Full-Service European Travel Planning, Rooted in Real Experience
A relaxed, complimentary conversation to explore destinations, timing, and next steps.
What You Can Expect With Full-Service Planning
Planning a European trip is exciting and it can also feel overwhelming. With so many destinations, routes, hotels, and logistics to consider, it’s easy to get stuck trying to piece everything together.
Our full-service travel planning is designed for travelers who want expert guidance, thoughtful coordination, and a truly personalized experience without losing the joy of dreaming about the trip itself. We walk alongside you from the very first idea through the moment you depart, handling the details while keeping your vision at the center of every decision.
✔ Personalized itinerary design based on your travel style, interests, and pace
✔ Destination and route guidance to help connect cities and regions seamlessly
✔ Accommodation planning aligned with your preferences and priorities
✔ Transportation coordination, including trains, flights, and transfers
✔ Thoughtfully selected experiences that bring each destination to life
✔ Ongoing support before your travels for peace of mind
Every detail is thoughtfully coordinated so your trip feels clear, well-paced, and easy to enjoy.
…learned about our expectations for the trip and tailored it to us specifically. It was truly a dream…
— Kirstie M.
…a unique and quality experience you won't be able to find anywhere else…
— Sydney T.
…was knowledgeable, responsive and helped us plan things we never would have done on our own…
— Leslie M.
Is Full-Service Planning the Right Fit?
Are planning your first trip to Europe
Want help connecting multiple cities or regions
Don’t have time to research every detail
Are planning a honeymoon, anniversary, or family trip
Are coordinating travel for multiple travelers with different needs and preferences
Repeat Europe travelers looking for deeper, more specialized experiences
This is a good fit if you…
And in this you’ll get…
A trip individually curated for you, never copied from a template or reused itinerary
Access to unique experiences that go beyond mainstream tourist recommendations
Clear direction that cuts through internet noise and conflicting advice
Smart routing and pacing that avoids common missteps and maximizes your time
A professionally designed Travel Bible with every detail of your trip in one place
One cohesive plan handled by a real person who knows your trip inside and out
The Planning Process
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When it works best for you, schedule a complimentary call where we will discuss your travel dreams, timing, and what kind of experience you’re hoping to create.
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During our call, which typically lasts about 15 minutes, we’ll talk through the broad strokes of your European trip, your priorities, and any questions you may have.
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If you decide to move forward, we’ll send over a short, thoughtful questionnaire that helps us understand everyone traveling, from what they’re excited about to the things they’d rather avoid.
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Using your questionnaire as our guide, we begin designing your personalized itinerary and share it with you for review. We include up to three layout rounds to gather your feedback and make thoughtful adjustments, ensuring the trip truly reflects your preferences.
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Together, we fine-tune the details until everything feels just right. Once the plan is finalized, we take care of the bookings so you can relax and enjoy the excitement of what’s ahead.
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Once your itinerary is finalized, we create your Travel Bible, a beautifully organized PDF that brings every detail of your trip together in one place. From bookings and tickets to dinner reservations, hidden gems, and helpful notes along the way, it becomes your go-to guide for a seamless and well-prepared journey.
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When departure day arrives, you can take a deep breath and simply enjoy. Every detail has been thoughtfully planned and booked, leaving you free to be present for the moments, memories, and experiences that make your trip unforgettable.
Why Travelers Trust For the Story Vacations
For The Story Vacations was founded by a Europe-based travel planner who has spent years living, traveling, and planning trips throughout Europe. Our approach is rooted in firsthand experience, local relationships, and a deep understanding of how trips actually unfold, not generic itineraries or online assumptions.
What makes
us different:
✔ Europe-based planning with current, firsthand knowledge of destinations
✔ Local insight and relationships that go beyond mainstream travel advice
✔ Thoughtful pacing and logistics informed by real travel experience
✔ A truly boutique approach with customized itinerary each time
✔ Ongoing support from a planner who knows your trip personally
Our planning is shaped by lived experience, not online research.
If you’re looking for thoughtful guidance and a planning process rooted in real experience, we’d love to connect.
