Picture this: You’re sitting at your desk, dreaming of that perfect getaway, perhaps a serene overwater villa in the Maldives, a soul-refreshing retreat in Bhutan, or an exclusive, crowd-free journey through Japan’s hidden gems.
But then reality hits.
An open laptop filled with dozens of browser tabs, conflicting reviews, and an endless stream of decision awaiting. What should have been an exciting process turns into a frustrating, time-consuming, and emotionally draining ordeal.
You are not alone. 95.7% of our clients in a recent survey tells us how their excitement for travel turns into overwhelming stress during the planning phase.
When you plan your own luxury vacation, you’re not just spending money – you’re investing precious time and emotional energy such as:
🔹Burning the midnight oil, juggling work and family while researching destinations, hotels, and activities.
🔹Endlessly scrolling through reviews, second-guessing every choice, wondering if you’re overpaying.
🔹Arguing with your spouse over budget, itinerary, and logistics—because the more you plan, the more stressful it becomes.
🔹Worrying if the kids or parents will enjoy it, fearing someone in the group will be unhappy despite all your effort.
🔹Feeling exhausted even before the trip begins, as planning sucks the joy out of what was meant to be an exciting adventure.
Before you know it, you just want the vacation to be over before it even starts.
It doesn’t have to be this way. This guide will show you how partnering with the right travel designer can make all the difference.
With the explosion of AI and social media, People often think, “I’ll just plan it myself—how hard can it be? All I need to do is to feed it into ChatGPT and viola my itinerary is done.”
But what starts as a fun idea quickly turns into a logistical nightmare.
Here’s why:
What if you pick the wrong place?
You want somewhere that matches your mood, preferences, and the experiences you crave. But there are thousands of options. Do you go for a relaxing beach vacation or a cultural adventure? Will the weather be perfect? Is it child-friendly?
With too many choices, decision fatigue sets in—leading to doubt, stress, and procrastination.
The million-dollar question: How much should you spend?
Too little, and you might compromise on comfort or experience. Too much, and you wonder if you’re wasting money on unnecessary luxuries.
The worst part? Hidden costs—those surprise charges for transportation, last-minute changes, or overpriced tourist traps that drain your wallet without adding real value.
Imagine planning the perfect itinerary, only for your spouse to say, “That’s boring.” Or your kids to groan, “We don’t want to do that!”
Trying to balance different personalities, preferences, and energy levels in a single itinerary is a losing battle. Someone will always be unhappy. And if you over-plan, it feels rushed. If you under-plan, it feels wasted.
Flights, transfers, car rentals, train schedules, local guides, activities, check-in times… one miscalculation and your whole itinerary collapses.
Ever had a tight layover that caused you to miss your next flight? Or realised too late that your hotel is nowhere near the attractions?
The stress of getting from one place to another sucks the joy out of your vacation.
You found the perfect hotel online—only to arrive and realise it’s nothing like the photos (don’t we experience that sort of disappointment?). The rooms are tiny, the bathroom has no standing shower, and the “seaside view” is actually a view of a parking lot.
Worse, it’s far from everything, making daily commuting a hassle. By the time you check out, you regret not spending a little more for a truly luxurious stay.
Flights get delayed. Tours get cancelled. Luggage goes missing. An unexpected strike shuts down transportation.
Then what?
Without a proper backup plan, your dream vacation turns into a chaotic mess, leaving you scrambling for solutions instead of relaxing. The best part? You get the bulk of the blame because you were in charge of planning and you did not make allowances for contingencies (most clients fail to plan and hence, plan to fail)
Instead of spending months planning (only to still have doubts), why not leverage on the travel experts and let them handle the stress?
Say goodbye to:
By partnering with a luxury travel designer, you’re no longer the overwhelmed planner. Instead, you become:
In short, leave all the hard work to the specialised Travel Designer.
All you need to do? Pack, go and have a good time. That sounds more like a vacation!
