Custom Vacations for discerning travelers
CAREFULLY CURATED × JUST FOR YOU
[Yosemite, California]
Your vacation is precious.
Treat it right.
You work all your life for those fleeting weeks in your favorite places. And you don’t just want it to be fun--it should be unforgettable. That’s where I come in.
Rely on an expert.
Guidebooks and websites are great, to a degree. But they require a huge time commitment plus aren’t written for you. I do all the research and combine it with knowing your hopes and dreams for your vacation and provide a custom itinerary that’s unique to you.
[Lagos, Portugal]
Get off the beaten path.
Tourists flock to all the same places, making them more crowded and less authentic. I find the still-undiscovered, locals-only haunts and destinations that make for an unforgettable time.
I can also arrange once-in-a-lifetime experiences--private dinners with exceptional chefs, helicopter or hot-air balloon tours, and guided excursions only a local would know about.
A Few Videos From My Vacations
Let me do the legwork.
I’m the happiest when I’m on vacation, and it’s my goal to spread happiness by planning epic vacations for curious travelers. I’ve been to most states and scores of countries and use my personal experiences to help curate the perfect vacation for you. I go deep in the research to find the most memorable destinations, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, and unique experiences. I thoroughly read reviews and hours of operation, map out locations, and make your vacation as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
[Jenner, California]
Vacation Goals
My whole goal is helping you take a remarkable trip. Whether you’re planning your honeymoon, celebrating a milestone birthday or anniversary, gathering the family for a reunion, or even venturing on a solo retreat, I’ve got you covered. So we start with you--where are you going, what do you want to experience, and what’s your budget (typically a one-week vacation that includes my full suite of services costs around $500). Tell me about your dream vacation, and I’ll help you decide on how to make it the best vacation you’ve taken.
If you’ve already planned a portion of your trip (destination, flights, even lodging), I jump in to plan your daily itinerary and extras--dining, excursions, and special touches that free you from spending too much time on the internet or phone and alleviate your pre-vacation stress.
(All photos and videos on my website were taken by me.)
How It Works
Fill out my vacation planning survey, so I can understand your interests and expectations.
I’ll contact you about pricing. (It’s typically around $500 per week with lodging, transportation, dining, and activities planned in one city.)
With your initial payment, I begin planning your amazing vacation.
Through continued conversation with you, I create your custom itinerary.
You book things that require prepayment, such as flights, hotels, and excursions. I will send you all the necessary links and info to make this easy.
You enjoy your vacation while tracking your timeline through a mobile app.
Whether you know where you’re going or need help figuring it out, I will plan the perfect itinerary that provides unique glimpses into wherever you’re going and includes bespoke experiences tailored just to you.
[Azores, Portugal]
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get?
Before your trip, I'll send you travel tips and an app with your itinerary, including booked events and suggestions so you can see all the things planned each day.
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies depending upon location, duration of your trip, and planning aspects. Typically a one-week vacation with lodging, transportation, dining, and activities planned in one city costs $500. If you need more or less, I will explain your pricing structure once I receive your survey.
As a vacationer what are my responsibilities?
You are responsible for booking anything that requires a credit card. I will send you recommendations and provide you with website links, but it is up to you to do the booking within a timely fashion.
How do we work together?
This is all about a partnership, which requires a lot of communication (that’s a good thing!). I’ll have many questions along the way to ensure that you’re getting the perfect vacation.
What if I change my destination?
Depending on how much research I’ve already conducted, it is essentially like planning a new vacation, and thus, there will be an additional fee. If only one or two aspects of the trip have been researched, your additional fee will be reduced.
What if something goes wrong on my trip?
I provide you an amazing itinerary. I advise you on the best times to go to certain parts of the world, but after that, I can’t control nature or world events.
What if we can’t go on the trip for some reason?
If you need to cancel your vacation for any reason, you still receive your custom itinerary which you can use at any time. Because I do all the planning and research up front, I can’t offer any refunds.
Customer Reviews
25th Anniversary Italian Getaway
We have been planning a trip to Italy since we got married...25 years ago. Jody was the perfect planner for the trip - it actually exceeded my expectations. We visited everything we wanted - Rome, Florence and Naples and it was breathtaking. Everything was perfectly planned and executed by Jody. She was so kind and accommodating and responded whenever we needed anything. I needed help getting a driver while we were there, since we planned to rent a car and thought better of it when we saw the driving, and she helped us the same day we reached out. I will be using her EVERYTIME we go anywhere - I recommend you do the same.
Kelen’s review on Facebook.
Central American Island Escape for a Family of 4
Jody helped us plan an amazing trip to San Pedro, Belize over the Christmas holidays. It started in April with a survey to figure out where we wanted to go - the whole family worked on it. Jody came back with several suggestions, and when we decided where we wanted to go, she sent us options on where to stay. The place was perfect for us - right in the heart of town. She had a long list of dining suggestions, things to do and took care of booking most of the activities. Our sons were never bored. What more can you ask for? We will definitely use Jody again!!!
