FAQs

Journy is a modern, customized travel planning service. Answer a few questions about your preferences (interests, budget, dietary restrictions, preferred pace of travel, etc) and we’ll pair you 1-on-1 with a personal trip designer. From there, your trip designer will custom-build your dream trip based on your tastes. Save yourself hours of travel research and leave it to us, so you don't miss out on the best restaurants, sights, shops, activities, hidden gems, and more. Recommendations come from our global network of top chefs, sommeliers, and local experts.

Traveling with Journy is easy. Here’s how it works:

1. Complete a brief questionnaire so we can learn more about you and your upcoming trip

   Including budget, dietary restrictions, interests, and more.

2. Get paired with your personal trip designer within 24 hours

   He or she will reach out to review your request, discuss the preferences indicated in your questionnaire, and understand exactly what you’re looking for.

3. We’ll get to work building your custom daily travel plan

   From restaurant reservations to activity/hotel bookings, everything’s mapped out in logistically-optimized routes to make the most of your time.

4. Share feedback directly with your trip designer

   We’ll revise as necessary until your itinerary is nothing short of perfect.

5. Get your finalized daily travel plan with maps

   In it, you’ll find recommendations for breakfast, morning activities, lunch, afternoon activities, and more—all plotted onto an easy-to-read map.

6. Take off with confidence

   Everything is available on our mobile app (iOS and Android) or web itinerary, including directions, tickets/confirmations, and more.

Check out this sample itinerary to get a better sense for what it’s like to travel with Journy.

When you travel with Journy, you can rest assured knowing your trip designer is up-to-date on the latest COVID-19 border policies, quarantine mandates, safety precautions, and more.

• We only book select hotels and rental properties with flexible cancellation policies and refundable rates
• We stay on top of changes that may impact your travel plans, such as border entry policies, health certificate requirements, and airport testing
• We thoroughly vet all hotels, restaurants, and private transfers for COVID-19 safety measures, including employee mask mandates and contactless check-in
• We secure all restaurant reservations, which is increasingly essential due to capacity quotas on outdoor dining

Yes! No two itineraries are the same, since each one is built from scratch with considerations for your personal tastes and preferences, who you’re traveling with, what your budget is, what you’re interested in doing and seeing, dietary restrictions, your ideal pace of travel, and so much more.

Process

With planning per day, you start by completing a brief questionnaire. From there, you’ll get paired 1-on-1 with a trip designer, who will build an itinerary from scratch as you provide feedback and approve every item until it’s perfect.

With packages, you start by sharing your preferences with us over the phone. From there, we’ll put together a custom package/quote and present it to you. You choose whether or not to purchase it. Edits are possible here as well, although there’s generally less time spent in back-and-forth exchanges with your trip designer.

Pricing structure

With planning per day, you’ll receive full price transparency for our flat-rate daily planning fees. That is what you'll pay upfront to retain our services. Then, as the itinerary is progressively built, we'll share prices for each activity, meal, experience, etc.

With packages, you’ll see a preview of what the entire trip will look like before you commit to paying the all-in fee (which covers the costs for the entire trip, not just the planning fees). This way, you can enjoy the peace of mind knowing from the outset the total amount you’ll be spending for the entire trip.

Yes! We encourage you to let your trip designer know of any existing plans, must-see sights you have in mind, or visits to friends' houses for dinner. Once you receive your itinerary, you’re welcome to request unlimited edits and revisions—with exceptions if you decide to completely change your destination. In that case, you will be charged an additional $25/day.

Totally. You can let your travel designer know of any existing plans in the "Additional information" section of your itinerary request or share that information after you’re connected over email.

No problem! You can include any details we didn’t capture in the questionnaire in the "Additional Info" section. You'll also be able to share as much information as you need after you’re connected with your trip designer over email.

We’ve built itineraries for families with young kids who need to plan around 3pm nap time. We’ve helped a group visit Rome with a wheelchair-bound grandfather. We’ve done trips for vegans in Barcelona. Trust us, we’ve seen it all, and we’ll do our absolute best to accommodate any special circumstance so you can have the best trip.