Here are some uniquely curated trips we’ve designed for our clients:
🌌20th Wedding Anniversary In Lapland – Celebrate 20 years of love with a bespoke Lapland adventure, designed for unforgettable moments together. Enjoy a private Northern Lights chase, cozy nights in a glass igloo, and a romantic husky sledding ride chasing the Northern lights. Indulge in gourmet Nordic cuisine and unwind in a traditional Finnish sauna, creating cherished memories in a magical Arctic setting.
⛩️ Ultimate Kids Friendly Tour In Japan – This 19-day ultimate family adventure in Japan turns complex travel logistics into a seamless, joy-filled journey. From thrilling theme parks to hands-on experiences like cooking and food replica making, every moment is designed for fun and bonding. Enjoy cultural highlights such as a tea ceremony and kimono wearing, alongside unforgettable animal encounters. With expert navigation, what could be a travel challenge becomes a cherished trip of a lifetime.
🚋 Adventurous Vietnam Tour– This meticulously curated itinerary connects various Vietnamese cities via train tours and private escorted tours, a criteria requested by our adventurous clients. Highlights include a round of golf at a premier course, a private snorkeling excursion in Nha Trang, and an intimate Mekong Delta tour, providing deep insights into local life. Designed for those seeking both adventure and comfort, this tour ensures a lifetime of cherished memories.
🏂 Winter Sonata Multigeneration South Korea Adventure – Experience a magical multigenerational winter journey through South Korea with the Winter Sonata private tour. Enjoy tobogganing, a scenic hike in Mt. Seoraksan, and the serene beauty of Nami Island. Savor delicious street food and take a high-speed KTX ride for an authentic local experience. This carefully curated trip blends adventure, culture, and relaxation, ensuring unforgettable memories for the whole family.
Each of our tours is a carefully woven story, designed to create memories that last a lifetime.
At Epic Travel Designer, we don’t just book travel – we craft experiences that align perfectly with your vision while eliminating the stress of planning. Here’s how we stand out among our competitors:
✔️ Tailor-Made Itineraries – No cookie-cutter tours. We design trips that fit your personality and preferences perfectly.
✔️ Exclusive Experiences – Access hidden gems, private tours, and VIP services.
✔️ No Commissions, Just Honest Advice – We don’t take commissions from hotels or service providers, so every recommendation is based on quality and value, not kickbacks.
✔️ First-Hand Expertise – We spend at least two months a year exploring destinations, vetting hotels, and testing logistics—so you get real recommendations, not just what looks good online.
✔️ 24/7 Support – If anything goes wrong, we’re just a WhatsApp message away to fix it.
✔️ Pre & Post-Trip Assistance – From checklists (visas, eSIMs, packing tips) to helping with insurance claims or disputes after the trip, we’ve got your back.
