Have you ever been stuck in the middle of planning your vacation because you just need to ask a question, but you don’t know who to ask?

Facebook groups are full of commenters who mean well but don’t actually answer your question, or worse, answer it completely wrong because their information is 5 years out of date.

Reddit threads don’t always provide reliable or objective information. Some are downright hostile, belittling your lack of knowledge about a new-to-you destination.

Even your friend that’s been to the place you want to visit isn’t a great option because they never left their all-inclusive resort but you want to go out and explore.

Skip that stress!

You need a travel Q&A session with a seasoned travel pro.

Get me on Google Meet and ask all your questions!

We can chat about general travel things, specific destinations, or even review your itinerary that’s got you stuck. Popular topics include:

  • What to expect on your first international trip
  • Are budget airlines better than full-service airlines?
  • Does this itinerary make sense?

I’ve explored almost all 50 US states, and I’ve been traveling abroad (almost) annually for over a decade. Here’s everywhere I’ve been so far.

I’ve learned a thing or two over the years, and I turned my love of travel into a business. I can talk about travel all day, but I’ve set time limits on the sessions so you don’t have to. 😉

Choose between a 30 minute General Travel Q&A session or a 1 hour Trip Itinerary Review session, and get honest, kind feedback and reliable information.

Already know this is exactly what you need? Pick a session type, find a convenient time slot, and book here! Times are shown in your time zone.


How It Works

I offer two types of Travel Q&A sessions: 30 minute General Q&A and 1 hour Itinerary Reviews.

30min General Travel Q&A

Asking questions so you can move on with your trip planning*

  • American’s first trip abroad
  • European’s first trip to the US
  • this or that discussions
  • “Does this make sense?”

*I can review your itinerary during this session, too, but please note the time restriction. This usually isn’t long enough for a detailed review.

1hr Trip Itinerary Review

Detailed feedback on a trip itinerary you’ve already created**

  • sanity-check
  • time-check
  • logistics-check
  • “Am I missing anything?”

**We will not create an itinerary from scratch in this session, but we’ll answer all your questions and make it workable. We will not book anything during this session.

We can talk about anything travel related in these sessions. The time is yours to work out itinerary details, discuss fears, or ask that question you don’t dare ask on Reddit for fear of being roasted.

This is a safe, 1-on-1 space where no one is going to call you dumb or scoff at your ambitious itinerary. (I love ambitious itineraries btw.)

Here’s a list of common discussion points:

  • first-time international travel tips
  • how realistic is my itinerary?
  • budgeting tips
  • opinions of specific airlines
  • tips for visiting a country that doesn’t speak your language
  • is visiting [place] in [season] a good idea?
  • how many days do I need in [place]?
  • can’t-miss sightseeing spots
  • free things to do
  • do I really need travel insurance?

Now, I’m not an expert in every country in the world or every travel style under the sun. If I don’t know the answer off the top of my head, I’ll tell you that and then help you find the answer, in real time during our call if we have time.

What’s Included

No matter which session type you choose, 30min or 1hr, you get:

  • Private, 1-on-1 consultation with Rachel, founder of Means to Explore, and up to 3 other guests of your choosing (at the time of booking)
  • Recording of our Google Meet session, so you don’t have to take notes
  • Google Sheet with notes and links to resources from our call
  • 40% off coupon for any one item from our travel planning shop

You’re not limited on the number of questions per session, just on total session time. If you’re a fast talker and asking questions I can answer quickly, we’ll get through a lot in 30 minutes.

Do I Need to Prepare Ahead?

Making a list of questions is handy for the 30 minute Q&A sessions so you don’t forget anything, but it’s not required. These sessions usually flow naturally from question to question, and you’re free to ask follow ups as we go.

The 1 hour Itinerary Review requires you to send me your itinerary before the meeting. That way we can jump right in at the start and not waste time transferring files.

What Tech Do I Need?

Every session is hosted through Google Meet. You do not need a Google account to join the meeting. You’ll simply click the link in your email and be directed to the meeting URL.

Make sure your microphone and camera (if desired) are working before the meeting. You can join Google Meet ahead of time and test this to make sure.

Stable internet and quiet surroundings are always helpful. If you’re on the subway in New York, I suspect our call won’t be very productive.

TidyCal (my booking service) will send an email reminder 24 hours before and an hour before our call. Make sure you whitelist the booking email so you get the reminders. There are no refunds if you miss the session.

What If I Have More Questions?

Depending on my schedule, I may be able to continue the session right then and you’ll pay for the additional time when we wrap up. However, that’s not always possible.

If there’s a scheduling conflict and we cannot continue immediately, you can always book another session, and we’ll pick up right where we left off.

Rescheduling, Cancellations, Late Arrivals, and No-Shows

Life happens. If something comes up and you need to reschedule, email us. We can accommodate most requests and prefer not to cancel unless you absolutely have to.

There are no refunds for no-shows.

There is a 5 minute grace period for late arrivals, after which the meeting will be canceled without a refund. If you’re worried you’ll be late, email us to reschedule instead.

Book Your Session

I charge $25 per 30 minute Q&A session and $50 per 1 hour Itinerary Review session.

Payment is required at the time of booking via credit card.

Choose a session type below, and the calendar will show my availability in your time zone, so you can choose a time that works best for you.

You are able to invite up to 3 other guests to your call if you’d like to include a spouse, other family members, or traveling companions. Just keep in mind I’m not a counselor! You’ll have to make your own group decisions, but I can answer all your questions in one session.

If you can’t find a time that works for you, please email me at [email protected] and we’ll see what we can do to accommodate you!


Important Disclaimer

I am not a travel agent and will not book anything for you. As a consultant, I can direct you to resources and discuss potential money-saving options for your trip, but you are responsible for finalizing and booking your trip. I make no guarantees about third party availability or potential cost savings. I’ll do my best to help you out, but I’m not liable for your vacation.