Welcome to the On the Go Vacations blog! I thought I’d start with the question I hear most often. If you’ve always booked your own trips, you might wonder what a travel advisor actually does, and whether working with one costs more. Let’s talk about it honestly.
What a Travel Advisor Actually Does
A good travel advisor does much more than book a reservation. Before anything is booked, I want to understand how you like to travel: the pace you enjoy, what makes a trip feel special to you and what you’d rather skip. From there, I narrow down the options so you don’t have to spend hours comparing cruise lines, cabins, tours and hotels.
Then I handle the details, like the right cabin location, pre- and post-cruise hotels, transfers, excursions and travel insurance. These are the things that are easy to overlook until they suddenly matter.
How I’m Paid
Most of my income comes from commissions paid by the cruise lines, tour companies and resorts I book. That’s why there’s no planning fee for most vacations I plan.
For more involved custom trips, the kind with airfare, ground transportation, curated sightseeing or multiple destinations, a planning fee may apply. If it does, we’ll talk about it openly during your first consultation, before any planning begins.
One more thing worth knowing: your travel payments go directly to the cruise line, tour operator or resort. I never collect or hold your trip funds, and if a refund is ever due, it goes back to your original payment method.
In most cases, you don’t have to pay for your trip all at once, either. With many cruise lines and tour companies, you can secure your trip with a deposit and then make payments in whatever amounts work for you until the final payment is due. Payment options vary by supplier, so I’ll always walk you through the deposit, final payment date and any payment flexibility before you book.
Will It Cost More Than Booking Direct?
In most cases, no. Cruise lines and tour companies generally set their own prices, so you’ll typically pay the same fare whether you book directly or through an advisor. And depending on the sailing or supplier, working with an advisor can sometimes add extras, like onboard credit or special amenities.
Already booked a cruise directly with the cruise line? You may still be able to transfer your booking to me, so you keep the cruise you love and gain a personal advisor for the details.
Someone in Your Corner When Plans Change
This is where a travel advisor really earns their keep. Flights get canceled, itineraries change and life happens. When it does, you don’t want to be stuck on hold with a call center.
During the pandemic, I spent hours on hold for my clients, rebooking canceled cruises and finding new itineraries so they didn’t have to. That’s what I mean when I say I’m in your corner, before your trip and while you’re traveling.
“Every time the cruise lines cancelled additional cruises, she found us another itinerary, got us rebooked and handled everything for us… She’s the best there is!”
Angelica, Houston, TX
Experience You Can Lean On
I’ve been planning travel for 13 years and I’m a CLIA Master Cruise Counsellor. I also travel as often as I can, so when I recommend a ship, a cabin or a destination, it’s usually because I’ve seen it for myself. That first-hand knowledge is something you won’t find in a booking engine.
Is a Travel Advisor Right for You?
Working with an advisor is a great fit if:
- You’re planning a bucket list trip and want it done right
- You’d rather spend your time looking forward to the trip than researching it
- You’re trying to choose between cruise lines, ships or tours and want an honest opinion
- You want a real person to call if something goes wrong
If that sounds like you, I’d love to help. Your discovery call is always free, and there’s no obligation. Have more questions first? You’ll find answers to the ones I hear most in my FAQ.
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