Please note, for large groups (more than 4 travelers), we do charge an additional $5 per traveler per day to account for the added complexity and time it takes to make arrangements for the whole group.

Yes! You'll be able to specify the special occasion behind your trip while filling out the questionnaire. There’s also an “Additional Info” section at the end if you’d like to add more details, or simply relay the information to your trip designer once you’re connected via email.

Please note, for large groups (more than 4 travelers), we do charge an additional $5 per traveler per day to account for the added complexity and time it takes to make arrangements for a large group. For bachelor and bachelorette parties, we also help with villa bookings and can help negotiate group rates on your behalf.

Requesting a Journy takes less than 5 minutes. But remember, the more information you can share with us, the better your trip will be. We’ll ask you key questions about your trip details and preferences to ensure we can plan the best trip tailored to you (e.g., whether you’re a see-it-all or leisurely traveler, whether you’re a museum person or not, whether you’re into craft beer, artisan coffee, cocktails, etc).

Because every itinerary is built from scratch, please allow up to 7-10 days to receive your custom daily travel plan (we currently average a 4-5 business day turnaround).

However, delays may occur if it takes you longer than 24 hours to confirm important information via email from your trip designer—like your accommodation decision, which needs to occur before your trip designer starts planning (since everything is organized with logical efficiency in mind). Every additional 24 hours it takes to confirm important information will result in a corresponding 24-hour delay in receiving your Journy.

If you’re in a last-minute pinch (within 72 hrs of the start of your trip), go ahead and submit a request and we’ll get back to you ASAP to confirm if we can do it for you. If we can, you’ll be charged a RUSH fee of $25 per day of your trip. If we can’t, we’ll immediately issue a full refund.

If you’re in a last-minute pinch (within 72 hrs of the start of your trip), go ahead and submit a request and we’ll get back to you ASAP to confirm if we can do it for you. If we can, you’ll be charged a RUSH fee of $25 per day of your trip. If we can’t, we’ll immediately issue a full refund.

Yes. If you have an iPhone, you can download our iOS app here. And for Android users, here. From there, you’ll be able to log on to your account and tap “Save Offline” in order to view your daily travel plan.

Protip: While traveling abroad, turn off your data but keep your WiFi on to be able to see your blue location dot on the map.

Note: For specific destinations such as Japan, we recommend all travelers get a Pocket WiFi in advance so they can avoid any navigation issues (even with Google Maps, places in Japan can be tough to find).

Eager to get away without going far? We’re here to help.

1. Fill out the brief staycation questionnaire

   This way, we can learn more about what you’re looking for, whether you already know where you’d like to stay, etc.

2. We’ll present a handful of lodging options within your budget

   If it turns out that nothing is available during your intended time frame, we’ll immediately refund your deposit.

3. We’ll get to work designing a curated guide

   Once your lodging is confirmed, we’ll put together a personalized guide complete with a list of activities and nearby day trips based on your interests, as well as grocery stores, restaurants for take-out or delivery, wine shops, pharmacies, and nearby health clinics/hospitals.

When you staycation with Journy, what you’ll receive is less of an itinerary and more of a guide. In it, you’ll find a comprehensive list of:

• Activities and nearby day trips based on your interests
• Grocery stores
• Restaurants for take-out or delivery
• Wine shops
• Pharmacies
• Nearby health clinic/hospitals

Another key difference is price. Normal travel planning is priced either per day or by custom package, whereas staycation planning is priced at a flat rate:

• $150 per group for 7-day stays (additional days at $22/day rate)
• $250 for 14-day stays (additional days at $18/day rate)
• $450 for 30-day stays (additional days at $15/day rate)

When presenting lodging options for you to choose from, we consider the following factors:

COVID-19 safety measures

We prioritize lodging options that are either fully private or are hotels with comprehensive COVID-19 safety measures (e.g., contactless check-in/out with a dividing partition, enhanced cleaning, mask mandates, in-room dining options, sanitizing stations). You can read more about our COVID-19 vetting policies for lodging here.

