A honeymoon or anniversary trip
The trip with memories to last a lifetime. Where every detail matters and built to match your dreams.
See how planning works
Services
The trip you keep picturing, planned properly
However you want to travel, I'm here to help you plan it. Whether it's custom itineraries built from the ground up or a cruise where you already know where you want to go, Merakiva Travel can book it.
What you get
Turn your trip idea into a plan
Which two days in a city are worth building around. Which hotel photos are better than the room. Which ferry runs on the schedule it claims. The experience of nearly twenty years of travel across more than 35 countries goes into finding your version of a good trip.
Then I book it and stay reachable while you travel, so a changed flight or a swapped port is handled before it reaches you.
Proof
What past clients say
Marshall and Merakiva Travel helped us conceptualize, organize, and most of all ENJOY our honeymoon to Japan and Fiji.
We had saved up credit card points for years and knew we wanted to go big on this trip of a lifetime, but figuring out the details felt daunting. Marshall helped us strategically book flights, hotels, and excursions to maximize our budget and our time.
From skiing in Japan to shark diving in Fiji, Marshall’s three-week itinerary was so well-planned and made for a trip we will never forget!
Allie & Evan
We couldn’t be more grateful to Merakiva Travel for planning the honeymoon of our dreams!
Every detail was perfectly thought out, making our two-week journey through Italy completely seamless. Despite what could have been complicated logistics with multiple trains, ferries, and rental cars, everything went off without a hitch.
Marshall made sure every step of our trip was effortless, so we could focus on enjoying our time together. Thank you for creating the perfect honeymoon!
Archer & Dillon
Why use an advisor
It's not just knowledge. It's someone on call.
Someone on call. Someone to call. Someone to ask the questions that have been bouncing in your head. Booking with Merakiva Travel, you get my direct line, the same fares and perks a large agency has access to, and someone who actually can help when travel doesn't go to plan.
$452
saved per trip on average, working with an advisor
4 hrs
of planning time saved per trip, on average
66%
of travelers said an advisor helped them avoid a costly mistake
What are you planning?
Tell me what kind of trip this is
A big family trip
For when there's different ages, different energy levels, and very different types of travelers. I'm here to book it and, more importantly, wrangle everyone's schedules.
See how planning works
A cruise
Ocean, river, or expedition. For if you already know which line and which ship you want or you're starting from scratch.
See cruise benefits
The trip you've never figured out
You've been meaning to go somewhere for years and never gotten past the idea. Start with a few real itineraries instead of a blank page.
Browse sample itineraries
A week at a resort
For when vacation means relaxing and slowing down. All-inclusive, ultra-luxury, or beach bum. I'll help you find the perfect place to rest and relax.
See how planning works
A group trip or reunion
So many friends, so many opinions. Coordinating more than a few travelers is its own job and sometimes having one person at the center makes the whole process easier. Tell me who's coming and what you're picturing.
Tell me about your group
How it feels
A vacation so easy, it's like magic
You don't need dates nailed down or a finished wish list. A destination, a cruise you've had your eye on, a rough idea of when — that's enough to start.
What comes back is a real itinerary with a few honest choices built in, already checked against what actually works. You pick the version that feels right, I book it, and I stay reachable while you travel.
Timing
When to actually book
Every kind of trip has its own booking rhythm — book too early and you pay for certainty you didn't need, too late and you're paying for what's left. Pick yours below.
Domestic · cash
1–3 months before departure (28–35 days is the tightest sweet spot)
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Months before departure
Fares are actively managed in this range — book too early and you pay a planning premium, too late and it's scarcity pricing.
Outside the window? Booking 6+ months out is fine for holiday travel, but you're often paying for certainty you don't need. Wait past the last 2–3 weeks and it can cost up to 59% more.
Where I help: If a lower fare opens up in the same class before you fly, it's worth a rebook — I'll watch for it on trips I'm booking.
Sources: CheapAir, 2026 Airfare Study, Going.com, 2026
International · cash
2–5 months before departure (up to 8 months for peak routes and seasons)
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Months before departure
Fewer competing airlines and a longer booking curve mean fares stay flatter for longer before firming up near departure.
Outside the window? Earlier than 8 months rarely helps the price, but it protects your seat choice on popular routes and seasons. Inside 30 days, fares are usually at their most expensive and unpredictable.
Where I help: Routings like an open-jaw, a positioning flight, or an alliance partner aren't always what a search engine surfaces first — worth having someone check, and I'll flag it if a seasonal or event-driven spike is coming for your route.
Sources: Going.com: The Goldilocks Window, CheapAir, 2026 Airfare Study
Domestic · points
As soon as award seats open, about 11 months out — or the final 1–2 weeks before departure
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Months before departure
Airlines load their schedules and release the first batch of award seats roughly 330–361 days out, and the best seats go fast.
