Knowledge. Service. Value. When you plan a trip with FILLING THE NEST LUXURY TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE, you’re unlocking a world of in-the-know expertise, unbelievable travel perks, and access to a well-edited and well-vetted portfolio of the best brands in the business. The Virtuoso network brings together 20,000 of the world’s most sought-after travel advisors, and more than 1,800 elite travel companies, from five-star hotel groups and renowned cruise lines to boutique properties and high-end adventure travel outfitters around the world. Combine that with the reach and reputation of EMBARK Beyond and our top-tier status with our elite travel partners, you're assured top of the VIP list status. When it comes to experiencing the best of the best in travel, it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know.
• Personalized planning – the trips and experiences you want (and those unforgettable moments you didn’t even know were possible), tailored to your interests.
• Travel perks, from hotel room upgrades to complimentary breakfasts and spa treatments, exclusive cruise excursions, and more.
• VIP access around the globe: See the Sistine Chapel after hours, skip the lines at Angkor Wat, explore the Galápagos Islands with a third-generation naturalist guide, just to name a few.
• Insider knowledge. Thanks to our own travels and personal relationships with Virtuoso partners around the world, we can take trip recommendations well beyond the expected!
• Peace of mind – leave the logistics to us and rely on us for insight and support every step of the way. Last-minute cancellations, border closures, unexpected changes – Virtuoso advisors have you covered, now more than ever.
Remember...you can't VIP yourself, but WE can!
Out of the 20,000+ Virtuoso advisors, each professional and vetted, Marla Fowler is distinguished as of one of fewer than 500 Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisors worldwide. This is a result of dedicated efforts in her professional education and training, and an important milestone for her, as it represents her level of commitment to the luxury travel industry and the Virtuoso network.
As an independent Luxury Travel Advisor, Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor, and founder of Filling the Nest Luxury Travel & Lifestyle, LLC, Marla Fowler leads the team at Filling the Nest Luxury Travel, and has made it her mission to affiliate with the best of the best in the luxury travel industry. The Filling the Nest Team is a proud affiliate of EMBARK Beyond, A Virtuoso Member Agency based in New York City, and endorsed by Forbes Travel Guide. EMBARK Beyond is also a top-tier preferred partner of many brands you'll know such as Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Belini Club, Rosewood Elite, Abercrombie & Kent 100 Club, Relais & Chateaux Preferred, Preferred Hotels Platinum Partner, Rocco Forte Knights, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Hyatt Prive, IHG One Rewards, Jumeirah, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Shangri-La Luxury Circle, and so many more! This means priority VIP status and a slew of valuable complimentary amenities for our valued clients.
Depends how you define “more”. Technically, yes, we do require a service fee which starts at $750 (Marla) and $500 for other team members and is non-refundable. However, due to our relationships with our luxury travel partners (see question above), our clients receive valuable amenities which usually outweigh our service fee. Furthermore, you really can’t put a price on the value we bring to the equation with our level of service and the peace of mind it brings to have us not only advising, designing and curating, but trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and delivering the unique, exclusive and custom experiences today's discerning travelers crave.
Quite simply, our time cannot be refunded. When we accept a new client after the complimentary consultation call, we immediately dedicate an amount of time for research, creative planning, and itinerary design. This happens early on, and if an adventure is unfortunately postponed or cancelled, those services have already taken place. In most cases, we allow a rollover, and should a client reschedule the same trip components but just a different date, we do not charge an additional planning fee.
Admittedly, our level of service isn’t for everyone. To discover if we are a mutually good fit, we always begin with a complimentary phone call, but to give you an idea, if the following fits your description, we’re pretty sure we’ll make a fabulous team…
{~} You are looking for your greatest adventure yet, something above average and unique, but you know this takes a lot of research and effort and you don’t have the time or energy to plan it yourself.
{~} You’re not interested in “budget” or “group tour” travel…you are a discerning traveler looking for more, and you recognize that travel is one of those life experiences where you get what you pay for. There are exceptions but as a general rule, we work with clients with a $500/day pp minimum budget (not including airfare).
{~} You feel comfortable trusting a luxury travel professional to handle your personal information (credit cards, passport, and other personal details).
