FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH LAYAH?
Your time off is precious, and the trips that matter most deserve someone who treats them that way. Through our signature Concierge 360 service, we get to know you first, then plan everything around that – so nothing is left to chance, and nothing is left to you.
Through our relationships with the world’s finest hotel brands, including Four Seasons, Rosewood and Aman – and those you may not have heard of (that’s what you have us for!) – you’re never just another booking. You arrive as our client, looked after from start to finish.
DO YOU CHARGE FEES TO PLAN TRAVEL?
Yes. At Layah, every journey begins with meticulous research and planning. Our upfront planning fee allows us to dedicate the time, expertise, and attention to detail needed to craft a truly personalised experience. And by charging a fee, we intentionally limit the number of clients we work with, so yours always receives the dedication it deserves.
Simple hotel or cruise-only bookings don’t carry a planning fee. Fees apply when we are designing and managing your trip. Partial trip planning is not something we take on.
We’ll always talk you through your fee and the thinking behind it before you commit – agreed upfront and in full, so you know exactly what you’re paying, and why, before we begin.
WHAT IS THE INVESTMENT?
Because no two trips are the same, neither is the investment. A milestone anniversary in Italy and a multi-country family journey ask very different things of us, so we shape each to the scope and complexity of the trip. You’ll always know your fee upfront, agreed in full before any work begins – we prefer to arrive at it together, once we understand the trip you have in mind and can shape something that truly fits.
WILL I WORK DIRECTLY WITH ALEXANDRA?
Alexandra leads the design of every Layah journey – getting to know you, shaping the trip, and selecting where you’ll stay and what you’ll experience. From there, a small, trusted team handles the planning and concierge care that bring it to life, with Alexandra overseeing every itinerary personally. You have the benefit of her twenty years of expertise on your trip, and a dedicated team looking after you throughout.
DO I NEED TO BE DOING A COMPLICATED OR COMPLEX TRIP TO WORK WITH YOU?
No not at all. Some of our clients want something simple, done properly. They don’t need the most complex itinerary or logistics. They want to hand their trip over to someone they trust, someone who knows them, and be confident that everything is handled as they expect.
THERE’S A LOT OF TRAVEL INFORMATION AVAILABLE ONLINE. WHY WORK WITH SOMEONE TO PLAN MY TRIP?
A fair question – and for many trips, booking it yourself is the right call. But what you’re paying us for isn’t information; there’s plenty of that online. It’s 20 years of knowing which hotel looks perfect in photos and underwhelms in person, the judgement to tell you honestly when something won’t work, and the relationships that mean you’re recognised and looked after on arrival. We handle the details quietly in the background, so you can fully enjoy your time away.
WON’T IT BE CHEAPER TO DO IT MYSELF?
Sometimes. But cheaper isn’t the same as better, and it’s usually not the same as easier. What you don’t see are the hours of research, the supplier calls across time zones, and the problems we quietly solve before they ever reach you. You’re not paying us to make a booking. Your investment is in never having to think about any of it.
“Alexandra’s concierge service model, with transparent upfront fees, allowed her to focus solely on our experience, guiding us to make smart savings and worthwhile investments in our adventure.”
Tom Aronica — March 2024
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?
We plan every detail carefully to keep your trip running smoothly, but we know the unexpected can happen. If your flight is cancelled, your luggage doesn’t arrive, your schedule changes, or there’s an emergency at home and you need to cut your trip short, you’re not alone. You’ll have our 24/7 flight support and on-the-ground teams ready to step in at a moment’s notice. That’s what it means to have us in your corner; from the moment you leave to the moment you’re home.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Please email alexandra@layah.travel and we will be happy to answer your questions.
