Everything you need to know
Anecdote is designed to make booking your next hotel completely stress-free.
Here's how it goes:
- Tell us about your trip. Fill out the form on https://anecdote.travel with your travel details: where you're headed, who you're traveling with, and what kind of stay you're after.
- Meet your concierge. You'll be connected with your personal Anecdote concierge on WhatsApp. They'll curate a tailored list of hotel options just for you and may ask a few quick follow-ups to make sure we get it exactly right.
- Pick your favorite. Once you've chosen your hotel, log into our client portal to review the booking terms and share your details.
- We'll handle the rest. We confirm the booking on your behalf and send you all the details. Your concierge then coordinates directly with the hotel—arranging special requests, early check-ins, and anything else to make your stay seamless.
No bots, no hassle, no hold music. Just real people making travel feel easy.
Right now, Anecdote focuses on what we do best: hotels. From boutique city stays to luxury resorts and hidden gems, your concierge will find and book the perfect place for your trip.
In the near future, we'll also help you with restaurant reservations, local experiences, and other travel essentials, everything you need to make your journey seamless from start to finish.
We can help you find beautiful vacation homes, but we don't work directly with Airbnb. The reason's simple: Airbnb listings vary a lot in quality, and there's limited support if something goes wrong (like getting locked out). Since your comfort and peace of mind are our top priorities, we only work with homes we can personally vouch for.
That said, we do have access to an exclusive collection of professionally managed, fully vetted vacation houses—the kind that come with hotel-level, 24/7 service and reliability. At the moment, we handle vacation home requests for stays of 3 nights or more, with a nightly budget starting at $1000.
If that sounds like what you're looking for, just let your Anecdote concierge know, and they'll take it from there.
Absolutely! We often can! If it's not peak travel season, there's a good chance we can still find you great hotel options
The earlier, the better! The moment you wake up thinking, “I want to go to Bali,” or“I should finally use those vacation days,” that's the perfect time to text us.
No need to overthink or spend months planning. We'll start researching and curating options for you right away. All the heavy lifting happens in the background; all you have to do is tell us what you like.
No problem at all! That's what we're here for. If you're still figuring things out, your Anecdote concierge can suggest destinations, timing, and even hotel ideas to help you decide. Whether you're dreaming about a beach escape or a city break, we'll help you narrow it down and get inspired.
Not yet…but we're working on it! Personalized itineraries are something we're exploring for the near future. If you're interested, just let your Anecdote concierge know, and we'll keep you updated as we expand our services.
Often, yes! We work with thousands of trusted hotels around the world, many of which give travel agencies like us exclusive rates, perks, and upgrades. Think free breakfast, room upgrades, or resort credits you wouldn't get by booking on your own.
Even when the public rate is the same, booking through Anecdote still comes with valuable perks because we act as your agent of record. That means:
- We handle all communication with the hotel , from special requests to last-minute changes, so your stay is seamless.
- Hotels prefer working with verified travel agencies, so you're more likely to get priority treatment (like better rooms, welcome drinks, or late check-outs).
- And if something goes wrong, we step in directly with the hotel to resolve it—no customer service runaround for you.
So whether it's a better rate, better perks, or just a smoother experience, you'll always get more value when you book through Anecdote.
We do our best to give you a great deal from the start. Our searches cover dozens of booking channels to make sure your rate is competitive. But if you spot a lower rate elsewhere, here's what to do:
- Check the fine print.
Many booking sites show lower prices by leaving out taxes or fees until the end. We hate that trick, so Anecdote always shows the full, all-in price up front. - Compare the terms.
Some cheaper rates come with restrictions, like being non-refundable or not earning loyalty points. If you're okay with those terms, tell your Anecdote concierge. We often have access to those same rates and can book them for you (with our full support). - Let us know!
If your rate truly is lower, share it with your concierge. In many cases, we can match it. Plus, you'll still get our “agent of record” benefits, like concierge support and hotel advocacy throughout your stay.
Please note: we can't always match private or restricted rates (like corporate, wedding, or promo code rates). You're welcome to book those directly, but we won't be able to provide our concierge support for those stays.
No worries! If you need to change or cancel your trip, we'll help you navigate it. Your booking will follow the cancellation and change policies of the hotel (or any other services) you've booked through us. We always make these policies clear before you confirm anything, so there are no surprises later.