{~}You are willing – make that thrilled and relieved – to let a luxury travel professional take the reins!
We probably won’t be a good fit if…
{~}You’re a die-hard planner, have always loved the “game” of travel planning and research and design and you’re just looking for new ideas, but don’t want someone else to make plans for you.
{~} “Free” and “Deal” are your favorite four-letter words. We like a five-letter word …VALUE. When it comes to travel, the greatest value is rarely the lowest price.
{~} You’re looking for an assistant to jump through hoops, follow your instructions, and simply “book travel”. That's just not what we do. Please see our page for more about the value we can offer you.
It depends. First Class/Business air, yes, we sure do, and EMBARK Beyond has a dedicated Air Desk to help us help you find the best flights and value. We generally do not book Economy air unless a client is uncomfortable booking on his/her own, but we do offer advice about flights, regardless of class, as part of our service. Many of our clients prefer to book their own flights, especially if they want to use points. We are happy to include these arrangements with the seamless itineraries we create, and our custom itinerary app will even monitor your flights and update changes in real time.
Absolutely! Not all travel requires a fully customized itinerary, although we’ve found many “hotel only” bookings often circle back wanting dining/spa and other arrangements, and upgrade to the full service plan. If all you want or need is a short hotel stay, then you should absolutely let us handle those arrangements. Our hotel bookings are considered direct bookings, meaning we work directly with the hotel as your liaison, and you are charged by the hotel, there is no additional service fee, and no markups on room rate. You’ll not only get the best rate, but because your booking is attached to our name, you’ll be extended Virtuoso or other Preferred Partner Amenities such as complimentary upgrade, daily breakfast, often a spa or other resort credit, and more!
At this time, we are not accepting full-service client requests for adventures which do not include a lodging component.
Short answer, yes. However, we don’t believe insurance is a one-size fits all, and we also don’t believe you necessarily have to insure your full trip cost. Part of our service is making sure you understand your total trip risk (which is not always the same as total trip cost) and your cancellation policies, and then advising you about your insurance options to make the selection which would best suit your needs.
Knowledge. Service. Value. When you plan a trip with FILLING THE NEST LUXURY TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE, you’re unlocking a world of in-the-know expertise, unbelievable travel perks, and access to a well-edited and well-vetted portfolio of the best brands in the business. The Virtuoso network brings together 20,000 of the world’s most sought-after travel advisors, and more than 1,800 elite travel companies, from five-star hotel groups and renowned cruise lines to boutique properties and high-end adventure travel outfitters around the world. Combine that with the reach and reputation of EMBARK Beyond and our top-tier status with our elite travel partners, you're assured top of the VIP list status. When it comes to experiencing the best of the best in travel, it’s not just what you know, it’s who you know.
• Personalized planning – the trips and experiences you want (and those unforgettable moments you didn’t even know were possible), tailored to your interests.
• Travel perks, from hotel room upgrades to complimentary breakfasts and spa treatments, exclusive cruise excursions, and more.
• VIP access around the globe: See the Sistine Chapel after hours, skip the lines at Angkor Wat, explore the Galápagos Islands with a third-generation naturalist guide, just to name a few.
• Insider knowledge. Thanks to our own travels and personal relationships with Virtuoso partners around the world, we can take trip recommendations well beyond the expected!
• Peace of mind – leave the logistics to us and rely on us for insight and support every step of the way. Last-minute cancellations, border closures, unexpected changes – Virtuoso advisors have you covered, now more than ever.
Bottom line? It means Expert Advice. Worry-free Planning.
Out of the 20,000+ Virtuoso advisors, each professional and vetted, Marla Fowler is distinguished as of one of fewer than 500 Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisors worldwide. This is a result of dedicated efforts in her professional education and training, and an important milestone for her, as it represents her level of commitment to the luxury travel industry and the Virtuoso network.
