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Expert Knowledge

Our travel advisors have firsthand experience enjoying Disney resorts and theme parks, setting sail aboard Disney cruise ships, soaking in the sun at Aulani and exploring Adventures by Disney destinations.

Personalized Communications

Receive one on one service and timely information on new destination offerings, attractions and vacation planning milestones.

We are a no-fee agency. In addition, our concierge services are available to all clients who book trips with our skilled travel professionals.

Savings Opportunities

We monitor all eligible promotions to ensure our clients book at the very best prices.

Concierge Service

Personalized support when you need it most, from the time you book throughout your planning process.

Award Winning Agency

We have an A+ rating from Better Business Bureau, we're accredited by IATAN, and CLIA. We are licensed, bonded and insured.

Our difference

The Be Our Guest Vacations team is made up of professionals who turned a passion for Disney vacations into a career. Be Our Guest Vacations was founded in 2012 by passionate Disney fans. Our agents visit the parks often, so their knowledge of Disney evolves as the destinations do. Consistent on-site training for our team makes all the difference, allowing them to make recommendations to their clients based on first hand experience. Our team channels their knowledge and deep love for Disney into helping you plan trips to your dream Disney Destinations around the globe!

AUTHORIZED DISNEY VACATION PLANNER

Be Our Guest Vacations’ knowledge of Disney products has earned us the distinction of being named an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. Disney bestowed us this designation because of our agency’s ongoing focus and unwavering commitment to planning customized, magical trips to the Disney Parks, Disney Cruise Line and other Disney vacation destinations worldwide. We strive to provide excellence at every step of the planning process.

ACCREDITATIONS:

Here's what our clients are saying

"We were in for a real treat when Kim O’Neill was assigned to our family to help plan our vacation. Kim helped us navigate the various resorts, which ones provided the best amenities for what we needed, how to handle one family members extreme food allergies, booking dining reservations 60 days in advance, understanding the new MagicBands, booking tours, booking limo service, which stroller rental company to use and general advice that was timely and appreciated and giving us a timely heads up when Bibbidi opened back up to secure our reservations. The key thing was that we wanted the kids to have a blast and not know that there were a million different planning decisions happening in the background before the trip. I think we can all say with a resounding - YES - that the trip was a smashing success. In no small part to Kim and the services provided by BeOurGuest. The only downer is that we will no longer be in constant communication with Kim now that our trip has ended, but we can’t wait until our next trip and to use Kim and BeOurGuest again! We highly recommend BeOurGuest and Kim for both first time and long time Disney vacationing families!"

"A+ for Laney! We had a wonderful experience with Laney and Be Our Guest Vacations. I usually plan our Disney trips myself but decided to use an agent this time and I’m so glad we did! She was responsive and kept track of our timeline so we didn’t have to! She was able to secure our preferred hotel, dining reservations, park passes and even a VIP tour (THE highlight of our trip!). We will be sure to recommend Laney to our family and friends and definitely will be using her for future trips. Thanks again Laney!"

Dannielle C

"Our travel professionals offer personalized service customized to your needs, because there's no such thing as a “one size fits all” vacation. We plan your trip with the thoroughness and enthusiasm that we would if we were planning it for our own families."

"Thank you so much to Courtney Trying to plan the ultimate trip to Disney World from Australia was so overwhelming as a first time visitor. Courtney lead us through the process each step of the way. Her advice and assistance with booking dining and fast passes was worth its weight in gold! She was very patient when answering ALL my questions (and there were many) and we always received a prompt response, given we had such a gap in time zones. Our arrival to Disney was seamless and everything we had asked for was on our Mickey bands. Our family holiday was made all the easier cause of Courtney’s hard work. You really did make it magical for us!"

"A big THANK YOU to Lindsay G. for helping me plan our trip to Disney. I had never used a travel agent and she was so patient! Lindsay communicated with me throughout the entire process, finding discounts and promotions, truly helping our family have the most magical experience possible. She took the time to understand our family dynamic and gave suggestions that fit our needs. I will definitely be asking Lindsay for help with our next trip!"

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Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

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4 Things to Know When Choosing a Travel Agent

Even the most D.I.Y.-inclined travelers are considering working with a professional adviser these days. Here’s how.

By Lauren Sloss

So, you’re thinking about traveling again? You’re not alone. The pandemic may not be over, but the expansion of vaccine eligibility in the United States — hiccups, delays and pauses aside — plus the news that the European Union will be opening up to vaccinated travelers is inspiring many to plan a real-deal summer vacation, or even take the leap on booking bucket-list adventures.

