Our Special Sauce

The Importance of Working with an Advisor Who Knows What They Sell and Sells What They Know

Some prospective travelers underestimate the value of working with advisors who have personally researched, and often personally visited, the destinations they recommend. Partnering with a hands‑on travel advisor doesn’t just streamline planning; it transforms the entire experience.

Latitude began as a travel advisory company in 2015, after several years of founder Linda Shepro working as a brand ambassador for a well‑known tour operator. In that role, she traveled the world to evaluate properties and services in remote, off‑the‑beaten‑path destinations. That work evolved into an advisory partnership, and ultimately into Linda’s vision for a company built on firsthand knowledge, trusted relationships, and a commitment to designing legitimate, customized itineraries for independent travelers who want confidence in what they’re booking and the reassurance that any issues that may arise during the trip will be handled seamlessly.

Today, the entire Latitude team carries that mission forward. We invest significant time and resources into on‑the‑ground research to ensure every recommendation truly delivers on its promise.

Why Experience Matters in Travel Advising

Sample itineraries and online reviews can only take you so far. A seasoned advisor brings something the internet cannot: real, firsthand insight and a deep, personal connection to their suppliers. Many of the most important details—those that shape comfort, safety, logistics, and overall enjoyment—are not obvious in photos or property descriptions.

Our team personally inspects destinations, properties, and services to ensure your itinerary is authentic, safe, aligned with your needs, and free of unpleasant surprises. This level of vetting builds trust and ensures your budget and travel dreams are respected.

How Professional Advisors Vet Destinations

Using safari travel in Africa as an example, we evaluate every itinerary through a multi‑point framework that blends both the essentials and the kinds of nuanced details most travelers would never think to ask about. Beyond the obvious considerations like comfort, dining, and logistics, we look at things such as how a camp’s exact placement influences wildlife movement, whether guiding teams include dedicated trackers, and how seasonal patterns affect the likelihood of seeing certain species. We also pay attention to elements like power reliability for charging cameras, the design of safari vehicles for photography, and the rhythm of the day to ensure the experience feels seamless rather than rushed. While the full criteria are proprietary, this mix of practical factors and insider insight is what elevates a trip from “good” to exceptional and it’s far beyond what booking engines or typical agencies provide.

Advisors Work on Your Behalf, Not at an Extra Cost

Professional advisors act as the marketing extension of vetted properties and operators, without the overhead of large consumer agencies. This gives us access to negotiated, favorable rates and ensures you receive unbiased, experience‑driven guidance. One ingredient of our special sauce is high-touch service and thorough communication before, during, and after the trip. You have questions – we have answers; you have problems – we have solutions.

You’re not paying a markup for service. In most cases, you receive expert support at or below retail rates.

For destinations outside our core specialties, we rely on a global network of trusted partners—because no advisor should claim expertise everywhere.

Why Personal Knowledge Is Essential

Advisors who truly know their product can customize every aspect of your trip, including the details that are impossible to glean online or through AI. Our long‑standing relationships with in‑country partners keep us informed about new offerings, seasonal changes, and potential disruptions, often before they affect travelers.

We prioritize owner‑operated properties and partners with deep roots in their regions, many of whom were guides themselves. Their history of exceptional service stands in contrast to large commercial operations offering standardized, mass‑market itineraries.

Travel advising is a partnership: your priorities, budget, and vision guide our process, and our firsthand knowledge ensures your journey is safe, seamless, and deeply personal.

Ultimately, working with an experienced advisor eliminates risk, builds confidence, and enables bespoke travel that aligns perfectly with who you are and where you want to go.

Our "Recipe" for Exceptional Travel

We often describe our approach as a recipe: a thoughtful blend of the finest ingredients, mixed with intention, and presented with care. Many advisors are very good, but we believe we’ve developed an exceptional recipe shaped by firsthand research, trusted relationships, and a deep understanding of how each element of a journey influences the whole.

We source only the best ingredients: the right partners, the right locations, the right timing. We combine them in just the right proportions for your tastes and we present the final experience with the same attention to detail you’d expect from a five‑star dining experience.

Just like cooking, you can absolutely plan your own trip and enjoy it, without ever realizing what an expert might have added. Our role is to handle the preparation so you can simply indulge in the experience.