What Goes Into a $40k Trip, Anyway?
Deconstructing a luxury travel vacation.
We’ve spent years researching and writing about travel, so you’d think Pavia and I would have an easy time planning our own trips. But the truth? Sometimes it’s a total b*tch.
Even with all our experience, we still find ourselves texting each other late at night, juggling a dozen open browser tabs, second-guessing every decision, and waiting until the last possible minute to book. Planning a trip can feel like staring down a mountain — exciting, yes, but also full of obstacles: visa rules to decipher, flight deals to track, transportation options in languages we barely understand. There's always a low-key hum of anxiety — should we get travel insurance? What if we miss a connection? — buzzing beneath the anticipation.
So it’s no surprise that many travelers outsource the stress and pay a premium for expert help. We’ve met the people who make this possible: travel advisors, fixers, and destination pros who obsess over every last detail, leverage insider connections, and execute seamless, extraordinary vacations. The kinds of trips we’re talking about: bespoke, high-touch itineraries that can run $20,000 per person for a week of something fabulous. And much, much higher.
So what actually goes into planning a trip like that?
We thought it would be interesting to find out.
In today’s newsletter, we’re taking you behind the scenes of a high-end vacation. Our guest is Emmanuel Burgio, founder and CEO of Blue Parallel, a boutique travel company specializing in private, insider tours across Latin America, the Mediterranean, and the polar regions.
He gave us a peek into what it takes to plan an adventurous, 12-day itinerary through Argentina and Uruguay — a trip built entirely around his clients’ tastes and whims. You can’t get this kind of TLC from Chat GPT. (And let’s hope you never will.) — Jeralyn
Let’s Start With Some Operations Background
“I have a team of 30 people. When a travel agent works with a traditional DMC (Destination Management Company) that organizes travel logistics, they may offer 100 options of things to do in one destination. At Blue Parallel, we personally vet every activity — so out of 100 things, maybe we think only seven are a WOW. For an itinerary to work, we must have top-notch accommodations, deeply knowledgeable expert guides, insider experiences away from the crowds, and extremely delicious culinary experiences at all times. If we don’t have those things, we won’t send someone to that destination.”
About the Clients
“This trip to Argentina and Uruguay was prepared for a wife and husband who traveled with us many times in all the destinations where we operate, so we had a sense of their likes and dislikes. I was spending most of my time in Uruguay and knew it was a great itinerary for these travelers who like to be surprised and active and have full immersion in nature and culture. When we looked at how long they would spend in the air to get to Uruguay and how much time they had on the ground, it made sense to also add Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the itinerary.”
All About High-Touch Execution
“Every trip has a tag team — one person on the ground does logistics and another person (a native English speaker on EST hours) does all the liaising with clients before, during, and after the trip. Whenever we launch a new itinerary or are organizing special experiences for clients, we rehearse the itinerary to better understand the flow and help us get ready for requests and changes — which can be common, especially when people fly private. Everything goes on behind the scenes. The client has complete peace of mind.”
Itinerary at a Glance
Consider the Perks
Upon disembarking, clients are met by a VIP assistant at the gate and escorted to the VIP area where they relax with refreshments while someone else gathers the luggage. Clients are assisted through immigration and customs hassle-free, without waiting in line. Clients’ personal host is waiting outside for a private hotel transfer. For the duration of the trip, all transportation is completely seamless.
Read about a private polo experience, Afro-Uruguayan music, hanging with sea lions, and other highlights that make this a trip that’s too hard to DIY.