Tailor made Portugal itinerary design and trip planning

Who is my custom travel planning service perfect for?

This is a fully planned, tailor-made Portugal trip, with bookings and logistics handled for you.

As such, it’s best suited to travellers who want don’t want to spend time researching, comparing options, or managing bookings themselves.

Most people who choose this option:

  • would rather hand the planning and booking over than piece it together themselves
  • value a well-paced trip and local insight over finding the lowest prices
  • want everything to work smoothly without spending weeks researching options

If you enjoy researching and booking your own trip, or need to keep a close eye on costs, one of my lighter-touch planning options will be a better fit.

“Our trip was wonderful! Each day was so much fun, and every detail was perfect… I’ve been meaning to write to you everyday to thank you for putting together such a spectacular trip for us. The hotels were amazing, the pace just right, and the food was so good! You have spoiled us for all future travel!”

– Lucy Irwin

“Hi Julie, as I sit here looking over my pictures, I wanted to thank you for putting together our itinerary in Portugal! We saw so much in 2 weeks! For us, some of the highlights included the visit to Obidos ( even in the pouring rain), Cantinho das Aromaticas ( I am enjoying a cup of tea from there right now), the food tour in Porto and the hiking and lunch at Ervadosa do Douro! The sailing in Lisbon and ebike tour were also highlights. All of our guides were great. The 2 weeks were stress free, with not having to think what we were going to do the next day! I am already planning what I want to do next trip ( hiking in Alentejo or Madeira). Thanks again, Nancy.”

Nancy Rheaume

No time to design your own Portugal itinerary?

Putting together a well-paced itinerary takes time – especially when you’re comparing locations, accommodation, experiences, and how everything fits together.

For some people, that’s part of the fun. For others, it’s just time they’d rather spend elsewhere.

If you don’t want to spend time researching and planning your trip, but still want something that feels personal and well thought through, this is where I can help.

I design your trip in collaboration with my trusted travel partner, who then handles the bookings and logistics – so you don’t have to think through every detail and can just look forward to the trip, knowing everything has been carefully put together.

“We can’t thank you enough for the wonderful “Glimpse of Portugal” itinerary you designed for our group. The sights you selected, the incredible food and wine tours and especially the outstanding local tour guides were beyond our expectations. Every restaurant recommendation you gave us was fantastic! You have left us with an indelible impression and wonderful memories of the beauty, culture, foods and people of Portugal. We can’t wait to plan another trip with you.”

C.T.

“Julie Dawn Fox was absolutely amazing. My husband and I wanted to have a relaxing trip where all we needed to do was show up and have a great time. She definitely delivered! Julie came up with an awesome, custom itinerary and it was executed flawlessly. Every detail went smoothly, from the driver pick-ups to the chef’s dinner on a farm in the countryside. We had a trip of a lifetime that we’ll never forget. I would highly recommend using Julie’s services while in Portugal!”

A.S.

This works best if you’re comfortable delegating both the planning and the bookings, and want everything handled as a joined-up trip.

Why me?

Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal, with blue and white Portuguese tiles in the background
I’ve been living in Portugal since 2007 and helping independent travellers plan their trips here ever since.

With over 18 years of living and travelling throughout Portugal, I bring deep local knowledge and insider insight to the trips I design. My focus is on creating a well-paced, personalised itinerary that reflects your interests and travel style – going beyond the typical tourist trail while still ensuring you don’t miss the places that matter most to you.

Over the years, I’ve built a trusted network of local contacts and partners, allowing me to recommend experiences, accommodation, and routes that aren’t easily found in guidebooks. This means you benefit from the reassurance of expert planning combined with the ease and security of booking through a licensed local travel agency.

“Overall, the trip was amazing and our experience with everyone involved in the planning process was tremendous (i.e., exceeded our expectations), beginning with Julie through all the folks at Catavino.  I am not sure who is exactly responsible for what aspect of the experience, but from my perspective, it all began with Julie.  We were extremely fortunate to stumble across her through some creative Google searches.  We were late to the game in planning this trip, and finding Julie was a lifesaver.  She was incredibly responsive, detail oriented, and “heard” our interests and objectives for the trip.  As the “quarterback,” she did a great job in relaying our desires to the right people.  Once Catavino took over, there was no fall off in customer experience; it was seamless and you guys nailed it!” 

Kevin & Stacey B.
Landscape around Pinhão, Douro Valley Portugal

How this works

To begin, there is an initial trip design and curation fee of €300. This covers the personalised planning phase and allows us to explore your preferences in depth and shape the overall structure of your trip.

If you decide to proceed with bookings through my partner travel agency, this fee is credited towards the total cost of your trip.

To get started:

1. Simply get in touch using this form to outline the kind of trip you have in mind. This will help me learn what you’d be thrilled about during your trip and what to avoid at all costs.

2. Once I’ve reviewed your questionnaire and confirmed this is the right fit, I’ll send you a payment request for the initial design fee of €300 (for trips of up to 2 weeks for groups of up to 6 people – see FAQs).

This fee covers the personalised planning phase and will be deducted from the total cost of the proposal created in conjunction with my partner travel agency.

3. After receiving payment, I’ll email you an outline itinerary (usually within 3 working days), which may include:

  • Suggested accommodation options (location, style, and room type)
  • Proposed activities and guided experiences
  • Key sights to explore independently
  • Recommended transport and logistics between destinations
  • An overall trip cost, presented as a package price

4. You can request changes or ask for refinements until you’re happy to proceed. Once you’re ready, my trusted local partner travel agency will take over, handling deposits, reservations, and all booking logistics on your behalf.

