and then decide where you want to spend more time on a longer European vacation.
Going to Europe for a weekend is an adventure, and you'll be sure to have some great stories to tell when you get home!
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