Good Questions

GOOD QUESTIONS

What's actually in a Souvenir itinerary?

Here's what you get:
- An overview you can glance at without scrolling
- A day-by-day breakdown by morning, lunch, afternoon and evening, that gives you structure and our experience while allowing you the space to make your own discoveries, and in a child-friendly rhythm. You'll always know what you're doing next without feeling like you're following a script
- Every place the author loved, linked to its website or Instagram so you can check opening times and make bookings 
- A pre-pinned Google map with layers for each day, everything included
- Logistics notes, budget notes, rainy day ideas if applicable, what we'd have done with more time. Plus some quick notes on practical things like tipping, pram versus sling, and safety
- And the section we love most: preparing your little eaters (appropriate to only some of the destinations)

Where we felt lukewarm about somewhere, we say so, and give you the alternative we wished we'd gone to instead. Where the tourist landmark is actually worth it, we tell you why. If not, we'll have visited a more intentional alternative instead.

What it doesn't include: flight logistics and accommodation options for different budgets (although we hope to offer this in future). We'll tell you where we stayed but you can make your own call and find an alternative that suits you better if needed. 

 

Why are the itineraries different prices?

It just comes down to the amount of working in planning each trip. UK trips tend to be easiest to plan, whereas trips of more than 7 days or long-haul destination need a lot more consideration. 

 

Can't I just google this myself?

Yes, and you'd probably end up with a decent itinerary. But here's what googling gets you: three hours of your evening gone, the same restaurants that appear on every "best of" list, a blog post written by someone without kids, a lot of sifting through reviews, and time spent mapping out which places are actually near each other. Souvenir is what's left after someone has done all that research, and figured out what actually works for the kind of trip you actually want to make.

 

Can't AI do this for me?

AI is excellent for transport options, opening hours, roughly what exists in a place. It's up to you to decide if an AI response reflects how a place actually feels. What AI definitely can't do is to have been there. It can't have eaten the meal, misjudged the journey time, found the courtyard that isn't in any guide, or watched what actually holds a four-year-old's attention. Souvenir gives the experience of someone that's actually done it, not probability formed by data. We'd encourage you to try both.

 

A PDF feels a bit... basic for the price?

We're new and we are putting our energy into the quality of our itineraries, recommendations and notes. Very soon, itineraries will live directly in your account — accessible, and always up to date. In the future, you'll be able to create your own personalised version of the itinerary and even make bookings directly from it. But one step at a time. Thank you for bearing with us.

 

Is this right for my family, or travelling style?

Before you make a purchase, our itinerary description tells you exactly the age of the kids at the time of the trip, and what age range the author feels it would be great for. It also tells the type of accommodation they stayed in and the overall vibe, so you can judge the fit before you buy. If you're unsure whether something works for your family, please contact us. We'd rather point you toward the right itinerary than have you buy the wrong one.

 

What if my budget is different to yours?

Every itinerary features budget notes that are honest about what we spent and where. Generally-speaking, our authors are not purely luxury-seekers or budget backpackers (although there are a few exceptions: on our Northumberland trip we camped, and our Puglia itinerary is based from a 5* hotel). But normally, we're somewhere in the middle, with a preference for spending on food and experience over accommodation - although our apartment choices are usually swayed by good aesthetics. Lots of the things our authors lean towards on trips - other than eating out - are free, like beach time, exploring markets, free galleries, or getting under the skin of an underrated neighbourhood. If your instinct is to spend less or more on accommodation or eating out, the itineraries still work.

 

I want to go for a different number of days. Is the itinerary flexible?

A five-day itinerary used over three days gives you a shortlist to choose from. Used over seven days it gives you room to go slower, revisit, or use the "what we'd have done with more time" section as your extension. Use the itinerary exactly as it is or as a jumping off point for your own discoveries.

 

What if the things you've recommended aren't open on the days, times or seasons that I'm visiting?

We include web links and practical notes for everything we recommend, and we update itineraries regularly. But please check directly before planning your visit because that's just good practice regardless of where the recommendation comes from.

 

What if the accommodation you recommend isn't available on my dates?

It might not be. Our aim is to convey a sense of where to base yourself and why, which is transferable even when the specific property isn't available.

 

What if the type of accommodation isn’t right for us?

All families have different needs and preferences. If you opt for different accommodation, you will still be able to enjoy the day-to-day itinerary content. 

 

If you're unsure about anything at all, please do contact us, we'd be happy to help.