Frequently Asked Questions

This is probably the most common misconception about travel agents. Hotels, cruise lines,  tour operators, etc. offer the same prices whether you book through travel agents, online booking sites, or directly on their websites. 

We earn a commission paid by the hotel, cruise line, or tour operator. In fact, in 99% of cases we can guarantee we will offer the same or better price you could find on any other public booking platform, while offering you personalized service and extra perks!

 As a luxury travel advisor, we can offer you exclusive perks & upgrades, from spa credits to free breakfast, literally putting dollars in your pocket that you would have spent elsewhere. 

It’s worth underscoring that we are real people with real connections that can help you have the experience you deserve (rather than a booking site with none of those things).

You can think of us as an extension of the hotel’s team, with a direct line to hotel management. So, when you need something for your trip, we can get you instant support, rather than dwindling your time away listening to the hold music of a call center. 

As an Independent Fora Travel affiliated agency, The Curated World has access to exclusive travel consortiums and invitation-only hotel programs including Virtuoso, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Dorchester Collection's Diamond Club, Rosewood Elite, Hyatt Prive, Hilton Impressario, and dozens more. For a complete listing of our exclusive partnerships, visit our affiliated agency's site here. 

Our perks often include*:

• Free Breakfast
• Free Room Upgrade Upon Arrival
• Early Check-In and/or Late Check-Out
• A $100 credit to be used for food & beverage, spa, etc. 
• VIP Status

*kindly note that not all perks are available at all properties

Booking via Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts – or Amex FHR, the brand’s booking platform – means you’re sacrificing personalization and attention to detail.

The other option is waiting on hold to speak with a call center agent. And, with Amex’s nearly 7,000 agents, you’re never getting the same person twice.

Plus, the Amex booking portal is not always accurate. It’s common for Amex to display only certain room categories for a given hotel stay; and those room categories aren’t actually available for said dates.

Another issue: Amex advertises perks for cardholders at certain hotels; however, if cardholders book the hotel using their Amex card, but not directly through the portal, they’re denied the perks. 

The travel industry is all about relationships. Our Fora affiliated network has built meaningful relationships with hotels around the world (over 3,500, to be exact). And while Amex provides perks for card holders (at roughly 2,300 hotels), there’s no real relationship with Amex travel agents. The partnership is with Amex’s corporate brand, as a whole.

Still, based on the sheer number of our hotel partnerships alone, you are nearly twice as likely to get that upgrade (or free breakfast, or spa credits…) booking with us. 

Yes, we can customize group travel packages for families, friends, and corporate groups. Contact us for more information on our group packages.