About Grand Getaways

Grand Getaways was founded in 1994 in the belief that the world of leisure travel was about to change quite dramatically. We realized there would be a new niche developing for experienced travel professionals who could provide personalized assistance and direction to discerning travelers above and beyond that offered by traditional travel agents. It was our belief that the combined influence of the a dramatically reduced commission structure inaugurated by airlines and hotels, and direct competition from the emerging Internet travel websites, would leave even the most experienced travel agents unable to economically provide extensive and customized trip planning services to their clients.

This conclusion was dramatically confirmed in 1996 when Grand Getaways conducted a survey (in conjunction with a well-known upscale travel newsletter) of 6000 highly successful business professionals whose income and net worth placed them in a category that permitted them to travel to the finest first-class hotels and resorts in the world. The purpose of the survey was to determine what (if any) type of assistance they needed to more effectively pursue their passion for travel.

The result was nothing short of overwhelming. Over 30% of these newsletter readers returned the 4-page survey (an astonishing response rate for any mailed survey), and over 70% of those responding said they would have serious interest in becoming members of a professional organization that could assist them in planning their travel itineraries! Surprisingly enough, most of those responding already had an existing relationship with a travel agent!

Based upon these survey results, Grand Getaways affirmed its corporate mission to provide just such a service to well-heeled travelers, on an exclusive and dedicated basis.

The Itinerary Planning Concept

Very simply, itinerary planning is the process of working together with a client to prepare for travel to one or more destinations anywhere in the world, and compiling a complete set of recommendations oriented to meet that client's specific needs and desires. These recommendations will usually include suggested types of transportation to the destination(s), accommodations, dining, sightseeing, special events and activities, tours, guides/drivers or car rentals, translators (if necessary), and information on the local physical and political environment. These recommendations will be especially tailored to specifically address the traveler's personal tastes and interests, and to provide the greatest likelihood of offering the ideal leisure travel experience for that individual, couple, or family.

Why Our Services Are Unique

Did you know that most people plan their own leisure trips? Usually this occurs not because they want to plan their own trips, but because they have nowhere else to turn to find professional, objective, and personalized assistance in their efforts to design a comprehensive custom itinerary. Grand Getaways' sole purpose is to provide just such a service to the affluent travel market.

We are NOT:

A travel agency
A commissioned travel broker
A tour operator
A vendor of any travel products
An owner of a resort, cruise line, or any type of hotel or resort facility
A promoter for any airline, hotel, car rental, cruise or tour company

Because we are not any of the above, We ARE:

Objective in our suggestions of airlines, resorts, hotels, cruises or any other desired form of pleasure travel Unbiased in our selections and recommendations,
Honest about the pros and cons of any travel alternatives, including the ones we recommend
Timely in providing proposals based upon the latest information and the newest discoveries

We can maintain this posture better than anyone else in the travel industry because the only payment we receive is a fee directly from our clients. Unlike most other companies in the industry, Grand Getaways receives no income whatsoever from any suppliers or vendors of travel products and services.

Do you know of anyone else in the travel industry who can say this?? If so, we'd like to hear about them, because (unless they do the same thing we do), we really don't know of any other companies who provide services to the traveling public who don't rely heavily upon commissions and overrides and complimentary travel benefits from their suppliers!! In this situation, Grand Getaways believes that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to be completely objective and unbiased in their choice of recommendations to their clients! And they may even charge you, the client, a fee in addition to their outside commission income!

Our Exclusive Membership Program

We guarantee a high level of personalized service because we have limited our exclusive membership to 300 households around the world! Once the 300 positions are full, applicants will be put on a waiting list if they wish. Grand Getaways guarantees that its membership club will never exceed 300 members, so that you will receive only the highest level of personalized attention at all times. As a member of the Grand Getaways Club, you will have exclusive 800# access to the President and his staff, and a "Members Only" password-controlled page on our website with special features and up-to-date travel recommendations for luxury destinations around the world.

About the Founder of Grand Getaways

Not only are we able to provide objective viewpoints, every client's needs are directly overseen (and often personally managed by) the Founder and Owner of Grand Getaways, Jack Holton. Mr. Holton has over 25 years of personal experience traveling to more than 60 countries throughout the world, and he has personally stayed at hundreds of the finest accommodations available in the leisure travel industry today. For a sampling of destinations and hotel properties recently visited and personally recommended by Mr. Holton, visit the Top 75 Worldwide Luxury Resort Recommendations page on this website. He is a graduate of Yale University and Stanford Business School, has been employed by companies such as Citicorp and McKinsey (traveling extensively for both), has seen the inside workings of a travel agency, has been a member of IATA, and has written for upscale travel publications.

His experience also comes from being passionate about exactly what all of his clients love to do: traveling to new and exciting destinations and enjoying the best that each has to offer. He has extensive contacts in the travel industry, and a network of professionals and other resources that may be quickly accessed for any help needed to plan exactly the itinerary that meets your personal travel desires.

Our Goal

The Grand Getaways concept is to provide the highest imaginable level of personalized service while utilizing the best of today's technological advancements. We believe that we can help you plan your dream vacations throughout the year much more efficiently and effectively that if you had to do it yourself (or with the help of friends). Using Grand Getaways as your travel consultant will save you long hours and frustrating searches, and ensure a delightful and memorable "hassle- free" vacation experience--all for a cost that is probably less than 2-3% of your annual household leisure travel budget!

Click here for more information on Grand Getaways Club membership.