Outside the window? The months in between — call it 2 to 6 out — are usually the worst window for award seats; most of what's good is already claimed. Flexible last-minute dates are your best fallback.
Where I help: Award seats often turn up on an alliance partner's site rather than the airline you'd expect — checking more than one program is worth doing, and it's part of how I look at an award trip.
International · points
The same release window, about 11 months out, with a second chance in the final 1–3 weeks
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Months before departure
Same release mechanics as domestic, but premium-cabin international seats are scarcer and get claimed almost immediately.
Outside the window? Premium cabins are usually gone in the 2–9 month range; economy award seats can still turn up, and flexibility on routing opens more options.
Where I help: Premium-cabin award space often shows up on an alliance partner before it shows on the airline you'd expect — checking a few partners, and considering a multi-carrier routing, is worth doing before assuming there's nothing available.
Sources: The Points Guy, 2026, Roame, 2026
Ocean cruises
6–18 months out: 6–12 for many sailings, 9–18 for peak dates and special routes
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Months before departure
Plan across a 6–18 month range depending on the sailing. Alaska, peak holidays, and longer or less frequent routes reward an earlier start. Booking ahead gives you more choice of cabins and dates.
Outside the window? You can still book closer to departure, but expect fewer cabin categories, locations, and sailing dates to choose from. Even when the fare stays the same, your options can shrink. Fares and promotions can also change, so waiting does not guarantee a better price.
Where I help: I help you choose the ship, sailing, and cabin while there is still a good selection, then watch for eligible price drops or better offers. Repricing depends on the cruise line, fare rules, and final-payment deadline.
Sources: Royal Caribbean: when to book, CruiseBooking.com, 2026
River & expedition cruises
12–18 months out (12–15 months is the most commonly cited sweet spot)
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Months before departure
These ships carry far fewer passengers, so the cheapest and priciest cabins — and the best departure dates — sell out earlier than on a big ocean ship.
Outside the window? 6–12 months out still finds availability, just not your first choice of cabin or date. Under 6 months, expect a narrow, often less desirable selection.
Where I help: These lines will often hold a cabin during a deposit-protected window while you decide, and publish early-bird or solo-supplement waivers well before general release — worth checking for before you book.
Sources: Adventures by MJ, 2026, Cruise Passenger, 2025–2026
Hotel
8–14 days before check-in for the lowest price; 1–3 months ahead for the best room selection in peak season
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Months before departure
Hotels discount unsold rooms as the date nears, but that only pays off if rooms are still available — a real risk in high season.
Outside the window? Booking 4+ months out locks in availability and is often fully refundable — worth it for peak dates or a specific room category, usually at a premium. Wait past the final day or two and you're gambling on what's left.
Where I help: When the property is part of a preferred program — Virtuoso, Four Seasons Preferred, Hyatt Prive — booking through it can add a room upgrade, breakfast, or property credit at no extra cost, the kind of perk that doesn't show up booking direct or through an OTA.
Sources: Expedia/Hotels.com, 2026 Hotel Price Index, Kayak, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Why work with a travel advisor?
The hours it takes to compare hotels, routes, and logistics are hours I already spend for a living. The commission that pays for that time is built into what hotels, cruise lines, and resorts charge, whether you book direct or through me. You get the research without doing it.
How much does this cost?
Custom trip planning carries a $150 fee. Cruises and resort-only bookings don't carry that fee — the supplier's commission covers the work. And if a cruise is part of a larger custom trip, the $150 fee is waived.
Do you book everything?
Almost everything, with two exceptions worth naming. I generally steer clear of Airbnbs, though I'll book one when it's genuinely the right fit for a trip. Flights, yes, in most cases — depending on the trip's tier and destination, I may identify the right flight and have you book it directly with the airline, which protects your recourse if something changes.
Can I talk to you before I fill out the form?
Yes. Email me and we'll talk it through first — the form is there to make things easier, not to be a gate you have to get past.
How short can the trip be?
There's no hard minimum, but a weekend is usually too short to be worth a $150 planning fee. If you have something specific in mind, send an email or fill out the form and we'll figure out if it makes sense.
Does it cost more to book through you?
No. The commission that funds this is already built into what hotels, cruise lines, and resorts charge. Booking through me is the same price as booking direct.
How do you get paid?
Two ways, depending on the trip. Custom itineraries carry a $150 planning fee. Cruises and resort-only bookings pay a commission instead, already built into the price you'd pay direct.
What if something goes wrong while I’m traveling?
I stay reachable while you're away. If a flight changes, a hotel falls through, or a cruise itinerary gets swapped mid-sailing, I work the problem so you don't have to.
How far ahead should I reach out?
Depends on the trip. Cruises are worth booking early. Custom trips can come together closer in, though the options narrow the later you start. If you want to use points, plan on at least nine months out to get good rates.
Where do you want to go?
Tell me the destination, dates, or just the dream trip you've never been able to figure out. We'll make your travel dreams come true.
Plan your trip