Why Use a Travel Agent?

Travel Agents are FREE (at least this one is)!!!!

I had a friend ask what I charge and I was confused. First of all, I don't charge (for the most part) and secondly I wouldn't invoice a friend.

I am certainly not running a non-for-profit, so how do travel agents get paid?

Travel agents receive commission from hotels, cruises, excursion vendors, Disney, etc.

Flights are not commissionable so if someone only wants me to book a flight, I might charge them a small fee. If a client is booking hotel accommodations or a cruise, I will book their flight complimentary.

Q: So won't the hotels or the cruises charge me more to book with an agent? A: Nope! The prices I quote are usually the same or less than advertised. Plus an agent can give you onboard credit and find deals and promos that may not be advertised online. An agent can also help with things go wrong (i.e., cancellations)

Agents have training and knowledge that can help with tips and tricks when planning your vacation. A good agent is a valuable resource.

If a client would like me to plan a complicated vacation with multiple cities or countries or has unique requests, like chartering a yacht or hiring a chef, I may need to charge a professional service fee as these requests may not be commissionable.