BESPOKE TRAVEL PLANNING

Travel that feels

Personalized itineraries shaped around the way you want to travel, with memorable meals, distinctive experiences, and every detail thoughtfully connected.

like you.

Begin Your Journey
Begin Your Journey
A cozy outdoor dining setup on a terrace overlooking the sea and hillside houses at sunset, featuring a table with a floral centerpiece, bread, fruit, and water glasses.

What Makes a Via Lydia Journey

STAY

Settle in somewhere special

Your stay is chosen based on the way you want to travel, whether you want to be in the middle of it all or tucked away somewhere peaceful. 

SAVOR

Let food lead the way

Each journey is shaped by how you love to eat, with recommendations researched beyond the usual best-of lists to find iconic restaurants and hidden local gems that suit your tastes. After all, food is one of the most delicious ways to understand a place.

DISCOVER

Go beyond the guidebook

Pair the places you’ve always wanted to see with local discoveries, from vibrant neighborhoods and markets to experiences that connect you to the culture and character of the destination.

WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER

As much—or as little—

planning as you need

Whether you need help with one part of your trip or want each day thoughtfully planned, choose the level of support that works for you. Keep the parts you enjoy and leave the rest to me.

  • For travelers who know where they’re going and want help finding the right place to stay.

    Includes:

    • A personalized selection of hotel recommendations

    • Booking through Via Lydia

    • Preferred amenities and benefits at select properties

    • Pre-arrival communication and special requests

    • Support with your hotel reservation

    Complimentary when booked through a commissionable Via Lydia partner. If the best fit falls outside the partner network, sourcing and booking services begin at $100. You’ll receive a clear fee before any work begins.

  • For travelers who have the larger pieces in place but want help finding memorable things to do.

    Includes:

    • A personalized selection of tours, activities, or private experiences

    • Booking through Via Lydia

    • Preferred rates or benefits when available

    • Support with your confirmed excursions

    Complimentary when booked through a commissionable Via Lydia partner. If the best fit falls outside the partner network, sourcing and booking services begin at $25. You’ll receive a clear fee before any work begins.

  • For travelers who want help arranging a rental car or private airport transfer.

    Includes:

    • Options selected around your itinerary, preferences, and budget

    • Booking through Via Lydia

    • Preferred rates or benefits when available

    • Support with your confirmed transportation

    Complimentary when booked through a commissionable Via Lydia partner. If the best fit falls outside the partner network, sourcing and booking services begin at $20. You’ll receive a clear fee before any work begins.

  • For travelers who have the main pieces booked but want help making the most of their time.

    Receive a personalized, day-by-day itinerary with carefully researched dining, activities, neighborhoods, and transportation guidance. You’ll have a complete plan and everything you need to make your preferred reservations.

    Includes:

    • A personalized day-by-day itinerary

    • Restaurant and bar recommendations

    • Activities, neighborhoods, and local experience recommendations

    • Thoughtful geographic planning and pacing

    • Transportation guidance between planned activities

    • A polished digital itinerary

    • One round of revisions

    For example: Your hotels for a multi-stop trip through Japan are booked, but you want to know what to do, where to eat, and how to organize each day so the trip flows naturally from one place to the next. Explore a sample Japan itinerary

    Starting at:

    • $300 for up to 3 days

    • $450 for up to 5 days

    • $600 for up to 7 days

    Dining reservation add-on: Starting at $50 for up to five reservations.

  • For travelers who want to hand over the planning from the beginning.

    From hotels and transportation to dining and experiences, every part of your trip is researched, booked, and brought together in one cohesive itinerary. You’ll also receive support throughout the planning process, so you can look forward to the trip without managing every reservation and detail yourself.

    Includes:

    • Hotel sourcing and booking

    • A personalized day-by-day itinerary

    • Restaurant and bar recommendations

    • Dining reservation management

    • Activities, excursions, and local experiences

    • Transportation planning and booking

    • Coordination of confirmed arrangements

    • A polished digital itinerary

    • Up to two rounds of revisions

    • Support leading up to departure

    Starting at:

    • $500 for up to 3 days

    • $750 for up to 5 days

    • $1,000 for up to 7 days

    Pricing reflects one destination and up to two travelers. Additional destinations, travelers, and complex arrangements are quoted separately.

  • Planning fees are based on trip length, number of destinations, group size, and level of coordination. After learning more about your trip, you’ll receive a personalized proposal outlining the scope and fee.

    Planning services under $500 are paid in full before work begins. For services of $500 or more, a 50% nonrefundable planning retainer reserves your start date. The remaining balance is due before the final itinerary is delivered.

