Frequently Asked Questions About Our Services

What are your fees for planning
a Napa, Sonoma, or Texas Hill Country getaway?

Our goal is to make the most efficient use of your time and ours. We charge $150 per hour with a $300 (2 hour) retainer. For groups of 8 and larger, the rate is $170 per hour with a $340 retainer. The retainer is required at the time of engagement. We bill in 30-minute increments. Payment of the balance, minus the deposit, is due when we send your customized itinerary, or after your visit is complete, should we incur additional time then.

How much in advance should I book
your customized concierge services?

The more time we have to plan your Sonoma or Napa vacation the better. Wine Country gets extremely busy during high season. Even on the slowest weekend in January, it can be tough to reserve a private tasting at a top-tier winery or book a table at a hot new restaurant. Private chefs and massage therapists are in great demand all year round, so it would be unusual for them to be available with only a day’s notice. Planning is key and planning takes time.

Do I pay Booker & Butler directly
for all the costs and fees I incur?

Generally, the only fee on your invoice is for the time we put into planning your visit. Contracts with other vendors will be established between you and that vendor, with Booker & Butler acting as facilitator. Our standard practice is to have these vendors bill you directly.

What if my plans change and I need to
cancel my trip to Napa or Sonoma?

We realize life is in flux and plans change. If you need to cancel your visit, you will be refunded the balance of your deposit minus any time we have already put into your arrangements. If we have incurred more time beyond the 2 hours covered by your deposit, you will be invoiced for that overage.

Cancellation policies will vary for vendors we may have booked on your behalf. Those contracts will have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Any cancellation fees that Booker & Butler incurs will be billed direct to you.

How exactly does your
process work?

To make the most efficient use of your time and ours, we have designed a questionnaire to capture your interests, needs and constraints. The more information we can gather from you upfront, the better. A 2-hour retainer for our services will be taken during our initial discussion. Once we have sufficient input from you, we will start planning your itinerary and may be able to estimate the hours required. We will communicate via email and/or phone to review our ideas and make any changes where needed.

GET PLANNING HELP

If other vendors are involved — a private chef, childcare, transportation service, etc. – we will facilitate between parties to get dates and contracts in motion. Booker & Butler will act as liaison, but financial arrangements with that vendor are your responsibility.

We will send you a detailed itinerary with all the information you need – schedules, directions, contact information and any special notes – to ensure everything is just so. All you have to do is show up and have a swell time. As Owner and Chief Concierge, Melanie Schwartz will be on hand when appropriate to make sure events run smoothly.

What can you do for me
as a vacation home owner?

Booker & Butler works with vacation homeowners both directly, for them, and indirectly, for their renters. We understand how time-consuming it can be to rent your home. Answering your guest’s questions about where to eat, where to taste, which drivers you recommend isn’t how you want to spend your time. We take that off your plate and help your guests plan any and all activities and arrangements while staying in your home.