Begin an inquiryInquire

How I can help

Anywhere in the world: book a hotel you've chosen, have me choose where you stay, or hand me the whole trip.

Hotel stays

Complimentary

You know exactly where you'd like to stay; I book it.

Best for four- and five-star stays, generally from $500 a night.

  • Privileges at partner hotels
  • A bookable quote, ready in one step
  • The hotel knows who's arriving
  • A check-in after your stay

Hotel only: flights and transfers aren't included. Already booked? Send me the confirmation and I'll ask whether it can move to me.

Every step
  1. Send me the details through the inquiry form, or by text or email if you're already a client: the hotel, dates, room and anything I should know.
  2. Most of the time you'll receive a bookable quote with the rate, the room and the privileges, ready to book in one step. Otherwise I'll confirm the details with you and book it myself.
  3. You'll receive your confirmation, the cancellation policy and the privileges of booking through me.
  4. The hotel hears from me before you arrive.
  5. After your stay, I'll check in to hear how it was.

Choosing the stay

$350

You have an idea, or a feeling, and you'd like me to choose.

Best when you know roughly where, or how you'd like it to feel.

  • If you're choosing between a few places, my recommendation on where to go
  • One or two stops, with two or three places to stay for each
  • A proposal within five business days, with my reasons, and one round of changes
  • A few tables and things to do nearby, with links to book tours yourself
  • Booked, and the hotel knows who's arriving

Private aviation on request. Commercial flights case by case. When you book a tour through my link, I may earn a small commission.

Every step
  1. Send me the details through the inquiry form, or by text or email if you're already a client.
  2. A short call about your interests, likes and dislikes, budget and who's traveling.
  3. A recap by email: what I heard, the planning fee invoice and my terms to sign.
  4. Once both are back, I begin. Within five business days you'll have a proposal: if you're still deciding where to go, my recommendation first, then two or three places to stay for each stop, with my reasoning.
  5. One round of changes, then you choose, and I book.
  6. My recommendations for the tables and things to do in each place, with links to book tours yourself.
  7. The hotel hears from me before you arrive.
  8. After you're home, I'll check in for your thoughts.

Custom journeys

From $750

The whole trip, planned around you and everyone you travel with.

Best for trips of five nights or more.

  • Where you stay: a hotel, or a private villa or home for everyone
  • How you get there, including international flights and private aviation
  • Tables, guides, private access and the days in between
  • Two rounds of refining the plan
  • An itinerary book, and someone to reach while you're away

One flat planning fee, quoted after our first conversation. Get in touch three to six months ahead where you can; trips leaving within 60 days carry a rush fee.

Every step
  1. Send an inquiry.
  2. One full conversation, about an hour, with you and ideally everyone traveling: who you are, how you like to travel, what this trip is for, dates and budget.
  3. A recap by email: what I heard, a flat-fee quote, the invoice and my terms to sign.
  4. Once both are back, I begin, and bring in my contacts on the ground where the trip needs them.
  5. For trips with more than one destination, a short outline first: the route, the places and the pace, for you to agree before I build the detail.
  6. The full proposal: day by day, with the reasoning behind each choice.
  7. Two rounds of refining.
  8. Everything booked and confirmed, and every hotel and partner told who's coming and what matters to you.
  9. Before you leave: your itinerary book and a pre-departure letter.
  10. While you're away, I'm reachable, or one of my colleagues on the ground is there to make sure everything runs smoothly.
  11. After you're home, we'll talk about what stayed with you.
Begin an inquiryOne form for all of them. About five minutes.
A scallop served in its shell with crisp ham, herb oil and sea salt
The table matters as much as the room.
How it works

The same four steps, whichever way you start.

  1. 1InquireA few questions about where, when and who. About five minutes.
  2. 2A conversationYour rhythms and rituals, how you like to travel, and what this trip is for.
  3. 3Your proposalWhere to stay, and why each choice suits you.
  4. 4Looked afterEverything booked and confirmed, and someone to reach while you're away.

And also

The Uffizi courtyard looking toward the Palazzo Vecchio
The Uffizi, Florence.

Groups & celebrations

A retreat, an offsite, a wedding, a milestone birthday, a family across generations. Hosting a retreat of your own? If you haven't found the place yet, I'll find the house or hotel that suits it, for yoga, writing or creative retreats, or a leadership offsite. A block of rooms you've chosen is complimentary. Finding the place, and planning the days if you'd like that too, are quoted for the group after a conversation, so the host gets to be a guest.

No planning fee

No planning fee for private aviation, yacht charters, or tickets to concerts and sport. The partner pays me, so there's nothing extra for you.

Something else in mind?

If what you're planning doesn't fit here, begin an inquiry and we'll talk. I'm always open to ideas, and to collaborations.

Travel with me

Small groups, by invitation, to places I know well. Nothing is scheduled yet; join the list to hear first.

Questions

All questions
How do you get paid?

Hotels and partners pay me a commission when you book through me. Your rate is the same as booking direct, almost without exception, and if booking direct ever suits you better, I'll say so. Planning fees pay for my time designing a trip and are separate from commission.

What is Fora, and what does it mean for me?

Fora is a travel agency with a network of independent advisors, and Ortus Loci is one of them. For you, it means access. Fora belongs to the preferred partner programs of hotel groups and collections including Four Seasons, Rosewood, Belmond, Oetker Collection, Aman, Auberge, Mandarin Oriental, Rocco Forte, Dorchester Collection, The Peninsula and Relais & Châteaux, along with its own partnerships with luxury hotels and resorts around the world. Fora is also a member agency of Virtuoso, so at participating Virtuoso hotels a stay booked through me can include Virtuoso's amenities as well. A stay booked through me often comes with privileges, such as breakfast, a hotel credit, and an upgrade or early check-in when available, usually at the same rate as booking direct. The hotel knows you're coming through a partner it values, and it hears from me before you arrive. Behind every trip is Fora's support team and a community of advisors comparing notes on places they've seen firsthand. How I plan, and what I recommend, is my own.

When should I get in touch?

As early as you can. The most special hotels book up far ahead, so even if your trip is a year or more away, let's talk now and plan the timing so you get the hotel you've been dreaming of. For a hotel booking alone, any time is fine, last minute included. I'll do everything I can to get you what you want.

Are planning fees refundable?

No. The fee pays for time and work, so it isn't refundable once paid, even if your plans change or the trip doesn't go ahead.