The best value for your money

For private lodging, we scour a number of sites to save you time—including Vacasa, VRBO, Sonder, Luxury Retreats, and Airbnb. We also refer to our own internal shortlist of preferred lodging options that have been recommended by past travelers and our network of on-the-ground locals.

Once we receive your staycation request, we’ll do a quick scan for availability and let you know if there are no options within your budget. If you decide you don’t want to increase your budget, we’ll immediately refund your deposit.

Guidance on domestic travel is changing almost daily. For the latest information, please refer to our official COVID blog post, which is regularly updated.

As of July 7, the following states require mandatory quarantines for visitors arriving from out of state.

• Alaska (during the period between taking a COVID-19 test and receiving the results)
• Connecticut
• Hawaii (unless you have proof of a negative COVID-19 test)
• Illinois (states on the list include Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah)
• Kansas (states on the list include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, and Maryland)
• Maine (unless you have proof of a negative COVID-19 test from within 72 hours prior to arrival)
• Massachusetts
• New York
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Rhode Island (for anyone coming from a state still under stay-at-home orders)
• Vermont (for anyone coming from a state with more than 400 active COVID-19 cases per million)

Additional, travelers who are visiting the tristate area (New York, Connecticut, or New Jersey) from the following states are required to quarantine for 14 days.

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• South Carolina

Because we book lodging and activities with flexible cancellation policies and refundable rates, we can secure a 100% money-back guarantee as long as the cancellation falls within the window, which usually ranges from 48 hours to 2 weeks (we’ll always be clear upfront about what this is).

Your Journy trip planning fees can be applied as a credit towards a future trip planned by the end of 2021 for the same or a different destination.

Yes! Included in all itineraries are restaurant reservations—in addition to activity and transportation bookings.

Yes! We're happy to recommend and book the perfect lodging for you.

We've set up some amazing partnerships to not only give you access to the lowest rates (up to 40% off the lowest publicly available rates), but also Platinum & Centurion-level benefits on premium-class hotels. That means free upgrades where available, plus perks like free breakfast and more, depending on the property.

We'll also tell you if we think Airbnb will be a better option based on your budget and can recommend options there as well based on neighborhood, budget, etc.

Yes! While dining is where we shine, we’ve got activities covered, too (e.g., must-see sights, hotels, shopping, museums, tours, etc).

We don’t book flights, but did put together this handy guide to help you find the best deals on airfare.

If you’re traveling by plane within a region and have multiple stops to make (e.g., you’re visiting multiple cities across Europe), your trip designer can provide links to specific flights to book and give advice on train travel.

Of course! Here’s a sample Japan itinerary that will give you a better sense for what it’s like to travel with Journy.

Remember—this is just a sample, tailored to someone whose preferences may not match yours. When you travel with Journy, you’ll get paired 1-on-1 with a personal trip designer, who will then build an itinerary from scratch just for you. No off-the-shelf plans here.

In the itinerary, you’ll find…

• Daily routes, efficiently planned

From meals to activities and everything in between, we’ll plan down to the last detail—and arrange each day according to neighborhood so you can make the most of your time

• Reservations, confirmations, and tickets…done

We’ll handle restaurant reservations, hotel arrangements, and activity bookings. And then we’ll add all the confirmations and tickets to your itinerary for easy access.

• Navigation by day or category

Stay structured with a day-by-day view or shake things up with a more flexible category view.

• Comprehensive city tips and etiquette guides

Including information on currency, Wifi, tipping, transportation, helpful language phrases, cultural dos/don’ts, packing lists, and more.

Go behind the scenes to learn more about how Journy custom-builds itineraries.

To view sample itineraries in our app, download the iOS version here and Android version here.