As an independent Luxury Travel Advisor, Virtuoso Certified Travel Advisor, and founder of Filling the Nest Luxury Travel & Lifestyle, LLC, Marla Fowler leads the team at Filling the Nest Luxury Travel, and has made it her mission to affiliate with the best of the best in the luxury travel industry. The Filling the Nest Team is a proud affiliate of EMBARK Beyond, A Virtuoso Member Agency based in New York City, and endorsed by Forbes Travel Guide. EMBARK Beyond is also a top-tier preferred partner of many brands you'll know such as Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Belmond Belini Club, Rosewood Elite, Abercrombie & Kent 100 Club, Relais & Chateaux Preferred, Preferred Hotels Platinum Partner, Rocco Forte Knights, Marriott Stars/Luminous, Hyatt Prive, IHG, Jumeirah, and so many more! This means priority VIP status and a slew of valuable complimentary amenities for our valued clients.
Depends how you define “more”. Technically, yes, we do require a service fee which starts at $750 (Marla) and $500 for other team members and is non-refundable. However, due to our relationships with our luxury travel partners (see question above), our clients receive valuable amenities which usually outweigh our service fee. Furthermore, you really can’t put a price on the value we bring to the equation with our level of service and the peace of mind it brings to have us not only advising, designing and curating, but trouble-shooting, problem-solving, and delivering the unique, exclusive and custom experiences today's discerning travelers crave.
Quite simply, our time cannot be refunded. When we accept a new client after the complimentary consultation call, we immediately dedicate an amount of time for research, creative planning, and itinerary design. This happens early on, and if an adventure is unfortunately postponed or cancelled, those services have already taken place. In most cases, we allow a rollover, and should a client reschedule the same trip components but just a different date, we do not charge an additional planning fee.
Admittedly, our level of service isn’t for everyone. To discover if we are a mutually good fit, we always begin with a complimentary phone call, but to give you an idea, if the following fits your description, we’re pretty sure we’ll make a fabulous team…
{~} You are looking for your greatest adventure yet, something above average and unique, but you know this takes a lot of research and effort and you don’t have the time or energy to plan it yourself.
{~} You’re not interested in “budget” or “group tour” travel…you are a discerning traveler looking for more, and you recognize that travel is one of those life experiences where you get what you pay for. There are exceptions but as a general rule, we work with clients with a $500/day pp minimum budget (not including airfare).
{~} You feel comfortable trusting a luxury travel professional to handle your personal information (credit cards, passport, and other personal details).
{~}You are willing – make that thrilled and relieved – to let a luxury travel professional take the reins!
We probably won’t be a good fit if…
{~}You’re a die-hard planner, have always loved the “game” of travel planning and research and design and you’re just looking for new ideas, but don’t want someone else to make plans for you.
{~} “Free” and “Deal” are your favorite four-letter words. We like a five-letter word …VALUE. When it comes to travel, the greatest value is rarely the lowest price.
{~} You’re looking for an assistant to jump through hoops, follow your instructions, and simply “book travel”. That's just not what we do. Please see our SERVICES page for more about the value we can offer you.
It depends. First Class/Business air, yes, we sure do, and EMBARK Beyond has a dedicated Air Desk to help us help you find the best flights and value. We generally do not book Economy air unless a client is uncomfortable booking on his/her own, but we do offer advice about flights, regardless of class, as part of our service. Many of our clients prefer to book their own flights, especially if they want to use points. We are happy to include these arrangements with the seamless itineraries we create, and our custom itinerary app will even monitor your flights and update changes in real time.
Absolutely! Not all travel requires a fully customized itinerary, although we’ve found many “hotel only” bookings often circle back wanting dining/spa and other arrangements, and upgrade to the full service plan. If all you want or need is a short hotel stay, then you should absolutely let us handle those arrangements. Our hotel bookings are considered direct bookings, meaning we work directly with the hotel as your liaison, and you are charged by the hotel, there is no additional service fee, and no markups on room rate. You’ll not only get the best rate, but because your booking is attached to our name, you’ll be extended Virtuoso or other Preferred Partner Amenities such as complimentary upgrade, daily breakfast, often a spa or other resort credit, and more!
At this time, we are not accepting full-service client requests for adventures which do not include a lodging component.
Short answer, yes. However, we don’t believe insurance is a one-size fits all, and we also don’t believe you necessarily have to insure your full trip cost. Part of our service is making sure you understand your total trip risk (which is not always the same as total trip cost) and your cancellation policies, and then advising you about your insurance options to make the selection which would best suit your needs.