Working With Kristin

Let's see if we're a good fit

If you’re here, you’ve likely been referred to me, found me online, or are considering working together on an upcoming trip. But you might be wondering how that actually works. So let's break it down.

People don’t hire me because I can make reservations.

They hire me because I help them:

✓ Save time

✓ Avoid costly mistakes

✓ Navigate overwhelming choices

✓ Coordinate complex logistics

✓ Make confident decisions

✓ Enjoy the planning process instead of feeling stressed by it

✓ Have an advocate when questions arise

Travel advisors don’t provide value because they can book a hotel or a cruise. Anyone can do that online. The value comes from knowing which options are worth considering, which ones aren’t, and helping you create a trip that aligns with your goals, travel style, and budget.

Planning Fees & Investment

Theme Parks, Cruises, All Inclusive, and Domestic Travel

$100 planning fee

Most will be credited back at final payment, unless the scope of the trip requires extra research and legwork.

Air Services

Planning fees begin at $25

We do not offer flight-only booking services

If flights cannot be packaged with accommodations, a $25 service fee applies

International Travel

Planning fees begin at $250

Fees increase based on complexity

Factors include:

Length of trip

Number of travelers

Number of destinations

Domestic flights within destination

Scope of planning

Groups

$25 per room or cabin
Due at the start of planning

Fees may increase based on size and complexity of the group.

Planning a group vacation is a bit like event planning. There are multiple travelers, different budgets, payment schedules, room assignments, special requests, and a lot of behind-the-scenes coordination to keep everyone on the same page.

This fee helps cover the additional time and support required to successfully manage your group's experience from start to finish.

We’re not just booking trips. We’re designing experiences.

Many people only see the final itinerary. What they don’t see is everything happening behind the scenes to make that trip possible

  • Researching destinations and accommodations
  • Comparing room categories and cruise cabins
  • Coordinating multiple travelers and households
  • Managing supplier communication
  • Organizing payments and deadlines
  • Monitoring promotions and pricing opportunities
  • Assisting with flight changes and travel disruptions
  • Building and maintaining itineraries within our travel app
  • Coordinating transfers and special requests
  • Helping navigate Disney, Universal, and cruise planning tools
  • Providing destination education and travel preparation
  • Advocating for clients when issues arise
Bright Life Travel Company Planning Trips

Some trips require only a few hours of planning. Others require dozens. This is one of the reasons planning fees apply to certain types of travel.

Let's Talk About Budget

One of the biggest predictors of vacation satisfaction is making sure expectations and budget align.

 

We’ll always do our best to recommend the strongest options within your investment level, whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

 

However, budget impacts what’s possible. Some resorts, cruise lines, room categories, and experiences simply aren’t realistic at every price point.

 

Our goal is never to sell you the most expensive trip. It’s to help you make informed decisions and create the best possible experience within the budget you’ve chosen.

her recommendations were extremely valuable and saved me time from having to research myself

"Kristin is the best! One of the best parts about Kristin is she takes care of EVERYTHING! She found us a hotel that was super close to Disneyland and got us park tickets at affordable rates, all without me having to lift a finger. She even was able to add an extra traveler to our vacation that we weren't initially planning on without skipping a beat. She is an expert as she knows the parks and the locations inside and out, which means that her recommendations for hotel stay, etc. were extremely valuable and saved me time from having to research myself. Our trip went off without a hitch and we had a fantastic time. This has ALWAYS been the case with the multiple vacations we have planned with her. If you want an amazing family trip planned by an expert to save you time and money, use Kristin!"

Greg, Disney Trips

Meet Your Team

Kristin Hancock

Founder of Bright Life Travel and your primary advisor

Kristin oversees trip strategy, destination recommendations, supplier relationships, and overall trip design.

Alissa

Client Experience Manager

Alissa has been part of Bright Life Travel for more than three years and plays a critical role behind the scenes.

She helps manage details, deadlines, organization, and client communication to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Together, we work to create a smooth and well-organized planning experience from start to finish.

WHEN THINGS DON’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN

Travel disruptions happen.

While we cannot control airline operations, weather, supplier policies, or other factors outside our control, we can help you understand your options, advocate when appropriate, and guide you through the next steps.

Our goal is to ensure you never feel like you’re navigating travel challenges alone.

Are we a good fit?

We’re Probably A Great Fit If:

  • You value expert guidance
  • You trust the expertise you’ve hired
  • You want personalized recommendations
  • You value your time
  • You’re ready to move forward with planning
  • You appreciate having support throughout the process
Children playing on a sandy beach at sunset during a family vacation.

We May Not Be The Best Fit If:

  • You’re collecting multiple proposals for price comparison
  • You’re looking for extensive research before deciding whether you actually want to travel
  • You’re focused exclusively on finding the absolute lowest price
  • You don’t see value in professional travel planning

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use a travel advisor instead of booking online?

The internet has made travel information more accessible than ever, but it has also made travel planning more overwhelming.

My role isn’t simply to make reservations. It’s to help you make informed decisions, avoid costly mistakes, save time, and create a trip that truly fits your travel style, priorities, and budget.

I spend my days researching destinations, evaluating resorts, comparing cruise lines, understanding supplier policies, and helping clients navigate the countless choices available. Rather than spending hours sorting through reviews and conflicting advice, you have an experienced professional helping guide the process.

