Working Together

Dietrich Getaways is a Canadian travel agency specializing in custom European vacations for couples, families, and small groups who want a thoughtfully planned travel experience. I design personalized itineraries throughout Europe, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Greece, and other European destinations, as well as European river cruises, ocean cruises in Europe, and multi-country journeys.Whether you're celebrating a milestone anniversary, planning your first trip to Europe, travelling with multiple generations, or looking for a relaxed retirement vacation, every itinerary is designed specifically for you. Rather than starting with a package or pre-built tour, I create a custom travel plan based on your interests, preferred pace, budget, and the type of experiences you want to have.From boutique hotels and scenic rail journeys to private guides, food and wine experiences, and European river cruising, every recommendation is made with one goal in mind: creating a seamless journey that feels personal, well paced, and memorable.

Dietrich Getaways works primarily with Canadian travellers looking for a travel agent who specializes in Europe. Most of my clients are couples between their mid-50s and early 70s who want a personalized European vacation without spending weeks researching destinations, comparing hotels, or coordinating the countless details involved in planning an international trip.I also work with families, multi-generational groups, honeymooners, and busy professionals who value expert guidance and appreciate having one person coordinate their travel from beginning to end. While I'm based in Cambridge, Ontario, I work virtually with clients across Canada and, where permitted, with select U.S. travellers.If you're looking for a thoughtfully planned European vacation rather than simply booking flights or hotels, there's a good chance we'll be a great fit.

If you're looking for a travel agent who specializes in custom European travel, Dietrich Getaways may be exactly what you're looking for.My clients value thoughtful planning, expert recommendations, and an itinerary designed around how they want to experience Europe. They want someone to simplify the planning process, recommend the right destinations, accommodations, transportation, and experiences, and coordinate all the details so they can travel with confidence.Dietrich Getaways is likely a good fit if you value quality over quantity, prefer a well-paced itinerary rather than trying to see everything at once, and appreciate personalized recommendations instead of pre-packaged vacations.My services may not be the right fit if you're looking for the lowest possible price, a packaged all-inclusive vacation, or someone to book only a flight, hotel, or a few remaining pieces of a trip you've already planned yourself.

That's completely normal, and it's one of the reasons many people choose to work with a travel agent.Many clients come to Dietrich Getaways knowing they want to visit Europe but aren't sure whether Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, or another destination is the best fit. Others know they want a European river cruise but aren't sure which river, cruise line, or itinerary is right for them.Rather than starting with a destination, I start with you. We'll talk about your travel style, interests, budget, available time, and the type of experiences you're hoping to have. From there, I'll recommend destinations and itineraries that fit your priorities, whether that's exploring Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, enjoying the food and culture of Spain, cruising the Rhine or Danube, or combining several countries into one well-paced journey.Choosing the right destination is often the first step toward creating an unforgettable European vacation.

Getting started is simple. The first step is to complete my travel inquiry form, which gives me a chance to learn about your travel plans, preferred destinations, travel dates, budget, and the type of European vacation you're hoping to create.I personally review every inquiry to determine whether Dietrich Getaways is the right fit for your trip. If I believe we're a good match, I'll invite you to schedule a complimentary consultation where we'll talk about your ideas, answer your questions, and discuss how I can help.Following our conversation, I'll outline the next steps, including your Planning & Design Fee, and begin creating a personalized itinerary designed specifically for you. From our first conversation until you return home, my goal is to make planning your European vacation feel organized, enjoyable, and far less overwhelming than trying to do it on your own.

Every custom European vacation begins with a conversation. After reviewing your travel inquiry, we'll meet for a complimentary consultation to discuss your travel style, priorities, budget, interests, and what you hope to experience during your trip. This conversation helps me understand not only where you'd like to go, but how you like to travel.Once you've decided to move forward, I'll begin designing a personalized itinerary tailored specifically to you. Depending on your trip, this may include accommodations, transportation, flights, European river or ocean cruises, sightseeing, private guides, rail journeys, restaurant recommendations, and other travel arrangements that create a seamless experience from arrival to departure.Throughout the planning process, we'll refine your itinerary together until every detail feels right. Rather than simply booking travel, my role is to design a journey that is thoughtfully paced, practical, and personalized so you can travel with confidence and spend your time enjoying Europe instead of worrying about logistics.

Every itinerary designed by Dietrich Getaways is created from scratch. There are no templates, pre-packaged vacations, or one-size-fits-all itineraries because every traveller, destination, and journey is different.Depending on your travel plans, custom travel planning may include accommodations, flights, rail travel, car rentals, private transfers, European river cruises, ocean cruises, sightseeing, guided experiences, restaurant recommendations, destination advice, and practical planning that helps your trip flow naturally from one destination to the next.Just as importantly, custom travel planning includes the guidance behind every recommendation. I'll help you choose the right destinations, determine a comfortable pace, recommend accommodations in locations that make sense for your itinerary, and coordinate the many moving pieces that transform individual bookings into one cohesive European vacation.You'll also receive support before you leave and while you're travelling, giving you the confidence of knowing you have someone to turn to if questions arise along the way.