We hear it all the time. While many travelers love the inspirational process of planning their own trips, there’s many reasons why you should leave the heavy lifting to us:

1. Planning travel logistics can be really hard

   Dreaming up things to do and see is the fun part. But putting it all together and mapping out how far one place is from another, what’s open when, how long to spend in each spot, and whether you’ll need tickets in advance? Not so much. We take all your ideas, from friends’ recommendations to landmarks spotted on Instagram, and optimize your time so that you can see it all.

2. We’ll save you up to 30 hours (or more

   The average person spends 10-30+ hours travel planning. Instead of waiting on hold to snag a restaurant reservation, leave it to us.

3. Cut through the noise of review sites

   It’s our job to obsess over the latest and greatest spots around the world every day, cutting through the noise of travel forums and review sites. Why listen to an anonymous person on the internet when you can trust the team that’s planned thousands of custom itineraries? Plus, we tap into an extensive network of on-the-ground experts for the inside scoop on the off-the-beaten-path spots—from the Tokyo cocktail bar where local chefs hang when they’re off-duty, to the hidden gem Parisian bistro you won’t find on Google.

But don’t just take our word for it. Hear from past Journyers on what it’s like to travel with us.

Our recommendations are sourced from a network of local chefs, sommeliers/bartenders, and travel experts around the world, so you never miss out on the latest and greatest things to do, see, and eat.

On our list of experts? Massimo Bottura (Chef & Owner, Osteria Francescana), Elizabeth Allen-Haigh (Chef & Founder, Kaizen House), Mark Rosati (Culinary Director of Shake Shack), Dustin Wilson (Master Sommelier), Aiste Miseviciute (Model-turned-food-blogger), and a number of cool in-the-know locals. We hand-select all of our food and travel experts to make sure that their recommendations fit what our discerning travelers are looking for.

We guarantee that you’ll have an exceptional experience traveling with us, with a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t. Our team takes pride in staying up-to-date on the experiences, hotels, and restaurants in the destinations we cover, and our trip designers are trained in providing the best custom itinerary possible—all so you don’t have to experience the time-consuming hassle of travel planning yourself.

But mistakes can still happen, and while we only send you to places we’ve thoroughly vetted, researched, and experienced ourselves, traveling by nature has some unavoidable uncertainties. Perhaps the guide for your Kyoto food tour felt under-the-weather that day? Or the chef at our go-to Florence restaurant had an off-day? It’s impossible to account for every second of every day, but we do want to take responsibility for any mistakes we make and ensure you are happy on your trip.

Here are specific circumstances in which we will work with you to make it right.

After requesting a trip, but before answering follow-up questions:
If you decide you won’t be taking your trip or your plans have changed, we’ll refund you in full. Please allow 5-7 business days after your request for your refund to be processed.

After your trip designer has sent you lodging options, but before confirming your lodging choice:
If you decide you don’t want to continue, we’ll refund the total amount you paid less $15 to compensate your trip designer for the time s/he has taken to find you personalized lodging recommendations.*

*This does not apply to staycations or packages.

After your trip designer has delivered your Journy itinerary, but before your trip:
Our team will work with you to update and rework your itinerary until you’re happy. If you’re still unsatisfied at the conclusion of the process, we’ll match you with a new trip designer who will make sure your itinerary includes everything you’re looking for. We’re 100% confident that we can create a travel plan that you’ll be excited for, and we’ll work with you until you’re happy. If you still feel we won’t be able to meet your needs after working with the second trip designer, we’ll offer you a 100% refund. All we ask is that you hop on a quick 10-15 minute phone call with one of our founders to understand what went wrong. Once we do, we’ll promptly process your full refund (please allow 5-7 business days for your refund to reflect on your credit card statement). Please note that if you do request a refund, you will lose access to your Journy itinerary and any reservations we have made on your behalf will be cancelled.

Trip cancellations:
We’re unfortunately unable to refund your planning service fees due to any trip cancellations. If your trip is delayed due to any extenuating circumstances, we are happy to rearrange your itinerary for free. If your trip is postponed for the foreseeable future, let us know when you’re heading there next and we’ll update your itinerary for those new dates—you’ll have access to your itinerary indefinitely!