EXCELLENT Based on 10 reviews jerlin ng2025-01-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Returning customer for the third time🙌. First two were to Taiwan and this time in December was to Korea. My family of 10 was thoroughly impressed with the entire experience. From start to finish, their customer service was exceptional. Best has always provided good recommendations in the itinerary. With the criteria/request given to her, e.g touring with the young to the elderly, she would plan it accordingly. The contactless booking/payment process was smooth and hassle free. Every communication was via email or mobile contact, which made it so easy. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and made the tour truly unforgettable. The accommodations were top-notch (depending on the budget provided), and every detail, from transportation to meals, was taken care of. My family felt completely relaxed and confident throughout the journey. I highly recommend engaging their services if you would like someone to plan a hassle free tour for you. Carrie Tan2024-12-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our 1st winter adventure in Hokkaido was fantastic, with snow-covered landscapes that felt like a scene from a postcard. We explored key spots such as the picturesque Biei Blue Pond, the charming Ningle Terrace, and the beautiful Lake Toya, among many others. A special shoutout to our planner, Ms. Best, who went the extra mile to assist us when one of our activities couldn’t proceed due to insufficient snow thickness. Despite her best efforts to arrange an alternative, the weather conditions ultimately made it unfeasible. The hotels we stayed in were exceptional, featuring delicious spreads for breakfast and dinner that we thoroughly enjoyed. The trip was impeccably planned, with helpful guidance provided beforehand, including tips on forwarding our luggage for a smoother experience. We were also fortunate to experience snow on nearly 90% of the days, which added an extra layer of magic to our journey. It was truly a memorable trip! Mei Lye2024-11-30Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Engaged Best’s services for 2nd time to Saigon, Nha Trang and Dalat. Happy with well planned and thoughtful itinerary after taking in our likes/dislikes. Keep up the good work! KL Tan2024-10-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Trusted planner that allows you to have none of the holiday planning headaches but have amazing holidays customised to your families preferences and needs! Their response to any small hiccups and provide alternatives and solutions while on the trip really makes us feel comforted that help is always at hand when you encounter any issues. Adrian Chiang2024-10-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Don't know where to start but Best (our planner) was absolutely the Best! Her responses to our questions and situations during our trip were quick and impeccable (even at odd times). Recommendations of hotel and itinerary based on our family preferences were also nicely taken into consideration and weaved into the master itinerary plan. Hotels although just to sleep each night, were a joy to check in to and was always an exciting surprise at each hotel we used (about 6 in total for this trip), including a cruise "hotel" that saved us travelling time since we travelled while we slept the night away. Her planned itinerary was also very well organised such that everything was "on the way" with details at every pit stop on what you need / recommended to do. Go for nothing, but the BEST (TEO)! Richard-NS Phua2024-01-26Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Was super grateful for the great planning. The entire family enjoyed our trip. The prompt response when we met with some issues while overseas was a great help to ease the anxiety. Will be using the service again soon! Pamela Quek2024-01-13Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Glad to have found Epic Travel Tours to plan for our Taiwan Trip. The itinerary was suitable for both young and old (youngest 7, oldest 70) at a comfortable pace. We enjoyed the experience of strawberry picking, releasing of sky lantern, making of spring onion cake. The kids love especially the Minsu stay which has various activities to keep them entertained and serves a wide spread of breakfast each morning. They also enjoyed the stay at Flying Cow Ranch where they get to interact with the farm animals up close and doing the DIY activities that the farm has. Lastly we are glad to have a reliable and considerate driver throughout the trip. Janice Lim2024-01-08Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Went on a tour with Epic Travel tours recently everything was smooth sailing. I appreciate Best’s timely response and help with my queries. There was very smooth transition from one activity to another as it was well-organized. Our driver was always punctual, polite and helpful. Best took the time to understand my travel preferences and provided me with an itinerary that was in line with my objectives of the trip. She provided valuable recommendations for the activities too. I also appreciate the flexibility to make adjustments to the itinerary. Overall, it was an enjoyable and stress-free travel experience. I feel confident in having Best plan subsequent trips for my family. Thank you for making our trip memorable! Alex Kwee2023-12-24Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Agent was efficient and provided itinerary that was attractive and time saving. The accommodation chosen was excellent allowing me to experience a wide range (minsu, hotel, resort) throughout the tour. Some of the minsus was off the beaten path, and would be missed if arranged by tour group and self-arranged. During the tour, the local driver was also excellent and responsive to my needs when I fell ill. Strongly recommended.
We believe that travel should be a joyful, effortless experience—not a logistical headache.
That’s why we offer a free 15-minute consultation to understand your travel style, needs, and expectations.
📞 No sales talk. No pressure. Just a conversation.
If we’re the right fit, we’ll craft a custom travel proposal just for you. If not, we’ll refer you to a better match. Either way, you leave with more clarity and confidence in your travel plans.
Really, what have you got to lose?
🌍 Start your journey to a seamless, unforgettable vacation. Book your free consultation now or whatsapp us now.