My Name is Jacob Odencrantz and I founded Counsel Travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Counsel Travel operates under the precept that all good travel advice, must be personalized. Our advice services are open to the general public with the first 15 minutes free for any who wishes it. Due to both the Covid-pandemic and a commitment to giving a high level of service, as a booking entity, our client list is limited. Our focus at Counsel Travel is not on a particular destination or a particular type of travel, our specialty is our clients. We seek to understand our clients because the question is never “what is the best trip?” The question is always, “What is the best trip, for me?” Our destination knowledge is extensive, as is our network of industry professionals. If we do not know the right answer to a travel question, we find that answer, check it and then deliver to our clients. I have been in the Travel Industry for just over 25 years. In that time, I have mostly either been travelling myself, or helping others to travel. As a child my father was, and still is, involved in luxury hotels engendering a dear love of the hospitality industry that is only surpassed by my love of the world and the endless possibilities of experiences it offers. I started off in the student market when I was student age, for years squeezing every penny for my clients for the most value travel. Then I got a bit too old for hostels and spent the second half of my career finding my place as a sought after travel professional with a unique skillset and destination knowledge that in my experience, is unrivaled in its breadth and diversity. I found myself back in the world of luxury and my earned sensibilities for budget still served me well. Whether a vacation costs $1000 dollars or $100,000 maximum value is always the goal. The question is always “What is the best trip for me?”. Anyone can agree that during a pandemic is not the best time to start a travel company. I felt I had no choice, 2020 was a year of heartbreak for so many prospective travelers. I needed to be available to not only help people make good on those cancelled plans but make them better. At first it was just getting refunds or rebooking my clients. Then desperate people started to call me, usually after it was too late for my advice. That’s why there is 15 minutes free, because it doesn’t matter who you are or where it is, I want you to go.