Yes. Custom European itineraries include a Planning & Design Fee that reflects the time, research, expertise, and personalized attention involved in designing your trip.Unlike booking a packaged vacation, every itinerary at Dietrich Getaways is researched and built specifically for you. The fee covers the planning process, destination research, itinerary design, supplier coordination, personalized recommendations, revisions, and the expertise required to create a well-planned European vacation.The Planning & Design Fee varies depending on the complexity of your trip, the number of travellers, and the length of travel. Once I've reviewed your inquiry and we've had the opportunity to discuss your travel plans during your complimentary consultation, I'll explain the fee before any planning begins.The Planning & Design Fee is separate from the cost of your travel arrangements and is non-refundable once planning has started.

Quite possibly. It depends on what you've already arranged.One of the most common situations is when travellers have already booked a European river cruise or ocean cruise and would like a travel agent to design a personalized land itinerary before or after their cruise. Those trips often fit very well with the way I work because the land portion can still be thoughtfully planned as one complete journey.If you've already booked other parts of your European vacation, I'll review what's already in place to determine whether I can still provide the level of planning my service is designed to offer. Every trip is different, and depending on what's been arranged, we may still be an excellent fit.If I don't feel I can create the kind of seamless, well-planned travel experience that defines Dietrich Getaways, I'll let you know honestly before we move forward. My goal is always to ensure you receive the level of service and expertise you deserve, even if that means recommending a different approach.

Not exclusively, but I do specialize in elevated European travel for clients who value quality, comfort, and thoughtful planning over simply finding the lowest price.At Dietrich Getaways, luxury isn't defined solely by five-star hotels or extravagant experiences. For some travellers, it means staying in a boutique hotel in the heart of Florence. For others, it's enjoying an Owner’s suite on a European river cruise, travelling by first-class rail through Switzerland, or celebrating an anniversary with a private food and wine experience in Tuscany.Every recommendation is based on your travel style, priorities, and investment level. My focus is on creating exceptional value through personalized planning, carefully selected accommodations, meaningful experiences, and an itinerary that allows you to experience Europe at a comfortable, enjoyable pace.If you're looking for a travel agent who takes the time to design a vacation around you rather than around a package, you'll likely feel right at home working with Dietrich Getaways.

Yes, as part of a complete custom itinerary.At Dietrich Getaways, flights are never booked as a stand-alone service. Instead, they are planned as one part of your overall European vacation. Flight schedules influence everything from arrival times and hotel check-in to train connections, cruise embarkation, private transfers, and the overall flow of your itinerary.By coordinating flights alongside the rest of your travel plans, I can recommend routing, connection times, and arrival strategies that support your entire journey rather than simply finding a flight from one airport to another.If you're looking for a travel agent to book flights only, my services probably won't be the right fit. My focus is on designing complete European vacations where every part of the itinerary works together seamlessly.

My planning services are designed around complete European itineraries rather than individual travel bookings.Planning accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, and daily pacing together allows me to recommend the right combination of hotels, rail journeys, private transfers, tours, and experiences so everything works naturally from one destination to the next. Looking at only one piece of the trip doesn't allow me to provide the level of planning and personalized service that defines Dietrich Getaways.There are occasional exceptions. For example, if you've already booked a European river cruise or ocean cruise and would like a custom land itinerary before or after your cruise, I can often help because those arrangements are still being designed as one complete journey.If you're unsure whether your travel plans are a good fit, I'm always happy to review your inquiry and let you know.

Yes. Travel insurance is an important part of planning any international vacation, and I strongly recommend considering it whenever you travel outside Ontario.Whether you're planning a custom European vacation, a European river cruise, or an ocean cruise, unexpected situations such as medical emergencies, trip cancellations, travel delays, lost baggage, or interruptions can happen. Having the right travel insurance helps protect both your investment and your peace of mind.As part of the planning process, I'll discuss the insurance options available to you and help you access coverage that fits your travel plans. Final coverage, eligibility, premiums, and claims decisions are determined by the insurance provider and the terms of the policy you choose.

Absolutely.One of the benefits of working with Dietrich Getaways is knowing you have support before you leave and while you're travelling throughout Europe.If questions arise before departure, I'll help make sure you feel prepared and confident before your trip begins. While you're travelling, if something unexpected happens, whether it's a delayed flight, a schedule change, or another travel-related issue, I'll help coordinate with the appropriate airline, cruise line, hotel, tour operator, or other travel supplier whenever possible.While I can't control circumstances such as weather, airline operations, or supplier decisions, you won't be left trying to navigate those situations entirely on your own. Having an experienced travel agent in your corner means you have someone who understands your itinerary, can help you work through unexpected situations, and is invested in helping your European vacation stay on track.While Europe is generally a very easy destination to travel independently, it's reassuring to know that if something unexpected does happen, you have someone familiar with your itinerary who can help you navigate the situation.

For most European vacations, it's helpful to expect more walking than you may be used to at home.Many of Europe's most beautiful neighbourhoods, historic city centres, and small villages were built long before cars existed. Exploring places such as Rome, Florence, Lisbon, Prague, or Seville often means walking on cobblestone streets, navigating hills, climbing stairs, and spending time on your feet while discovering museums, markets, and local neighbourhoods.That doesn't mean your vacation has to be physically demanding. One of the advantages of working with Dietrich Getaways is that I can recommend accommodations in convenient locations, build realistic sightseeing days, arrange transportation where appropriate, and create an itinerary that matches your comfort level and mobility.A thoughtfully planned itinerary allows you to enjoy Europe without feeling like every day is a marathon.