What clients are saying
Rachael was truly amazing and planned our dream family vacation to Italy. Every detail was planned out which made this amazing experience even better. She and her team are truly a gem and we will never travel to Europe without them. Thank you For The Story Vacations for all you did and for a lifetime of unbelievable memories!
Chris S.
We’ve taken two trips to Europe with FTSV and they are easily two of the greatest experiences of our lives. Rachel asks all the right questions to customize every moment of your vacation. The hotels and restaurants in Austria and Germany could not have been more perfect, the tour guides she works with are all so nice. We are already planning our next vacation and I know it will be another unforgettable experience!
Victoria W.
We took a bucket list trip through Italy and so grateful that we booked the entire experience through Rachael. This included drivers, tours, guides, dinners, hotels, trains, transfers and many of useful suggestions. They will not steer you wrong and have experience and insight on aspects of European travel. It was a worry free experience!
Mark F.
Rachael and the team did an amazing job of putting together our trip to Scotland and Ireland. Every detail was in place, the itinerary was perfect for our 2 weeks and her added personal touches made for a magical time! The Travel Bible is a game changer and I don’t want to travel without one again! All of her suggestions were spot on and enhanced our experience beyond our expectations.
Michael M.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We offer curated, European vacation planning, specifically tailored to your unique needs and desires. This includes trip trajectories, accommodations, transportation, excursions, tours, dinner reservations, activities, and more.
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Yes. Having lived in Europe since 2016 our clients receive up-to-date, “boots on the ground” knowledge of the best experiences, restaurants, and more.
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We will book all internal European flights, trains, ferries, and transfers associated with your trip.
However, we do not book transatlantic flights. For an additional fee, we can provide a flight pattern on your behalf, which you can book at your leisure.
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Yes! We love a good road trip! If you are interested in incorporating a road trip into your adventure let us know during your inquiry call. We can provide ideas of our favorite places for road trips and how to structure those days.
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For an additional fee we offer on-the-ground communication for the duration of your trip. However, should something arise while you’re traveling that requires additional information we will provide that to you at no additional charge. This includes things like train time changes due to strikes, flight cancellations, activity cancellations, etc.
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During this call, we will discuss the dreams and ideas for your trip. This includes destinations, dates, planning fees, activities, accommodation preferences, a realistic budget, and more. We will walk you through the planning process and what that looks like, from your trajectory selection to your Travel Bible delivery. These calls last roughly 15-20 minutes and can be booked by clicking here.
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That is no problem at all! We’re happy to book an additional call for a fee of $75.00. If you choose to book us this fee is applied to your planning services.
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
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This is very dependent on a number of factors including accommodation preferences, traveling style, activities of interest, and more. During our initial phone call we can discuss your requirements in more detail, and we will be able to provide a realistic range per person.
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Our pricing is based on the number of people traveling and how many days you plan to travel.
For The Story Vacations is a boutique travel company. What we create is customized, off-the-beaten-path, and very different from a traditional travel agent. The price of our planning services reflects this. -
We require a minimum of 120 days before your departure date. This timeline allows us to thoughtfully design your itinerary, secure accommodations and experiences, and move through our collaborative planning process without rushing decisions.
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Yes - not including your 2 travel days (to and from Europe), we have a 7-day “on the ground” minimum.
While we are happy to work with clients who are traveling for less than 7 days, our minimum fee would apply. We do not have a maximum number of travel days and have booked trips ranging from weeks up to months. -
Our planning fee is non-refundable. Upon booking you will receive our legal contract which outlines cancellations, rescheduling trips, and additional information for your own protection and peace of mind.
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We do not plan trips from December 22nd - January 6th (the Epiphany). This is considered to be the European Holiday break. The holidays are a time to slow down, and it’s quite common for our guides, drivers, favorite restaurants, and cafes in Europe to close during this long holiday period. Due to the lack of availability from our amazing guides, more limited accommodation options, and closed restaurants, it becomes difficult for us to offer the special moments and experiences that make us so unique.
BUDGETING DETAILS
