Once you submit the Planning Form, I will review your responses and reach out within two business days to schedule an initial conversation. This is an informal, no-obligation call where we discuss your travel vision, answer any questions you have, and determine which service is the right fit for your trip. There is nothing to prepare in advance — just come with your ideas, however formed or unformed they may be. From that first conversation, we will map out next steps together.

Payment is structured in two parts. A deposit of 50% is required to begin work on your itinerary, with the remaining balance due upon delivery of your completed travel plan. Payment is accepted via major credit cards and bank transfer. For the Travel Consultation service, full payment is collected at the time of booking. All fees are quoted in US dollars.

For the best experience, I recommend reaching out at least three to six months before your intended travel dates. This allows adequate time for the consultation process, itinerary design, and any refinements — as well as advance reservations at sought-after restaurants and accommodations, which can book up quickly in France, particularly during peak seasons. That said, if your travel dates are sooner, please reach out anyway. Depending on the complexity of your trip and my current availability, I may still be able to help.

Turnaround time depends on the service tier and the complexity of your journey. As a general guide: a Travel Consultation is typically completed within one week of your initial call. A Custom Itinerary takes two to three weeks from the point at which all planning details have been agreed upon. Full Travel Planning, which involves multiple consultation sessions and ongoing refinement, unfolds over a longer period aligned to your timeline. I will confirm a specific delivery timeframe at the start of our engagement so you always know what to expect.

A good rule of thumb: if you have specific questions about where to go, how to structure your time, or what to prioritize — and you are comfortable planning the details yourself once you have direction — the Travel Consultation is the right starting point. If you want a complete, ready-to-use day-by-day travel plan that you can follow from arrival to departure, the Custom Itinerary is designed for you. If you want the full itinerary plus ongoing support, multiple planning sessions, and detailed guidance leading up to your trip, the Full Travel Planning service provides that level of involvement.

Not sure where to start? Begin with a consultation. It is the lowest-commitment way to experience the process — and if you decide to move forward with a Custom Itinerary or Full Travel Planning engagement, the consultation fee will be credited toward your next service tier. You will never feel like you paid twice for the same conversation.

France Unseen provides expert recommendations, curated selections, and a complete travel plan — the decision of whether to book directly is yours. For the Custom Itinerary and Full Travel Planning tiers, your itinerary will include specific restaurant and accommodation recommendations with all the information you need to make reservations yourself: addresses, phone numbers, websites, and reservation notes. If you would like assistance with reservations as part of your engagement, this can be discussed during our initial consultation and accommodated within the Full Travel Planning service.

Every service tier includes a revision round to ensure the itinerary feels right before it is finalized. The Travel Consultation includes one follow-up exchange to address any questions arising from the session. The Custom Itinerary includes up to two rounds of revisions — adjustments to pacing, destinations, or specific recommendations based on your feedback. The Full Travel Planning service includes ongoing refinement as your plans evolve, with no fixed limit on revisions within the scope of the engagement. Significant changes in travel scope — such as adding additional countries, substantially changing dates, or redesigning the itinerary after it has been finalized — may be subject to an additional fee, which will always be discussed and agreed upon before any additional work begins.

Life happens, and plans change. If you need to cancel before work has begun, your deposit will be refunded in full. If work is already underway, the deposit covers the work completed to that point and is non-refundable, but no further payment will be due. If your travel dates shift or your plans evolve during the planning process, adjustments can be accommodated within the scope of your service tier at no additional charge. Any changes that substantially alter the original scope of work will be discussed openly before proceeding. My goal is always a fair outcome for both of us.