FAQ
Why should I work with monarch instead of making my own reservation?
Think about it this way – when has knowing the right people NOT sweetened the deal? Travel is no exception. Working with a travel team can be the most cost-effective way to ensure you get maximum value for your money.
Our network has established business relationships with over 3,000 suppliers across the world (probably the same ones you’re already thinking about booking with directly), granting us access to exclusive rates and concessions not available elsewhere. You can take advantage of complimentary nights, breakfast, resort credits, late check-in and check-out when booking through us – something many online travel agencies (OTAs) cannot offer.
We’ve also partnered with multiple B2B-only networks, gives us a larger depth of insider knowledge then you’ll find elsewhere. We have the reach and leverage to craft an unforgettable vacation experience, tailored specifically to your needs and interests, even if (maybe especially if) you want to go off the ‘beaten paths’ of other travelers.
Lastly, it comes down to time – we all only have so many hours in the day. Our team of curators is dedicated to working together to design & execute luxurious experiences for travelers everyday, so we have the bandwidth to monitor more informational channels than one person ever could. We stay on top of travel advisories, weather forecasts, trends and more – to make sure you’re prepared to enjoy your time away before you ever leave your house.
Is working with monarch cheaper than booking online?
First, lets clear something up – our clients have access to some of our most popular services at no charge. We have the credentials recognized by all major hotels, resorts, guides, rental car companies, and more to get paid through commissions from them directly. Instead of them marketing to you through commercials and billboards, they provide our team with education on their offerings to ‘matchmake’ them with travelers that will truly enjoy their services or accommodations. It’s truly a mutually beneficial relationship to ensure happy travelers every time.
That being said, most everything we book is at the same price you’d pay to book direct with your provider but usually with some added ‘benefits’ – like a room upgrade, complimentary breakfast for two, and a $100-$200 property credit towards dining or spa treatments. Now we’d be lying if we said we didn’t get free nights for our clients here and there too. As a matter of fact, even if you’ve ALREADY booked your reservation directly, we can usually still arrange the same perks to be added at no cost if you add our team to your reservation before you check-in – just by one of our curators shooting an email over to your hotelier’s reservations team.
Finally, to clear the air – we are not a bargain dealer. If you’re used to the discounts on sites like Expedia, and while we have access to those too – we will probably never be cheaper than they will. Because we book direct with the hotels and manage your travel with them personally, you’ll receive the red carpet treatment from our team and theirs – but we can’t put the vendors ‘in the red’ and provide that aligned VIP service at the same time.
For more information on our services and pricing, including our complimentary concierge services, check out our service menu here.
I normally just book through my credit card rewards portal, is that the same thing?
We love using travel rewards too! When booking through a major credit card provider’s portal though, it’s essentially a co-branded Expedia with perks added instead of discounts. You’ll probably notice different room availability than the hotel site, because they have pre-negotiated rates based on the contracts between companies. You’re essentially working through your credit card company, to work through another large third-party company, to work through the hotel or resort for discounted rates – and if something goes wrong with your reservation, there internet is full of horror stories of finger pointing between 1-800#’s that goes on for months and you can end up paying for their mistakes out of pocket. While credit card rewards portals are great for using your points, we don’t recommend purchasing your out-of-pocket vacations through them.
Alternatively, we are happy to help you strategize ways to leverage rewards and loyalty programs to make the most of your travels with us. We have access to the Chase and Amex rewards ecosystems to help you navigate which cards will earn the most points on any trip you book with us, since those benefits can also stack with the perks offered by providers for our client’s reservations. We also include a our signature concierge service with all accommodations booked through us, and that can be used for strategizing Amex or Ultimate Rewards points redemption towards airfare – which is often the best redemption rate for those ecosystems anyway.
Can I use my hotel or airline rewards membership if I book with you?
Yes! We encourage leveraging loyalty programs wherever possible and are more than happy to help you establish or leverage loyalty programs. While most Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) are wholesale rates and can void rewards eligibility, our direct relationships are typically compatible to stack with consumer reward programs. Let us know if you are considering leveraging a reward program so we can make sure to note that as a priority for your planning and make recommendations accordingly.
Who is Virtuoso and why do I keep hearing about them?
Virtuoso is the travel industry’s leading luxury netwrok, spanning over 26 countries and over 2,000 travel supplier brands globally. Virtuoso partners with hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and travel agencies to provide the benefits of working relationships to advisors (like us!) and their travelers. You become a preferred guest of these establishments when you book with one of our advisors, with benefits such as preferred rates, extra amenities, and personalized service.
NOTE: As excited as we are about our partnership with Virtuoso, and all of our other partners, even if your favorite location or company isn’t a member – we can & do still book trips with them. We can book with literally ANYONE, anywhere. Our partners & affiliates provide our members with extra perks through our relationship with them, but the we aren’t limited to them.
What is the process for working with a travel advisor?
For our full process, check out this page – but in short:
We specialize in personalized vacations tailored to our clients, so the first step is getting to know you and what your travel goals are. We have a quick online form to get started and then we request a consultation call to review your responses and ask follow-up questions, or we have a full-length form if you already have already started planning and want to skip straight to a draft itinerary from us.
Once we receive your vacation information from the forms, we will be in touch within 24 hours to schedule your consultation with an advisor or give you an ETA on your draft itineraries. We do strongly recommend a phone consultation with all new clients but do not require it when the full-length form is completed and you’re responsive to follow-up questions via email or text.
Our same itineraries come to you as a proposal, and you can then tell us what you want to keep and what you want to change. We go through a revision process and once you’re happy with the full proposal, we book the reservations for you and reach out to the appropriate vendors to let them know your relative plans as well. We will be available to answer any additional questions leading up to your departure, support you through your trip if anything comes up, and confirm that you’ve arrived home safely after.
More questions? Ask away!
We try to respond within 24 hours or less.
