Send who is traveling, your dates or travel window, departure city, a comfortable budget and the kind of vacation you want. Add two must-haves and anything that would rule a trip out. You do not need a finished itinerary to get useful help.
A clear brief saves back-and-forth and helps us compare options on the same terms. “A week away for two adults, a quiet beach and around $5,000 total including flights” gives us much more to work with than “send deals.”
The six details that matter most
If something is undecided, say that. We can work with a range. Clear uncertainty is better than an exact-looking answer that is only a guess.
Swipe or scroll the table to compare all columns.
| Detail | What is useful |
|---|---|
| Travelers | Adults, children’s ages at travel and how many rooms or cabins |
| Timing | Exact dates or an approximate month, season and trip length; fixed constraints |
| Departure | Preferred airports, nearby alternatives and willingness to drive |
| Budget | Comfortable total, firm ceiling and what each number includes |
| Travel style | Cruise, resort or undecided; desired pace and atmosphere |
| Priorities | Must-haves, deal-breakers, room needs and any special occasion |
Be precise about flexibility
Dates can be flexible in several ways. You may be able to shift a few days, travel any week in a month, or choose between school breaks. Tell us which kind applies and the dates you absolutely cannot move.
Trip length also matters. Five nights away with two long travel days is different from five full days at the destination. If you are unsure, describe the time you can take off and let us help translate it into possible trips. You can leave undecided date fields blank and put a rough window in the trip-priorities field.
Make your budget useful
Say whether the number is per person, per household or for the whole party. List whether it must include flights, transfers, the room or cabin, activities and spending money. If your comfortable amount differs from your absolute ceiling, give us both.
Our form asks for an approximate total trip budget excluding spending money. Use the priorities field to explain any other boundary, such as including flights or setting aside a separate allowance for outings. We can then compare options without pretending every headline price covers the same things.
Explain the features behind your preferences
Instead of only naming a resort, tell us why it appeals to you. Is it the beach, smaller size, room layout or evening entertainment? If you liked or disliked a previous vacation, describe the feature rather than sharing private booking details.
For a cruise, mention whether you care most about the ship or the ports and whether a balcony or connecting cabins are important. For a resort, tell us about the atmosphere, activities and travel time you want. Describe access or dietary needs in practical terms without sending medical records.
A trip brief you can copy and adapt
We’re planning a vacation for [adults] and [children’s ages at travel]. We’d like [number] nights around [dates, month or season]. Our fixed constraints are [details]. We can depart from [city/airports] and [can/cannot] consider nearby alternatives. Our comfortable budget is [amount] for [the whole trip/per household], including [items]. Our firm ceiling is [amount]. We’re interested in [cruise/all-inclusive/undecided]. We want the days to feel [quiet/active/social/a mix]. Our must-haves are [two priorities]. We’d rather avoid [deal-breakers]. We need [rooms/cabins and bed arrangements]. We’re celebrating [occasion, if any]. We’re [researching/ready to compare/ready to book after reviewing options]. You can reply to us by [preferred contact method].
What to leave out of the first message
Do not email passport images, passport numbers, payment-card details or other sensitive documents. They are not needed for an initial trip conversation. If booking later requires personal information, ask how to provide it through the appropriate secure process.
If you want us to compare an existing quote, share its relevant travel details and inclusions after removing personal and payment information. A screenshot of only a headline price is not enough to establish that two options are equivalent.
What happens after you send it
We review the brief, clarify important gaps and help narrow the options. Before booking, we review the selected trip and its supplier terms. An inquiry is a starting point, not a reservation, and quoted prices or availability can change until the booking is confirmed.
Use the trip-request form or email info@bookedbythebug.com. Our planning services are free when you book through us. You do not need to solve every decision before reaching out.
Common questions
Can we ask for help without a destination?
Yes. Your travel window, budget and ideal kind of day give us a useful place to start.
Do we need everyone’s legal name for the first inquiry?
Not for the initial comparison. A lead contact and the traveler mix are enough to begin; accurate booking details come later through the appropriate process.
Can we request options while we are still researching?
Yes. Tell us your decision stage and any timing constraints so we understand what kind of help is useful.