If your plans aren't set in stone, we highly recommend choosing refundable rates for extra flexibility and peace of mind. And if you ever need to adjust or cancel, your Anecdote concierge will handle the communication with the hotel for you.
We take our concierge team seriously; they're the heart of Anecdote. Each concierge goes through a rigorous vetting process designed to find people who truly love travel, plan meticulously, and have the intuition to anticipate your needs.
We only accept about 0.5% of applicants. Basically, the Ivy League of concierges. And the learning never stops: our team goes through ongoing training covering destinations, hotel policies, and best practices, so you always get reliable, well-informed guidance.
All of this means you can relax knowing you're in expert hands: real people who genuinely care about making your trip seamless.
There are two kinds of points to think about: credit card points and hotel loyalty points.
- Credit card points:
Yes! Your card is charged directly by the hotel, so you'll still earn credit card points as usual. If your card offers extra rewards for travel spending, your booking will typically qualify. We haven't seen any exceptions yet. - Hotel loyalty points:
In most cases, yes. Because we make the majority of bookings through direct hotel channels, you'll earn points just like you would when booking yourself.
Sometimes, though, we may find an amazing deal through a third-party rate—one that offers a lower price or added perks but doesn't qualify for loyalty points. When that happens, we'll show you **both options** and make it clear which one earns points, so you can decide what's more valuable to you: the savings or the points.
Yes! In most cases, your status benefits will absolutely be recognized. We make the majority of our bookings through direct hotel channels, which means your loyalty status and its perks (like upgrades, bonus points, or late check-outs) will apply as usual.
The only exception is if you choose to book a third-party rate.
For example, one that's cheaper than the hotel's direct rate. Those rates may not qualify for loyalty benefits, but don't worry, we'll always make that clear before you decide, so you can choose what matters most to you: your perks or the savings.
We partner with thousands of the world's best hotels through exclusive, invite-only programs available only to select travel agencies like Anecdote. Think Park Hyatt, Four Seasons, Rosewood, Westin, InterContinental, and more.
Perks vary by property, but often include:
- Complimentary buffet breakfast for two
- Room upgrades at check-in (subject to availability)
- $100 USD in hotel credits for dining, spa treatments, or other experiences
- Priority early check-in and late check-out
On a three-night stay, these benefits can easily add up to hundreds of dollars in extra value: all at the same rate you'd find online.
Right now, Anecdote does not book flights. We are working on a new product to help recommend quality flights to you; let your Anecdote concierge know if you want to be in our beta testers group for this.
You're in good company. Nearly 90% of our travelers have never used a travel agent before, and most tell us they'll never go back after working with Anecdote. Here's what to expect (and how to get the most out of it):
- Your concierge will get to know you.
Think of your Anecdote concierge as your travel best friend. They'll take time to understand your travel style—favorite hotels, go-to vibes, must-have amenities, or even quirks like *“I'm a sucker for rooftop pools”* or *“foam pillows only.”* If it matters to you, it matters to us. - You'll have one point of contact for all your trips.
The same concierge will help you on this trip and future ones. They'll get to know your preferences over time, just like a favorite hairstylist or financial advisor, but for travel. - Stay connected for the best experience.
You'll chat directly with your concierge over WhatsApp. They'll guide you through the hotel search and booking process, handle details, and keep things smooth. Sometimes we'll need your quick sign-off or feedback to lock in rates, responding promptly helps you snag the best deals and avoid missing out on top hotel picks.
In short: expect an easy, personal, and genuinely human travel experience—one that's designed to make every trip feel effortless.
By default, we'll try to show you refundable rates first. We highly recommend choosing them since they offer the most flexibility and peace of mind. Travel plans can change, and refundable rates make it easy to adjust if something comes up.
Sometimes, hotels sometimes offer non-refundable rates at a steep discount. This is more common when you're close to the stay dates. When that happens, we'll show you both options.
We always display cancellation policies in an easily parseable format in our platform.
No, and that's by design.
Here's why:
- The best deals aren't always public.
Many of the top hotels we work with offer exclusive rates and perks, like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, or resort credits, through invite-only programs available only to select travel agencies. These can't be booked through standard websites and require a bit more hands-on coordination from our team. - We want to save you from decision fatigue.
The truth is, travel planning has become overwhelming—hundreds of hotels, countless room types, and endless rate options. Anecdote's blend of smart tech and trained concierges cuts through all that noise, so you only see a few truly great choices that fit *you.*