Travel that feels like you.
No generic packages. No wasted days. Just travel that is completely, unapologetically you.
You've been thinking about this trip for a while. Maybe it's a honeymoon. A milestone birthday. The girls' trip that's been sitting in the group chat for two years and somehow never actually happens. Or maybe there's no big occasion at all. You just want two weeks somewhere beautiful, with zero decisions to make. And sometimes, honestly, you just need to get away. Like, now.
That's where I come in.
I'm Dana, founder of Dana McGowan Travel. Ask me about a hotel and there's a good chance I've already got the general manager's cell number. That's the kind of thing that separates booking a trip from actually having someone in your corner.
Weekend getaways, honeymoons, milestone celebrations, corporate retreats, wedding room blocks, destination weddings. I've done it all and I love every bit of it.
How It Works
1. You fill me in.
A short intake form gets me the basics: who, what, where, when, or however much you already know. No pressure to have it all figured out yet.
2. We talk.
This is the real conversation. Not about logistics, about you. Your travel style, your vibe, what you actually want to get out of this trip. This is where I figure out how to make it feel like yours.
3. This part's on me.
Once I know what you're after, I get to work. Researching, comparing, calling in favors with the people I already know, so you're not the one buried in browser tabs at midnight.
4. You get a plan that's actually yours.
Whether that's a single hotel booked perfectly or a full day-by-day itinerary, everything I send you is built around this trip, for you specifically. Not a template with your name swapped in.
5. I stay in it with you.
Before you go, while you're there, whatever comes up. You'll always have someone to reach.
What Clients Are Saying
"Dana has a gift for understanding her clients' style and preferences — and delivering on them with warmth, clarity, and impeccable taste.
She's not just a travel advisor; she's a travel partner.”
— Roshen P., Anguilla
"I had never used a travel advisor before Dana. I am so happy that I did. Dana's contacts in Italy came through with flying colors — everything, the tours, the drivers, the accommodations, were perfection.
A ten out of five!"
— Cathy D., Italy
"When a nationwide strike threatened our flights two weeks before departure, she was proactive and responsive — exactly what you want in a travel agent when things get complicated. If you're planning an international trip and want someone who actually responds when things go sideways, Dana is your person."
— Meredith L., Portugal
"Dana took the time to understand our vision and turned it into something even more special than we imagined. Her firsthand knowledge of Maui made her recommendations feel especially personalized and elevated. Thanks to Dana, my parents had a milestone celebration they will never forget."
— Rachel U., Maui, Hawaii
"Dana made planning our team offsite seamless. Beyond helping us book our hotel stay for the offsite, she coordinated our day trip to Sonoma — which was such a nice bonus and made the experience even better. I'd absolutely recommend her to anyone planning a trip, team offsite, or group event."
— Alejandra O., San Francisco, CA
Ways to Work Together
-
Complimentary
You know where you're going, down to the hotel. I'll make sure the booking is right, matching you to the best room category and getting you every perk available through my preferred partner relationships. Things you honestly can't get booking on your own.
What you can expect:
Booking handled for the property and room category you've chosen
Honest guidance if there's a better room category worth considering
Preferred partner perks when available: upgrades, daily breakfast, resort credits, welcome amenities
Bookable quotes, so you can review before confirming
Full reservation management, from confirmation through check-in
-
A research fee applies
Maybe you know exactly where you want to go, but you're not sure which hotel is right. Maybe you don't even have a destination yet, just a vibe: sun, culture, adventure, a little of everything. Either way, this is where we figure it out. I'll research the options, whether that's comparing hotels within a destination you've already chosen or building a shortlist of two or three destinations that fit your travel style, timeline, and budget, so you can see what each one could actually look like before you commit.
What you can expect:
A curated shortlist, whether that's destinations, hotels, or both
Honest guidance on room categories and what's actually worth the upgrade
Insight into what makes each option special, and what to watch out for
Preferred partner perks once you've booked
A clear next step once you've decided where you're headed
-
A research and planning fee applies
This is the full experience. You tell me where you want to go, what matters most, and how you like to travel. I handle everything else. The research, the bookings, the logistics, the little touches that make a trip feel extraordinary. Whether you want a loose framework or a fully mapped day-by-day plan, I'll build something that feels like you, not a package tour.
What you can expect:
Personalized destination and hotel recommendations
Accommodation bookings with preferred partner perks
Transportation and transfer coordination
Tours, experiences, and activity planning
Restaurant recommendations actually worth the reservation
A comprehensive digital itinerary you can use on the road
Pre-departure support, so nothing catches you off guard
-
A custom fee applies, based on group size and scope.
Destination wedding, corporate retreat, incentive trip, wedding room block. Whatever the occasion, group travel is its own kind of logistical puzzle, and it happens to be one of my specialties. I coordinate all the moving parts so everyone in your group feels taken care of, and you actually get to enjoy the occasion you planned instead of managing it.