For many clients, the biggest benefit isn’t saving money—it’s saving time, reducing stress, and feeling confident they’ve made the right decisions.

Do I pay more when booking through you?

In most cases, no.

Many hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and tour operators pay travel advisors a commission whether you book directly with them or through an advisor. In many cases, the price is exactly the same.

My goal is not to find the absolute cheapest option available. My goal is to help you find the best value and the best overall fit for your needs.

There may occasionally be situations where a supplier’s direct promotion differs slightly from advisor pricing, but the guidance, support, expertise, and advocacy I provide often far outweigh small pricing differences.

How do travel advisors get paid?

Most travel advisors earn commissions from hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and tour operators after a client travels.

However, commissions don’t cover every type of trip or every hour spent planning.

Some vacations require extensive research, multiple revisions, itinerary design, group coordination, or complex logistics before anything is ever booked. In those cases, a planning fee helps compensate for the time and expertise involved in creating your trip.

Planning fees allow me to dedicate my time and attention to clients who are actively planning travel while ensuring I can continue providing a high level of service throughout the process.

Why do some trips have planning fees?

Not every trip requires the same amount of work.

A simple resort stay may require only a few hours of planning, while a custom international itinerary or group trip may involve dozens of hours of research, coordination, revisions, supplier communication, and itinerary development.

As my business has grown, I found myself spending a significant amount of time creating detailed proposals for trips that were never intended to move forward.

Planning fees help ensure I can focus my time and resources on clients who are serious about planning and traveling, while also providing the level of service my existing clients deserve.

In short, planning fees allow me to spend less time chasing quotes and more time helping clients create incredible vacations.

Can you help if I don’t know where I want to go?

Absolutely.

In fact, many clients come to me knowing they want a vacation but aren’t sure which destination, resort, cruise, or itinerary would be the best fit.

One of the most valuable things I do is help narrow down options based on your travel goals, budget, interests, and priorities.

You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

Can I use points or miles?

Possibily.

While I cannot directly manage or redeem most airline points and miles programs, many clients choose to use points for flights while having me assist with the rest of their trip planning.

If points are part of your travel strategy, let me know during the planning process and we’ll discuss the best way to incorporate them into your vacation plans.

Do you book Airbnb or VRBO properties?

Generally, no.

I prefer working with vetted hotels, resorts, cruise lines, and professional travel partners whose quality, service standards, and support systems I know and trust.

One of the benefits of working with a travel advisor is having reliable partners and resources if something goes wrong. Individually managed vacation rentals often don’t provide the same level of consistency or support.

If you’re looking for larger accommodations or shared living spaces, I can often recommend villas, residences, suites, or professionally managed properties that provide a similar experience.

What happens if something goes wrong during my trip?

Travel doesn’t always go according to plan.

Weather happens. Flights get delayed. Suppliers make mistakes. Unexpected situations arise.

While I can’t control airline operations, weather, or supplier policies, I can help you understand your options, provide guidance, and advocate when appropriate.

Sometimes the fastest solution is for travelers to work directly with the airline or supplier, particularly when they’re already at the airport or destination. Other times, I can step in behind the scenes to help navigate the situation.

My goal is to make sure you never feel like you’re handling travel challenges completely on your own.

How far in advance should I start planning?

The earlier, the better.

For cruises, theme park vacations, Hawaii, all-inclusive resorts, and international travel, planning 6–12 months in advance often provides the best selection, pricing, and availability.

For holiday travel, group trips, and popular destinations, even earlier planning may be beneficial.

That said, don’t hesitate to reach out if your travel dates are approaching. If I can help, I will.

Will I work directly with Kristin?

Yes.

Kristin oversees all client trips and serves as your primary advisor throughout the planning process.

You may also hear from Alissa, our Client Experience Manager, who helps manage details, organization, deadlines, and client communication behind the scenes.

Think of it as having a dedicated team working together to ensure your trip runs smoothly from planning through travel.

Follow Us!

If you love to travel but your real life runs at full chaos (same), you’re exactly who we plan for. You want the trip. You don’t want the 47 open tabs, the reviews that contradict each other, and the 11pm spreadsheet that comes with it.

That’s the part we take off your plate. We’re a boutique team of independent travel advisors who design custom vacations for busy families. You tell us what you want out of the trip, and we handle the research, the comparing, the booking, and the “wait, how do we actually get from the airport to the resort” detective work.

If you want a travel expert in your corner for your next vacation, send us a DM or an email. We’d love to help.

Fewer tabs. More trip.

#startupmomedit
Your PTO called. It’s tired of waiting.

You’ve saved the resort reels. You’ve taken the screenshots. You have a Notes app list titled “Maybe Europe?” that is somehow both extremely detailed and not a plan.

That’s where we come in.

We’ll turn the pile of tabs, screenshots, and group-chat opinions into an actual vacation plan, with the right hotels, flights, and details handled.

Ready to give your PTO something to look forward to? Send us a message or reach out through the travel inquiry link in our bio.
There’s a lot going on in those minds. Maybe too much sometimes, but we take our jobs seriously and we’re always thinking about the best possible outcomes for our clients. ✨