A thoughtful, personal itinerary designed around the way you want to experience Europe.
You may already know where you want to go.
The harder part is deciding how long to stay, where to base yourself, how to move between places, what deserves your time and how to put it all together without turning your holiday into a checklist.
That is where I come in.
I offer custom Europe trip planning for travellers who want the freedom of travelling independently, with the confidence of knowing the details have been carefully thought through.
Every itinerary is designed around you: your interests, your pace, your budget, your priorities and the kind of trip you want to come home remembering.
I have been returning to Europe for nearly four decades, beginning with my first solo trip at 17, and have lived there twice. That experience shapes how I plan: looking beyond what is possible on paper to consider what will actually make sense once you are there.
Europe, considered.
A good European itinerary is a series of choices.
How many destinations make sense for the time you have? Is a day trip worth it, or would you enjoy staying overnight? Which neighbourhood suits the way you travel? Does another city add something meaningful to the trip, or simply another hotel change?
These are the decisions I help you make.
I look at the trip as a whole: the route, the number of nights in each place, transportation, neighbourhoods, daily pacing, advance reservations and the time you want to leave open for wandering, lingering over lunch or simply changing your mind.
Sometimes the answer is adding something.
Sometimes it’s staying longer.
Sometimes it’s deciding that something can wait for another trip.
The result is a Europe itinerary that feels considered from beginning to end.
What I plan for you
Your itinerary is built from scratch around your trip.
Depending on what you need, your custom Europe itinerary may include:
- overall route and trip structure
- recommendations for how many nights to spend in each destination
- accommodation and neighbourhood recommendations
- transportation between destinations
- day trips and excursions
- experiences, tours and advance-ticket recommendations
- a day-by-day itinerary
- restaurant, café and food recommendations
- local shops, markets and places worth seeking out
- practical travel information and logistics
- a curated Google Map for your trip
I consider how all of those pieces work together, rather than treating each destination as a separate list of things to do.
What you receive
Your completed trip is delivered in a detailed, mobile-friendly PDF itinerary that you can refer to throughout your travels.
It brings everything together in one place, including your trip overview, daily plans, transportation details, accommodation information, reservation links, dining recommendations, practical notes and the details you will want at hand while you are away.
You will also receive a custom Google Map with your recommendations saved and organized, making it easy to see what is nearby as you explore.
You make all reservations and bookings directly, so you remain in control of your trip and your spending.
Who this service is for
My Europe trip planning services are designed for independent travellers who want a trip created specifically for them.
You might come to me with a nearly finished route and need help making it work. Or you might know that you want two weeks in Italy, France or somewhere entirely new and have no idea where to begin.
Many of my clients simply have too many ideas. They want to see the places they have dreamed about, discover a few they would never have found themselves and still have enough time to enjoy being there.
I work with solo travellers, couples, families, friends and small groups, from first-time visitors to Europe to people who return regularly and want to experience somewhere differently this time.
Why plan your Europe trip with me?
I have been travelling through Europe for nearly four decades.
I have returned to many destinations repeatedly, lived in Europe twice and continue to spend extended periods there researching, photographing, writing and simply experiencing places for myself.
That accumulated experience matters when I plan for someone else.
It helps me recognize when a route looks better on a map than it will feel in reality. When a famous day trip is worth making and when another choice might suit you better. When a neighbourhood will give you the experience you are looking for. When another attraction will make the day better and when it is time to stop adding things.
My recommendations draw from first-hand travel, repeated visits, extensive research and local knowledge.
You’re hiring me for the itinerary, but also for the thinking behind it.
How custom trip planning works
1. Tell me about your trip
Most clients begin by sending me an email at renee@dreamplanexperience.com.
You can already have dates and destinations in mind, or simply tell me what you are thinking about. I will let you know whether I can help and what the planning fee will be for your trip.
2. Complete your Trip Questionnaire
Once your invoice is paid, I will send you my detailed Trip Questionnaire.
This is where I learn how you like to travel, what matters to you, what you would happily skip, what you have loved on previous trips and what you want this particular trip to feel like.
If helpful, we can also have a short video call before I begin planning.
3. I research and design your trip
This is where your itinerary takes shape.
I work through the route, accommodations, transportation, experiences, restaurants, logistics and daily pacing, researching each recommendation specifically for your trip.
4. Receive your itinerary and map
You receive your completed itinerary along with your custom Google Map and the booking information you need to put the trip into place.
I remain available by email for questions as you prepare to travel, or during your travels.
Pricing
Every bespoke itinerary begins with a $150 Trip Design Fee, plus $35 per travel day.
The Trip Design Fee covers the foundational work behind your trip, including reviewing your questionnaire, developing the overall trip strategy, determining the route, pacing and structure and essentially building your package.
The per-day fee reflects the detailed research and itinerary design required for each travel day. For North American travellers,
For example:
7 travel days: $395
10 travel days: $500
14 travel days: $640
Canadian clients are billed in CAD and U.S. clients in USD using the same listed rate. I count itinerary days from the day you arrive at your destination. Your travel day to Europe is not charged, and neither is your departure day.
Larger groups and trips requiring unusually complex planning or logistics may be quoted individually.
What travellers say
“You were wonderful to work with, very attentive, and curated every detail to match our preferences. Overall, a very enjoyable and seamless experience.” — Natalie
“You helped us know ahead of time what to expect, where to go, where to eat… It was worth it over and over again as the trip went along.” — Paul
Have an idea for Europe?
You do not need to have the whole trip figured out before you contact me.
Tell me where you are thinking of going, when you hope to travel and what you know so far.
We can start there.
FAQ about Europe trip planning
What does a Europe trip planner actually do?
I take your ideas, dates, interests and priorities and turn them into a complete itinerary. That can include determining your route, choosing how long to spend in each place, recommending neighbourhoods and accommodations, planning transportation, researching experiences and restaurants and designing your days at a realistic pace.
Do you book flights, hotels or tours for me?
No. I research and recommend the options that best suit your trip, then provide the information and links you need to book directly. This means you retain control over your bookings, payments and cancellation terms.
Can you help if I do not know exactly where I want to go?
Yes. Some clients arrive with a complete list of destinations. Others begin with an idea such as “two weeks in France” or “Italy, but somewhere beyond the places we visited last time.” Part of my role is helping you decide where your time is best spent.
Can you plan only part of my Europe trip?
Yes. If you already have parts of the trip organized and need help with a particular destination or portion of your itinerary, get in touch and tell me what you need.
How far in advance should I contact you?
Earlier is always better, particularly if you are travelling during spring, summer, autumn or Christmas market season.
Starting early gives you more choice in accommodations, and gives us time to make thoughtful decisions rather than simply choosing what is still available.