Your story deserves more than an algorithm.
Online booking tools can show you options but they can’t tell your story.
At Snow & Sand Vacations, we’re true experts in our craft, dedicating countless hours to researching destinations, hotels, flight itineraries, and experiences. We continuously meet with destination specialists, train with our partners, and travel the world ourselves to design journeys that reflect who you are and how you love to travel.
We also have access to vetted tour operators and preferred partners not available to the public, which often results in exclusive savings, perks, and upgrades. More importantly, when you book through us and our trusted network, you’re recognized as a highly regarded Virtuoso guest.
That distinction matters. Hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators prioritize Virtuoso travelers, ensuring you receive exceptional treatment and support should any travel issues arise. Throughout your journey, you’ll always have a direct line to us, so every detail is exactly how you want it to be.
A travel agent books trips. A travel advisor designs experiences.
We look beyond logistics to understand your goals, anticipate your needs, and create meaningful journeys. Think of us as your personal advocate before, during, and after you travel.
We design custom luxury vacations across the world, from ski escapes and beach retreats to curated cruises and milestone celebrations. Our expertise lies in personalizing every journey and adding insider touches that transform a good trip into an unforgettable one.
We do not plan destination weddings, but we do plan honeymoons. We would be happy to connect you with a trusted destination wedding specialist if you wish.
Yes, absolutely. We plan travel for groups including families, friends, clubs, corporate teams, and affinity groups that share a common interest or purpose.
Our services include coordinating accommodations, flights, transfers, and activities, as well as managing logistics such as dining reservations, meeting spaces, and special events.
Whether it’s a milestone celebration, a ski club trip, a themed cruise, or a corporate retreat, we’ll make sure every detail is organized so your group can focus on enjoying the experience together.
Some trips incur a professional planning fee, which reflects the time, research, and expertise that go into designing a truly personalized journey. During our initial consultation, we’ll discuss any applicable fees based on the scope and complexity of your trip so you always know exactly what to expect.
In other cases, we receive commission from our trusted travel partners (such as hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators) at no additional cost to you. Not every trip requires a fee, but every trip receives the same high level of care and attention.
You can view sample fees here to better understand how our pricing works.
We want you to be happy and return to us for future trips, so rest assured that our focus is always on what’s best for you not on who pays the commission.
In most cases, you’ll pay the same or less than booking directly. Through our global partnerships, we often secure exclusive perks and upgrades such as complimentary breakfast, resort credits, room or cabin upgrades, or private experiences that aren’t available to the general public.
Payment terms vary depending on the destination, supplier, and how far in advance you’re booking. Some trips require full payment at the time of booking, while others allow for installment payments or staged deposits.
Please note that many deposits are non-refundable once paid. Before confirming any arrangements, we’ll clearly outline all payment schedules, deposit requirements, and cancellation terms from both our agency and the suppliers involved.
Different suppliers have different cancellation and change policies, and we’ll always review those with you before any booking is confirmed.
Our professional planning fees are non-refundable, as they reflect the time and expertise invested in designing your trip. In some cases, we may also charge a service fee for the time involved in cancelling or rearranging plans.
Because policies vary, we always recommend purchasing comprehensive travel insurance to protect your investment. You’ll receive full details of both our terms and conditions and those of your travel suppliers prior to booking.
Change policies vary by supplier, and we’ll make sure you understand them before we confirm your bookings. In most cases, changes may involve a fee plus any difference in fare or rate.
If the changes significantly alter your original itinerary, a separate planning fee may apply. Whenever possible, we’ll provide a clear estimate of the total cost before moving forward.
You’ll always receive a copy of both our terms and the supplier’s policies in advance of booking
It begins with a consultation call where we get to know your travel style and goals. Then we research and design a personalized itinerary. You review, refine, and approve, and we handle all bookings, confirmations, and details so your trip runs smoothly.
As much or as little as you like. Some clients love to collaborate on every detail; others prefer to share their vision and let us take it from there. Either way, you’ll always have full transparency and final approval before anything is confirmed.
It depends on where and when you want to travel. Some destinations, especially in Europe, are selling out well over a year in advance for popular dates and experiences. As a general guideline, domestic trips are best planned three to five months ahead, while international trips often require four to eighteen months of lead time.
Ski vacations—even domestic ones—tend to fill quickly, so we recommend beginning the process as early as possible to secure preferred lodging and flight options.
Yes. For trips booked through us, we’ll advise you on the passport, visa, and entry requirements for your specific destinations. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months beyond your return date, so it’s important to check this early.
If you need assistance obtaining or renewing a passport or visa, we can refer you to trusted companies that specialize in those services.
Yes. We typically work with four- and five-star hotels, luxury resorts, villas, and boutique properties that align with our standards of quality and service. This doesn’t mean that we won’t book a three-star hotel if necessary but our focus is on those higher category hotels.
When it comes to air travel, we can arrange anything from commercial economy flights to private jet charters, depending on your preferences and needs.
We offer a full range of ski vacation options, from simple to fully customized. If you just need flights and hotel arrangements, we can take care of that. If you prefer a more comprehensive experience, we can organize everything including lift passes, equipment rentals, ski lessons, alpine guides, private transfers, and more.
We also work with some of the most reputable ski tour operators in the world, which allows us to arrange highly specialized experiences such as private chalets with in-house staff, helicopter access for heli-skiing, and professional alpine guides.
Whether you want something straightforward or an all-inclusive, luxury setup, we can tailor the trip to fit your needs and comfort level.
You’ll never travel alone. We remain available to assist with any changes, emergencies, or questions that arise during your trip. Plus, our on-the-ground partners provide 24/7 local assistance wherever you are.
Travel can be full of surprises: flight delays, weather shifts, missed connections. We’re here to advocate for you and handle the logistics so you don’t have to. With our professional network and supplier relationships, we can often resolve issues faster than travelers on their own.
While travel insurance is not required, we strongly recommend it for every trip. Travel is an investment, and insurance protects that investment from unforeseen circumstances such as flight cancellations, weather disruptions, medical emergencies, or other unexpected events.
If you choose not to purchase coverage, we simply ask that you sign a waiver acknowledging that you’ve declined insurance and understand the potential risks of traveling without it.
It’s always best to speak directly with an insurance broker or company, as they can provide the most accurate details and policy options for your specific situation. If you decide to book through us, we can connect you with trusted insurance professionals who can assist you directly.
When purchasing coverage, it’s very important to discuss any pre-existing medical conditions for yourself or anyone in your party with the insurance provider to ensure those conditions are fully covered.
Ultimately, our goal is your peace of mind knowing that you’re protected and supported should the unexpected occur.
Flight disruptions can happen, but you won’t have to face them alone. While we don’t control airline operations or reservation systems directly, we will advocate for you and assist in securing the best available solution when you booked air travel with us.
In most cases, airlines must rebook affected passengers on the next available flight. When this happens, we’ll monitor your options, communicate with our airline partners, and advise you on the quickest path forward—whether that’s confirming a new flight, rerouting through a different city, or helping with updated ground transfers and hotel arrangements if an overnight stay becomes necessary.
We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance. The right policy can cover unexpected expenses such as missed connections, trip interruptions, or additional accommodation costs, and it gives you access to dedicated assistance services that can help rebook flights quickly when issues arise.
Our goal is to minimize stress and downtime so you can continue your journey with as little disruption as possible.
