When it comes to planning your next trip, the internet will give you thousands of options — but a luxury travel concierge can give you something far more valuable: certainty. Not just that your hotel is the right fit or that you’ll get the best table in the city, but that every moment will be memorable for the right reasons.
Unlike traditional agents who curate itineraries from afar, an experienced lifestyle concierge like Erica Jackowitz doesn’t just book the trip — she lives it first. “We don’t curate travel, we live it,” she says. “Lived-in experiences drive the narrative — the things I’ve required, the things I’ve asked for, and the different ways I ask for them lead to the most special experiences I can offer my clients.”
From finding hidden moments no blog will tell you about to orchestrating events that seem impossible to arrange, here are 10 things we as travel concierges know that you (probably) don’t — yet.
1. We Don’t Just Curate Trips — We Live Them
A luxury travel concierge doesn’t rely on secondhand information. We physically visit destinations, test experiences, and stay at properties before recommending them. This approach ensures their travel planning tips come from real-world trial, not online reviews. “Those moments that a camera can’t capture — the ones that make you put it down — are the ones you feel the most. For me, that’s what discovery and exploration are about,” says Jackowitz.
2. We Find Magic Beyond the Internet
A search engine can tell you the most popular attractions. A concierge can tell you what will move you. Jackowitz recalls, “I befriended a local in Maine who told me to hike Cadillac Mountain at 2 am and watch the first sunrise on the Eastern Seaboard. It was one of the most magical moments I’ve lived through — the kind that makes the whole world stop.”
It’s about relationships — and the ability to ask locals the right questions — that opens the door to truly exclusive travel experiences.
3. We Perfect the Details Others Overlook
Sometimes the smallest touches have the biggest impact. “It should come with the tennis court reservation that no one wants to take home red clay sneakers — who wouldn’t want them white again? Throw them in the washing machine; it costs nothing, but it changes the experience,” Jackowitz says.
These details don’t just improve comfort — they create a seamless sense of care and luxury that guests remember long after they’ve unpacked.
4. We Compare Across the Best — Not Just Pick One
Most travelers book based on one glowing recommendation. But Jackowitz insists that exclusive travel planning requires context: “If someone says this is the best resort in the Maldives, have they been to all the other private islands? You can’t just hop between them. We create a comparative index by experiencing everything so we know what should be and what shouldn’t.”
That comparative index is what makes their advice worth its weight in gold.
5. We Make Ordinary Feel Exclusive
Even ordinary activities can become special if timed right. “When you’re surrounded by tourists, it doesn’t feel special. I might tell a client to hike at 7:30 am instead of 10 — at 10 you’re on the trail with a hundred others, but at 7:30 you might have the ridge to yourself.”
This kind of timing isn’t luck — it’s part of a concierge’s travel planning tips that help you avoid crowds and maximize moments.
6. We Tailor Experiences You Didn’t Know Were Possible
Some exclusive travel experiences sound like movie scenes because they’re designed that way. “I’ve arranged lunch on a hidden corner of the Great Wall of China, complete with white tablecloths, champagne, and service,” Jackowitz says. “If someone visits the Colosseum in Rome, how do I privatize it and let their kids fight like gladiators in costume? You have to know what’s inside the box before you can think outside it.”
7. We Cut Through the Instagram Illusion
Social media can be deceiving. A photo-perfect beach club might have hidden drawbacks. “Instagram might show you a beach club as a dream, but maybe the chairs are on rocks and the waiters don’t care you’re there. For some people, that’s awful — they’d rather just go for lunch. That’s the ‘real feel’ you only get from being there,” says Jackowitz.
A concierge will save you from spending precious vacation days on overrated spots.
8. We Have Travel Hacks You’ll Actually Use
Jackowitz’s travel planning tips include hacks that make a big difference:
“Plane picnics always. I never eat airline food — except Emirates’ caviar service in first class. I eat in the lounge so I can go straight to sleep when the plane takes off and get a full night’s rest."
"When I check out of a hotel, I order a chicken club to-go the night before. It travels well, and I keep the soggy ingredients on the side."
"On an overnight flight, I immediately change into pajamas. It keeps my outfit fresh and I feel clean when I land, even if I’m heading straight to lunch or a boat."
These hacks combine comfort, efficiency, and a touch of luxury.
9. We Create Lasting Family Traditions
Some advice is about more than the trip — it’s about memories. “If you’re traveling with kids, start a travel journal. They may fight you on it, but they’ll cherish reading it later in life,” Jackowitz suggests. Whether it’s a paragraph, a drawing, or a list, it’s a souvenir more valuable than anything from a gift shop.
10. We Even Hack Your Senses
Memory is tied to smell — and a luxury travel concierge knows how to use that to your advantage. “On a special trip, skip bringing perfume from home. Buy a new scent at duty free and wear it only on that vacation — it will always transport you back to that time and place,” says Jackowitz.
This sensory hack creates a lasting emotional connection to your travels that no photograph can match.
A luxury travel concierge is more than a planner — they’re your insider access point to experiences you can’t simply search for. We know how to turn a standard itinerary into a curated sequence of moments that feel personal, seamless, and unforgettable.
Whether it’s dining alone on the Great Wall, waking up to the first sunrise in the United States, or discovering a private bay with no one else in sight, their expertise turns your vacation into a story worth telling. And the best part? We've already lived it, so we know exactly how to make it work for you.