Journy currently covers 75+ destinations across 5 continents! Click here for the full list.

Absolutely. We’re always rolling out new cities and do have the ability to plan trips to destinations outside of the official list; however, bespoke services (e.g., a custom, 10-day trip around the Greek islands or a trekking/safari/beach combo in Tanzania) are available at a slightly higher price point. Reach out via the chat circle on the bottom right-hand corner of our website or schedule a free consultation call to learn more!

When you submit your Journy request, you’ll first be asked to add 1 destination. Once you do, you’ll see a line of text appear underneath with a plus sign and the words: “Add another destination (optional)”

Not a problem.

If you want Journy to plan part of your trip, just plug in the specific dates when completing the questionnaire. You can let us know of any further details in the "Additional Info" section of the questionnaire (as well as communicating directly with your trip designer once you’re connected via email).

For non-consecutive days, plug in a date range that spans the total number of days you’d like us to plan for you. For example, if you’d like us to plan 3 days at the beginning of your trip, spend 3 days exploring on your own, and then have us plan another 2 days at the end of your trip, select a date range that covers the 5 days you’d like us to plan for you. You can tell us how you’d like the specific days split up in the “Additional Info” section or via email.

Please note that your trip designer can only help you make reservations and bookings on the days that you have requested.

If you’re going on a road trip, we’ll only charge for the days where there’s logistical planning of activities and routes, but not for days where you’re staying put.

Of course. We’d be happy to consult on the ideal destination for your trip based on the amount of time you have, your budget, interests, etc. Feel free to schedule a consultation call with one of our travel experts to get advice on where to go and how long to spend in each place.

For our pricing by day option:
We charge a simple, flat-rate daily planning fee.

• Fewer than 5 days: $60 per day, per group
• 5-day trip: $275 per group, with additional days at $55/day
• 10-day trip: $500 per group, with additional days at $50

For custom packages:
The all-inclusive rates for custom packages are dependent on destination, length of stay, and hotel tier. The price you’ll be quoted includes:

• Hotels
• Private transit/train tickets
• Activities and select dining experiences

It does not include:

• City taxes
• Airfare
• Additional out-of-pocket meals and experiences
• Tips

An average 7-10 day custom package ranges from $2500 - $7000 per person

For staycations:
We charge a flat rate based on the length of your stay.

• $150 per group for up to 7-day stays (additional days at $22/day rate)
• $250 for 14-day stays (additional days at $18/day rate)
• $450 for 30-day stays (additional days at $15/day rate)

For our pay-per-day option, we ask for a minimum 1 day deposit payment upfront in order to retain our services—with a 5% discount on the total trip planning cost if you opt to pay the full planning fee upfront.

For domestic staycations, we ask for a 50% deposit upfront.

For packages, how much you pay upfront is decided on a case-by-case basis depending on how far in advance you are planning. If your trip is fewer than 30 days from now, we ask for a 100% deposit. If, however, it’s a few months away, we’ll request between a 30 - 50% deposit.

For our pay-per-day option:
We charge exactly what our hotel and activity partners charge and never mark anything up. We work to find you the lowest available price and in many cases have relationships with hotels to get you better rates or additional perks.

The only additional fee we add is a processing fee of 3.5% that is applied to any non-partner hotels, activities, or tours that require advance payment. This fee covers the processing costs of aggregating and paying individual service providers through Journy.

For our packages option:
Since our travel packages are customizable, pre-bundled options, we do not break out the itemized, line-by-line cost items. Our planning fees are baked into the all-in package cost.

It’s easy! For individual gift cards, head to www.gojourny.com/gift. And for corporate/group orders, email [email protected]. Journy gifts don’t expire and can be used anytime. Your gift is delivered via email immediately, making it the ideal last-minute present. Plus, you don’t have to know where or where your recipient is traveling—the gift of Journy kick-starts travel plans for those with no time and who don’t know where to start.

You can view our open positions here.