The Travel Butler Experience

Most people know what a travel agent does. Very few understand what a travel butler does. My work begins long before a booking is made and it continues long after you return home. I take care of the full journey, not just the transaction. I handle the planning, the logistics, the small details and the unexpected moments that can change everything.

I start by getting to know you properly. I learn your likes, your dislikes, the way you travel, the pace you enjoy, the food you love, the type of room that makes you feel at home and the experiences that make you feel alive. If you travel with a partner, I learn their preferences as well, because great trips are built around the balance between individual tastes. My job is to blend both together so the full experience feels seamless.

The real value of what I do begins after you have booked. I manage everything behind the scenes. I organise your flights, transfers, hotels and tours. I track your itinerary and check for risks, changes or delays. I troubleshoot problems and respond to anything that crops up while you are away. I have the backing of more than five hundred specialists across aviation, hotels and logistics. That means someone is always available when you need us.

Relationships matter in travel. I work closely with tourism boards around the world. I have personal relationships with general managers, hotel teams and local representatives who trust me to send the right clients. That trust gives my travellers better service, preferred rooms, thoughtful gifts and upgrades that are never guaranteed but often delivered.

I also prepare for scenarios that most travellers never think about. One client had a last minute flight cancellation. The airline moved them to a non direct flight with an overnight stop in a city they never planned to visit. They would have stayed in a basic airport hotel and lost valuable time. I stepped in, protected the holiday experience and rerouted the trip. They flew the next morning and enjoyed an unexpected extra night in Milan in a hotel beside the Duomo. That night became the highlight of their trip.

Another client faced a family emergency while on holiday. We prepared several return plans. One option included a high speed train to another Spanish city where I secured a confirmed flight home. Everything was mapped out so they could leave at a moment’s notice with the lowest stress possible.

Problem solving is my superpower. I thrive on challenges and I enjoy working through complex itineraries that feel like puzzles. My clients trust me because I handle the heavy lifting. One couple recently asked me to plan a three week trip across Thailand that included nine flights, six hotels, eight transfers and six tours across five regions. It worked perfectly because the planning sat with me, not with them.

My name is Ben Merriman-Johnson. Most people never believe how good I am until they see me in action. I have been underestimated many times in life, but the people who have seen what I can do always walk away in total awe.