How it works

Tell me about your trip

01

Share your dates, destination, budget, travel style, and what you already have in mind through a short inquiry form.

Choose your level of support

02

I’ll recommend the service that best fits your trip and send a clear proposal outlining the scope, timeline, and fee.

Watch it come together

03

Once your planning start date is reserved, I’ll research and bring together the stays, meals, experiences, and logistics included in your service. You’ll have the opportunity to review and refine the plan along the way.

Pack your bags

04

Before departure, you’ll receive a polished digital itinerary with your plans, recommendations, and confirmed details organized in one easy-to-access place.

A woman smiling and holding a drink, seated at a round table with food including sushi, a salad, and drinks, in an outdoor setting with a large white decorative dragon arch and a DJ in the background.

Meet Lydia

I’ve always believed that some of the best travel memories begin at the table. Food has led me through unfamiliar neighborhoods, introduced me to local traditions, and given me a reason to plan entire days around a single reservation.

I created Via Lydia to share that approach to travel with others. I thoughtfully bring together distinctive hotels, memorable meals, and experiences that offer a deeper sense of place, shaping each trip around how you want to travel and what you’re most excited to discover.

My goal is simple: to take the time-consuming research and logistics off your plate while creating a journey that feels personal, well paced, and entirely your own.

  • "I can not say enough good things about my booking experiences so far with Lydia. She always makes sure my room preferences are met and her communication is top notch starting from initial booking through the entirety of the trip. I can confidently say I will never book a hotel stay without her again!"

    —Aneesha Z. (travel to Big Island)

  • "Working with Lydia was an absolute pleasure from start to finish! I gave her a long list of ideas for a relaxing getaway with my husband, and she somehow turned all of those ideas into the perfect trip. She was incredibly responsive throughout the planning process, answered every question quickly, and made thoughtful recommendations that fit exactly what we were looking for."

    —Katie M. (travel to Texas)

  • "Lydia was incredibly efficient and took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for, offering spot-on recommendations that saved us hours of research. On top of that, she even secured a room upgrade and extended our checkout time. She made the entire booking process completely seamless and stress-free. I would strongly recommend her to plan your itinerary and make reservations."

    —Chiming W. (travel to Taiwan)

  • "Lydia was extremely helpful throughout the booking process and made planning our trip feel easy and stress-free. Communication was timely, clear, and friendly, and she answered all of our questions quickly. She helped us find a great option for the start of our BVI trip and made the experience seamless. We really appreciated her help and would happily work with her again in the future!!!"

    —Samantha G. (travel to British Virgin Islands)

  • "Working with Lydia was such a great experience. She made planning my trip to Amor Arenal so easy and stress-free, and every detail was handled with care. The resort she recommended was absolutely perfect—the room, the views, the food, the spa, everything exceeded expectations. I especially appreciated how attentive and responsive she was throughout the process, making sure all my questions were answered and that I felt completely taken care of. Thanks to Lydia’s expertise, I was able to just relax and enjoy the trip. I’ll definitely be booking future travels with them!"

    —Marianne S. (travel to Costa Rica)

  • "Communication was excellent throughout the entire process, and Lydia was highly professional. She provided a comprehensive spreadsheet featuring multiple location options, along with detailed information about each one. The information was incredibly helpful and made it much easier for us to make an informed decision. I highly recommend Lydia to anyone looking for a variety of options without having to spend hours doing the research themselves."

    —Samantha H. (travel to Austin)

  • "Working with Lydia was an absolute game-changer for our trip! From the very beginning, she was incredibly helpful, ensuring we locked in the absolute best dates for our schedule. She handled every single detail with remarkable care and effortless ease, taking all the stress out of the planning process. If you want a seamless booking experience and someone who truly goes above and beyond, I cannot recommend her enough!"

    —Apeksha S. (travel to Big Island)

  • "Booking our trip through Lydia was a straightforward and smooth experience. She was clear and thorough throughout the entire process, handling all the logistical details seamlessly. Not having to manage the booking specifics made the planning process completely hassle-free. I would certainly work with Lydia again for future travel bookings."

    —Mansoor Z. (travel to Big Island)

  • "Lydia is the best! She helped me plan not only my hotel/stay according to where I wanted to spend most of my time, but she helped provided great recommendations for eating on and off the mountain! I will definitely seek her help again for future travel."

    —Rebecca K. (travel to Colorado)

WHERE TO NEXT?

Your next favorite story

starts here.

Tell me a little bit about the trip that’s on your mind. I’ll be in touch within 2~3 business days.

START PLANNING