Cameron’s review on Facebook.
Tropical Getaway for a Family of 4
Jody planned my family of 4 the most perfect vacation. Her services were priceless. Our family rarely travels because the planning process can be so overwhelming. With Jody’s service I easily filled out a short survey for her to better help plan our trip. She suggested 3 different places that matched what we were looking for. We decided on San Pedro, Belize. Jody arranged everything from finding the perfect resort, to arranging the puddle jumper to the island, to snorkeling excursions, to dinner and lunch reservations, to (one of our most favorite activities) walking dogs from the homeless shelter on the beach. That last one says everything about Jody’s services. She knew that we were animal lovers and that an activity like that would be very special to our family. Her service is so precise and personal. She really has such a vast knowledge of travel is wonderful and easy to work with. I can honestly say that we will hire Jody to plan many more vacations for our family!
Jessica & Chris’s review on Facebook.
Family Island Getaway for 13 People
I decided it would be a good idea for our entire family (13 people) to go on a vacation around Christmas, and then realized if I wanted it to happen I would need to be the one to plan it... Thank goodness for Jody! She did all the research I would have done if I'd had the time, and then some. She kept me on track every step of the way and made sure we had everything we needed to keep everyone happy. I can be a little obsessive about doing everything myself, but outsourcing to Jody was one of the best decisions I've made. She found things I wouldn't have found, and kept my sanity intact. 5 stars, highly recommend.
Ariane’s review on Facebook.
Mountain Escape for a Family of 4
We had the most fantastic time in Bryson City, from zip lining to horseback riding to roasting marshmallows with just the four of us. We needed a moment to unplug and connect. Thank you for all your planning. It makes our life so much easier! Everything was perfect, right down to the dog friendly hikes and restaurants you suggested. We went from never taking vacations because they were too overwhelming to plan, to taking 2 in 6 months, 1 to Belize and 1 to North Carolina. You have helped us create vacations that we never would have dreamed of. Thank you Jody! I can’t wait to have you plan the next one!
Chris & Jessica’s review on Facebook.
Family Vacation to Nashville
Jody planned my family vacation to Nashville, TN and went completely above and beyond in every way. There was an Air BnB booking crisis that she handled with ease and negotiated a better deal for us. The house we ended up in was ridiculously cool. I thought I had done everything in Nashville, but Jody had some awesome recommendations. She planned an escape room for our “rainy day activity.” It was SO fun and definitely something we won’t forget. Hire Jody as your travel planner if you want a unique and curated getaway that you’ll adoringly recall forever!
Abbie’s review on Facebook.
Romantic European Getaway
I had Jody help plan our recent trip to Barcelona and Helsinki. She really dug into the two cities and came up with a bunch of great dining, drinking and activities for us! Jody was extremely responsive and quick with her communications and made it super easy for us, including booking reservations. She even provided an interactive online spreadsheet that organized everything for us and was also available through a smartphone app. Highly recommended and will use Jody's services again for our next big trip!
Morgan & Ben’s review on Facebook.
Tropical 40th Birthday for 10 People
Jody helped me plan the perfect trip for my husband’s 40th birthday. I don’t know how I would have pulled it off without her. Extremely organized, responsive, and helpful. Everything she suggested and booked for us was incredible! I will definitely use her again.
Megan & Ty’s review on Facebook.
My Husband’s Shameless Plug
Take this with a grain of salt, because I am Jody’s husband, but her trips are amazing! There are days when we’ve had upwards of 10 food receipts due to her travel research obsession. I’ve been there chasing the perfect latte, donut, Bloody Mary, lunch, snack, happy hour, second happy hour, charcuterie board, dinner, dessert, and speakeasy cocktail. It’s a tough life being married to Jody and all of her scouting adventures!
Ben’s review on Facebook.
Family Vacation to Nashville
Jody planned a family vacation for me in Nashville, Tennessee for December. She made reservations at an Airbnb several months prior to the trip. About a week before we were to leave, she got notification from Airbnb that the house was sold and the new owner didn’t want to rent it out. She quickly searched for another place and found one even better than the one she booked previously. But it was more expensive, so she went to Airbnb and negotiated it for the same price as our original one. I was very impressed how she handled the entire trip planning, very professional and very detailed oriented. She also found fun activities and great restaurants. I highly recommend her services.
Frances’s review on Facebook.
[Lake Como, Italy]
Contact Jody
When I’m not traveling, I live in Atlanta, Georgia. Give me a call at 404-661-6835 or email me at jody@jodyscouts.com. You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook.
If you’re looking to get started on planning your next vacation, please fill out this survey. The form below is for general inquiries.