5. When your services are secured, you’ll receive a final, detailed itinerary, including restaurant suggestions (the agency can make reservations for you, if you like).

“I was so glad to find Julie Dawn Fox! After much time spent ‘researching’ where to go and what to see for a planned 2-week trip to Portugal, I was overwhelmed. After an initial email contact with Julie asking for her assistance, I provided her with details about what we liked, didn’t like, our activity levels, interests, etc. Very quickly she provided a framework of an itinerary, with many options for tours/day and half-day trips from which to choose. My husband and I reviewed and tweaked it to our preferences, and once it met with our satisfaction, Julie turned us over to Catavino Tours to manage the details. All in all we were extremely pleased with the guidance, support and service Julie provided, and would recommend her services to anyone considering a trip to Portugal.”

J.G.

Your final custom itinerary includes:

  • Written day-by-day itinerary
  • At least one restaurant recommendation for each day
  • Contact details for your guides and drivers as appropriate
  • Information about activities you can do without a guide where relevant
  • Information about the local weather during your trip and other practical tips
  • Contact details for 24-hour emergency support throughout your trip
  • Additional sightseeing information for major cities

Bonuses included:

Portugal Itinerary Design FAQs and T&Cs

How much does it cost?
There is a minimum fee of €300, payable in advance, for trips of up to 2 weeks and groups of 6 or less. If your group is larger, or your trip is longer, I will send you a quote based on the complexity of your trip. All amounts are exclusive of VAT (sales tax), if applicable.
How far in advance should I book?
The best availability and prices are available when you are able to plan and book your trip 6-9 months in advance. The closer to the trip dates you leave it, the more expensive hotels will be and some activities may no longer be available. We need at least 1 week to arrange a full itinerary for you so last-minute trips are far from ideal.
Will I receive an itemised cost breakdown of the trip?
No. If you give me any budget guidelines, I will bear them in mind when selecting accommodation, tours and restaurants but ordinarily, my focus is on your experience rather than the price. I am able to incorporate exclusive services and confidential trade prices via my partner that aren’t available to the general public (only if they are appropriate for you, of course). My partner agency works on a package price basis so once the itinerary outline and accommodation is agreed upon, they will give you a quote for the entire tour. If it is beyond your budget, just let us know and we will make adjustments to bring it in line with your expectations with as little compromise on the overall experience as possible.
What's the benefit of booking through the travel agency and will it cost more than doing it myself?
The industry rates that the travel agent has access to go some way towards offsetting the cost of their services. You can expect that the fully managed service will cost slightly more than doing everything yourself as you are paying for our expert services and the 24/7 support of a licensed travel agency. In terms of the time and effort you save before the trip and the peace of mind of knowing that if something goes wrong during your trip you can rely on them to do everything possible to resolve it is well worth it if you’re not on a tight budget.
Can you book my flights for me?
I’m afraid not, although my partner travel agency can organise domestic flights within Portugal.
Why do I have to pay in advance?
Each itinerary I design is unique and that takes time and commitment. I start from scratch to research options based on your individual requirements so that I can be confident that the recommendations I make are a) ones you’ll love, b) available for your dates and c) within your approximate budget. In order to dedicate my time to delivering the best itinerary possible for you, I need to be sure you are just as committed.
What if I don't like the itinerary you design for me?
I use the information in your questionnaire to choose trip elements I think you’ll adore. If I’ve missed the mark in any respect, simply tell me what doesn’t appeal to you and I’ll make alternative suggestions and adjustments to the draft itinerary until you’re thrilled with your trip plan.
I'm still not sure. Can we talk first?
Of course. If you’d like to talk through your ideas and make sure I’m the right person to be trusted with creating your ideal trip, we can set up a short Discovery Call to determine whether this is the best solution for you.
What if I'm not satisfied with your service? Can I get a refund?
Due to the bespoke nature of itinerary design, fees are non-refundable once work has commenced.

That said, if you feel the itinerary does not reflect the preferences and requirements you provided, please let me know within 7 days of delivery and I will make reasonable revisions to address your concerns.

Refunds are not offered based on changes of mind, budget considerations, or decisions not to proceed with booking. I am not responsible for the cost or availability of third-party services – see Terms and Conditions below.

Terms and Conditions
Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal is not a travel agency. The Portugal Itinerary Design service provides personalised travel planning advice and itinerary recommendations only. All bookings for accommodation, transport, tours, and other services are made and paid for by the client via third-party providers.

Every effort is made to ensure that recommendations are accurate and appropriate at the time of planning. However, Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal is not responsible for changes to availability, pricing, standards, schedules, closures, or the actions of third-party suppliers.

Fees for itinerary design services are payable in advance and are non-refundable once work has commenced, due to the bespoke nature of the service.

If the delivered itinerary does not reasonably reflect the preferences and requirements provided by the client, reasonable revisions will be made if requested within 7 days of delivery. Refunds are not offered for changes of mind, budget considerations, or decisions not to proceed with booking the proposed itinerary.

Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal is not liable for any loss, injury, delay, or disruption arising from the use of third-party services, transport, accommodation, or activities.

In the unlikely event that Julie Dawn Fox in Portugal is unable to deliver the service as agreed, liability is limited to the amount paid for the itinerary design service.

By purchasing this service, you agree to these terms.

Happy to do more of the planning work yourself?

If you’d prefer to stay more involved in planning your trip, my Portugal Trip Planning Consultation is usually a better fit.