Personal travel designer

Journeys that matter, designed as if made for you alone.

Personal travel designer for extraordinary, carefree trips and touring holidays. Designed around your wishes, travel style and budget.

Inge smiling on a trail in Bryce Canyon with red rock formations in the background

About me

Hi, I'm Inge.

Born and raised in beautiful Ghent (Belgium) with a deep love for the world. As a globetrotter I travelled to dozens of countries and lived for 11 years in Barcelona and 10 years in New York. I lived, worked, travelled, partied, hiked and sat around the kitchen table there with friends and strangers alike. So I know Spain and the United States inside out, but I have also built up a sizeable backpack of travel experience in many other countries.

In the meantime Ghent has become my home again, and I turned my passion into my profession and joined Travel Counsellors. I help travellers who want more than a list of hotels and a flight. I listen first, and only then do I open the maps.

Inge

My mission

Tailor-made journeys for those seeking more than a standard tour

There is no better feeling for me than seeing people happy and content in life. My mission is therefore to make every journey much more than just a departure and a destination.

You dream of an extraordinary trip or touring holiday, but you don't feel like spending hours figuring everything out yourself. I help travellers who value comfort, authenticity and personal service put together a completely tailor-made journey. No standard solutions, but travel plans built around unique experiences, combined with quality hotels and one single point of contact from start to finish.

“Very clear explanation of the different options and perfect follow-up.”

GUY B.Trip: Ireland

“Inge makes sure you discover all the highlights, always in an original way and away from the tourist crowds”

MARIANNE A.TRIP: USA

“Inge has planned several trips for us. She knows us by now and understands what we are looking for. We are very grateful for this reliable partner”

CHANTAL MATTHYSTRIP: SPAIN

How I work

Four unhurried steps, from first call to coming home.

01

Intro call

Get in touch by e-mail or WhatsApp. We discuss what you're looking for, why, and the budget you have in mind. You talk, I listen and ask questions.

02

Design

I get to work and consult my local partners and contacts about availability and conditions. With all the information, I write a tailored proposal: rhythm, stays, experiences, budget.

03

Booking

I arrange everything through trusted partners. All confirmations and documents are uploaded to your personal MyTC app on smartphone or pc. We go through the finished plan together and adjust it if needed before booking definitively.

04

On the road

I'm reachable throughout your journey. In emergencies you can also count on the 24/7 duty office of Travel Counsellors. So you're never on your own.

Frequently asked questions

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Get in touch

Book an intro call.

Call or WhatsApp me, or send an email with a short description of what you're looking for. I'll get back to you within 48 hours to schedule an appointment face-to-face, by phone or via a Teams video call.

Frequently asked

Before you call.

What is a personal travel designer?

I get to know your travel style and budget, then select only the places and experiences that truly fit you, with an eye for quality and comfort. You save time, stress and endless searching and get one fixed point of contact for a trip arranged down to the last detail from start to finish.

Are trips through a personal travel designer more expensive than at a traditional travel agency?

No, it certainly doesn't have to be. You set your budget and I design your trip within that frame. Thanks to the strong network of reliable suppliers and the expertise within Travel Counsellors, I choose the combination of flights, stays and experiences that offers the best value for money: the focus is not on being the cheapest, but above all on what you get in terms of location, experience, service and flexibility.

Who do you design trips for, and what kind of trips?

Solo travellers, couples, families with children, friends and groups (small and large). Every trip design is always tailored to your budget, travel style, pace and wishes, whether it's a romantic escape or an adventurous holiday, a safari, a beach holiday or a luxury family trip, a cruise or a trip with friends. I work for both European and North American clients. I speak Dutch, French, English, Spanish and German. Travel documents can only be delivered in English or Dutch. For business travel (individuals or teams), I only work with Belgian companies.

Are there extra costs for a tailor-made trip?

No. A first introductory conversation is always completely free and without obligation. You talk, I listen, ask targeted questions and think along with you. That way you immediately feel whether my way of working suits you, and you can decide whether or not we work together on your trip. For the next phase, however, I only work with clients who intend to book! Working out a personal, tailor-made travel design in detail takes time, expertise and careful coordination with various local partners, including on availability and conditions. Should you not be satisfied with the first proposals, we look for alternatives together, free of charge, until we find a bookable trip. For certain very complex and specific assignments I sometimes charge a fee based on time and expertise to work out the project, but this is always discussed and agreed in advance.

Can I also come to you for a standard package holiday or a (river) cruise?

Absolutely. Package holidays from Tui, Club Med, Corendon, Skiworld, Live to Travel, Yellosun, ... I can also arrange and book for you at the same price and conditions. For cruises, Travel Counsellors has a great deal of in-house expertise and a wide range of cruise lines we work with, for river cruises, ocean cruises, golf cruises and expeditions alike. I work closely with expert colleagues, and together we choose the best ship, cabin and experience for you.

And do you also book just a flight, train journey or rental car?

I can arrange rental cars for you with our regular partners SunnyCars or Sixt at no extra cost and with a full service agreement. If you only want me to book a flight or a train ticket for you, I do charge an administrative fee of 45 euros per ticket.

Do you also offer support for business trips and corporate events?

Absolutely. I am also a Business Travel Counsellor, which means companies can arrange all their professional travel needs through me: from individual business trips to trips for small teams and tailor-made business events. All bookings are invoiced in the company's name, keeping the administration simple and clear.

Do I book myself, or do you?

I arrange all reservations for you through Travel Counsellors and our regular partners: from flights and hotels to transfers, (private) guides, excursions, rental cars, ... You don't have to search or book anything yourself.

Do you really know everything about every destination?

No. I have travelled to and explored many countries and destinations, but I don't know every detail about everything. Travel is far too broad for any single expert to know “everything”. What I do: I take the time to get to know you and your travel wishes, and combine my experience with the global Travel Counsellors network. Within that network I work closely with colleagues and/or local partners who are experts in specific regions and travel styles, so your plans can be checked with the right specialists.

Are you reachable during my trip?

Yes. You get my direct number and, in an emergency, you can also rely on the 24/7 duty office of Travel Counsellors. You're never on your own.

Is my trip financially protected?

Yes. I work as an independent advisor within Travel Counsellors Belgium. Your trip falls under European and Belgian regulations on package travel and linked travel arrangements and is covered by the Belgian guarantee fund. Concretely, this means that for package trips - as the trip organizer - I am obliged to look for solutions together with our partners if something goes wrong, for example in the event of cancelled flights, an overbooked hotel or a supplier who unexpectedly fails to deliver. For all details about the protection, responsibilities and conditions, you can consult the general terms and conditions of Travel Counsellors.

What is Travel Counsellors?

Travel Counsellors is an international travel organisation, founded in 1994 in the United Kingdom. It is one of the largest independent travel networks in the world with 2000+ independent travel designers and a combined annual turnover of more than 1 billion Euro. You benefit from that scale and expertise while still booking with one personal point of contact who designs your trip.

Name

Inge Van Hecke

Tel / WhatsApp

+32.471.022.012

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Company

Affiliated with Travel Counsellors via Ingspire BV in 9000 Ghent (Belgium) VAT: BE0760299163 Travel Counsellors Belgium De Keyzerlei 60C B-2018 Antwerp VAT: BE0544841476 IATA 08-212374

HOSTING AGENCY

Travel Counsellors