Why Travelers and Nonprofits Choose GHF Travel
What makes us different
Instead of selling random trips, our team designs intentional journeys that feel good, do good, and run smoothly from the first idea to wheels-up.
Luxury AND impact, not either/or
You don’t have to choose between a beautiful experience and doing good. We curate properties, guides, and partners that care about community, culture, and sustainability.End-to-end, zero-stress Planning
From first brainstorm to final airport transfer, we manage the details. You get curated options, clear decisions, and concierge-level support during the whole trip, beginning with our first chat.Deep expertise in group and purpose-driven travel
We specialize in groups that travel with a purpose: families, executive teams, boards, donor groups, and affinity communities. At the same time, we carefully account for individual wishes, comfort levels, and accessibility needs so everyone feels seen, included, and cared for.We test and experience our trips
We personally travel and test many of the routes we design so we never sell you random trips, only experiences we truly know and stand behind. Check out Kristina’s Travel Journal to see our experiences.
Curious about our philosophy and how we think about impact? Explore Beyond the Itinerary.
For travelers
Why you’ll love working with us:
Travel should not feel like a second job. We design exciting trips that match your vibe and handle the details so you don’t have to.
Custom itineraries built around your pace, interests, and comfort level
Group travel for families, friend groups, and multigenerational travel
Vetted partners, guides, and experiences, instead of guesswork and 20 open tabs
Support before, during, and after travel so you can actually relax
Leave with 1–2 tailored trip ideas, a realistic budget range, and clear next steps
For nonprofits
Why partners trust us:
When travel is part of your mission or donor strategy, it has to be both inspiring and well-run. We design journeys that deepen relationships, reflect your values, and respect the communities you visit.
Meaningful and on-brand donor trips, board retreats, and auction packages
Itineraries that balance inspiration, connection, and logistical ease
Your reputation comes first, with thoughtful attention to risk and accessibility
Clear communication tools your team can share with travelers
We’ll talk through ideas for an impact, donor, or executive trip, considering your goals, budget, and timing, and see if it makes sense to move forward.
How we work
One simple process for travelers and nonprofits alike:
1. Dream and discover
We start with a call to understand your travelers, goals, budget, and desired impact.
2. Design and refine
We curate tailored options and shape the itinerary with you until it fits your family, group, or organization perfectly.
3. Book and support
We handle bookings and logistics of hotels, cruises, transfers, tours, group activities, dining reservations, and key logistics.
Behind-the-scenes support: Glass Half Full Travel is an independent travel design agency affiliated with Expedia Cruises – Palm Desert, which supports our supplier network and booking logistics.
A word from a recent traveler
“She recommended where to fly into and where we should start our tour. She asked us many questions and custom tailored our trip based on our preferences for sightseeing, restaurants, tours, shopping, hotel bookings, transportation and important historical sights... Each day we knew exactly where we had to go and where we would eat as it had many suggestions for different restaurants. The headache of planning a trip like this was taken out of my hands and it was so easy once it was planned and organized by Kristina.”
—Dr. Rewan Bowen
Frequently asked questions
General
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Both. You can join one of our curated hosted journeys or we can design a completely custom itinerary for your family, group, or organization from the ground up.
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Our compensation comes from our trusted travel partners, not from you directly. Only for especially complex, highly customized journeys, we may charge a planning fee that covers our time and expertise. If a fee applies, we’ll explain it clearly before you decide to move forward.
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Most of our travelers are looking for boutique-to-luxury experiences with thoughtful details and reliable comfort, rather than bare-bones budget trips. We’ll talk openly about your budget and what’s realistic for the type of trip you’re imagining.
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We can work on a short timeline depending on destination and season. However, for hosted river cruises and complex group or donor trips, we recommend starting 9–12+ months ahead for the best cabin and date selection. For most custom vacations, 6–9 months is ideal.
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We work with everything from couples and small families to mid-size groups, donor cohorts, and boards. The sweet spot is usually groups large enough to share memorable experiences together but small enough to feel personal and well cared for.
For travelers
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Absolutely. Think of us as your travel design partner: you bring your ideas, wish-list, and saved posts; we bring expertise, vetted options, and logistics. Together, we shape an itinerary that feels like you, without you having to spend hours in the weeds.
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Yes. That’s one of our favorite challenges. We balance activities and downtime so grandparents, teens, and little ones all have options that fit their pace, and we design the flow of each day so no one feels rushed or left out.
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We’ll ask about dietary needs, mobility, and other considerations early in the process, then coordinate with our partners to make sure your trip works in real life (not just on paper). While we can’t control every variable, we advocate for you and choose experiences that are a strong match for your needs.
For nonprofits
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Yes. We work with you to build clear, compelling travel packages that fit your audience, spell out the key details, and are actually enjoyable to redeem. Once someone wins, we step in as their travel concierge so your team doesn’t get buried in logistics.
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Our goal is to be a hands-on partner, not another project for your already stretched staff. We handle the travel design, logistics, and traveler communication related to the trip itself, while you stay focused on the mission and the relationships.
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We’re thoughtful about the communities and partners we work with and aim for travel that is respectful, culturally sensitive, and aligned with your values. Together, we design itineraries that avoid “poverty tourism,” honor local expertise, and give donors a clear, grounded view of the impact they’re helping to create.