What you can expect:
Hotel and venue sourcing for groups of all sizes
Room block management and guest communication support
Coordination of group activities, transfers, and dining
Dedicated support before and during travel
A seamless experience for you and everyone traveling with you
Client Portal
I love when clients come to me for everything, but I know sometimes you just want to book it yourself.
It's midnight and you don't want to wait until morning
You think the rate's about to disappear and you want to hit "book" now
It's a one-night stay and you don't want to bother me over something "too small" (you're not, but I get it!)
You just like doing your own research
So here's another way to work with me:
Search and book on your own time. Every booking still ties back to me and I'll still handle everything behind the scenes, so don't worry: your rates, your perks, your reservation management, all of it is still mine to look after. That includes Price Drop Technology, which tracks your refundable reservations and flags it if the price drops.
All with no minimum, no planning fee, and no restrictions on trip type.
Can't find a hotel on the portal or found a better rate elsewhere? I'm adding hotels regularly and still in direct contact with my hotel partners. Just reach out!
The portal is simply one more way to work together, not a replacement for the rest.
Already a client? You already have access.
New here? Fill out my quick client questionnaire to get set up and you'll have portal access in minutes.
Whether you've been dreaming about this trip for years, or you just decided on Tuesday that you need to get away, I'm ready. Tell me a little about what you have in mind, and I'll take it from there.
Let's plan something worth remembering.
Meet Dana
I plan the Trips, Vacations, and Experiences you'll talk about for years.
I'm Dana McGowan, a luxury travel advisor and founder of Dana McGowan Travel. And yes, I'm the person whose personal itineraries almost always involve a split stay. Why settle on one hotel when you can do two? Or three?
Before this, I spent over 15 years as a C-Suite Executive Assistant and Chief of Staff in media and television in New York City. Some days that meant coordinating travel for a 300-person crew on the road. Other days, one very specific trip for one very particular executive. Both taught me the same thing: how to hold high standards, catch problems before they happen, and make sure nothing slips through the cracks, at any scale.
My love of travel goes back further than any job, though. As a kid, my favorite place on Earth was EPCOT at Walt Disney World, specifically the World Showcase. I'd drag my whole family from pavilion to pavilion (okay…I still do this), completely obsessed with the idea that all these different countries and cultures existed in one walkable loop. Turns out that curiosity didn't fade, it just found a new travel partner. At the start of our relationship, my husband and I did long distance between New York and DC, acting like tourists in our own cities, exploring all the great local haunts and “is it worth it?” tourist spots. About a year in, we decided to test the relationship the real way: a two-week trip to India. Nothing eases you into a relationship like a 27-hour travel day and a 13.5-hour time difference. Spoiler alert, it worked out fine. Better than fine, actually. We've been traveling ever since. Spain, Hawaii, Anguilla, Italy, even our wedding at a 15th-century castello in Tuscany.
I plan the way I travel: Intentionally.
always looking for the stuff that's hard to find and impossible to forget.
Your Questions, Answered
-
Because the research spiral is real, and exhausting. Forty-seven browser tabs, conflicting reviews, and a hotel that looked incredible in photos but turned out to be under renovation. When you work with me, you skip all of that. You get firsthand knowledge, trusted recommendations, and someone who already has the GM's number saved in her phone.
And it's not just the planning that gets easier. It's the trip itself. Because I book through Fora's network of preferred partners, my clients often get perks you can't get booking on your own. Room upgrades, daily breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out, resort credit, other on-property amenities depending on the hotel. These aren't add-ons you pay for. They come standard when I make the booking. The planning becomes the fun part again, and the trip itself comes with a little extra magic built in.
-
The earlier the better, especially for honeymoons, destination weddings, and peak season travel. Ideally at least 3-6 months for a custom itinerary, 6-12 months for group travel. That said, I'm also the person clients call on a Tuesday for a trip they want to take Friday. Whatever the timeline, I'll do my best to make it work.
-
Hotel bookings through my preferred partner program are complimentary. The hotels pay me a small commission, so there's no cost to you. That includes the perks: room upgrades, daily breakfast, resort credits, and other on-property amenities I can secure through my industry relationships. For destination and hotel research, custom itinerary planning, or group and celebration travel, I charge a fee that reflects the time, expertise, and insider access involved. And whatever tier you're working with, you get me before, during, and even after your trip. Not just a booking confirmation.
-
Not quite. Credit card programs are great, but when you book through them, you're just another reservation in the system. When you book through me, I personally reach out to the hotel before you arrive. The team knows who you are, what you're celebrating, and what actually matters to you. That's the difference between an upgrade that maybe happens, and one that's waiting for you at check-in.
-
Not at all. I work with clients on everything from a one-night staycation to a three-week honeymoon. If you're booking a hotel without a travel advisor, there's a good chance you're leaving perks and upgrades on the table. No trip's too small to deserve a little magic.
-
You'll always have someone to reach. Whether that's me, a trusted contact on the ground in the country you're visiting, or someone right at your hotel who knows your name and your reservation, you're never on your own. I build that safety net into every trip I plan, so no matter what comes up, there's always a next step, and someone ready to help you take it.
Follow Along On Instagram
@danamcgowantravel