Travel remains far from simple, however. The virus is finding new footholds around the world, leaving an ever-changing set of rules and restrictions in its wake (and all of this is compounded by a run on home rentals , rental cars and more). It’s a reality that’s inspired many D.I.Y.-inclined travelers to consider working with a travel agent , or travel adviser, for the first time, in the hopes of skipping the travel-planning stress and focusing on actually relaxing on vacation instead.

Most travel advisers provide their services free of charge to clients (though some charge a booking fee, which can range from $25 to $100, depending on how complicated a trip you’re after) and instead make their money through commissions from hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, airlines and other travel companies.

Finding the right adviser for you is “like finding a hairdresser,” said Erika Richter, the senior communications director of ASTA , the American Society of Travel Advisors. “You want someone who understands your personal style.”

Ms. Richter, along with Misty Belles, the managing director of global public relations for Virtuoso , an international travel agency network specializing in luxury travel, shared their tips on how you can find an adviser who will understand you and your dream trip.

Begin your search close to home

Start by asking trusted friends and family members for recommendations. “The same holds true for any professional service in your life,” Ms. Belles said. “If you know someone who is working with a travel adviser and was pleased with the experience, that’s a great place to start.”

If that’s a no-go (or if your friends and family, while beloved, don’t have the same travel style as you do), Ms. Richter strongly suggested seeking out local businesses where you live.

“Supporting small businesses in our communities is more important than ever right now,” she said. ASTA has a directory that allows you to search for advisers close to you; a quick Google search will likely do the trick, too, Ms. Richter said.

Think about where you want to go

Another way to find a travel adviser is to seek one out based on a destination, or destinations, that he or she may specialize in. Are you interested in going to a specific Caribbean island nation? You’ll likely want to work with an adviser that has booked a number of trips in that country, and has connections and contacts there. Some advisers specialize in trips to Disney resort properties; others focus on cruises. If you’re interested in planning a trip outside of their purview, advisers can refer you to someone else within their network, or do the heavy-duty research themselves.

“Choosing someone who specializes in a destination is a good first foray into working with a travel adviser,” Ms. Belles said. “But when you work with the same adviser for a while, they become a specialist in you.”

Consider their professional networks

Speaking of what you want, it can be useful to understand the organization, or organizations, an adviser is associated with. Whether they work alone, with one partner in a small shop, or as part of a large agency, they are likely connected to a consortium, or a professional network, like Virtuoso, which is made up of more than 1,000 agencies in 50 countries around the world, or ASTA itself.

“Obviously, I represent ASTA, but I do think it’s important to look at an adviser’s professional affiliations,” Ms. Richter said. Affiliations can serve as a vote of confidence that the adviser has been vetted; it also gives you a chance for recourse should you find yourself unhappy with your relationship (ASTA, for example, can handle consumer complaints and be a part of the resolution process). Some consortiums specialize in a certain type of travel — Virtuoso agencies focus on luxury travel, for example, while others might highlight adventure travel, or family trips and so on.

An adviser’s affiliations also act as a conduit for one of their major selling points: traveler perks.

“Ask them what sorts of benefits they get from their professional networks,” Ms. Richter said. “Upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkouts when available — who doesn’t want some of those freebies?”

Make sure your adviser understands your travel style

Do you like leisurely, slow trips? Packed itineraries filled with sightseeing and attractions? Do you like to travel alone, or are you planning multigenerational trips with children and grandparents? Ensuring that your adviser understands what you want — and maybe even establishing that they have a similar travel style themselves — can greatly help with building rapport (and allow them to plan an even better trip for you).

Some important questions to ask: Do they charge a planning fee? What are some examples of trips that they’ve planned in the past?

“Be really upfront about your budget for a trip, and be sure that that is something they can help you make the most of,” Ms. Richter said.

Ms. Belles suggested asking the adviser how they personally like to travel, and some of their favorite destinations.

“Interview them a little bit! You can see whether there are some similarities there,” she said. But make sure they’re asking you just as many questions.

“If they’re not, that should be a red flag,” said Ms. Belles. “An adviser should be looking to get to the heart of what exactly you want as a traveler.”

52 Places to Love in 2021

We asked readers to tell us about the spots that have delighted, inspired and comforted them in a dark year. Here, 52 of the more than 2,000 suggestions we received, to remind us that the world still awaits.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021 .

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Are Travel Agents Free?

Let’s be honest: When it comes to travel, most of us worry about our budget—a lot. Some travelers find it hard to trust travel agents or advisors because they worry about being charged for using their services. 

Yet not all travel advisors even charge fees, though it’s becoming a bigger trend. 

TravelPulse took a deep dive into why and how travel agents charge for their travel planning services—and why some choose to keep their travel planning services free for travelers.

Are Travel Agents Free? 

The question is more complicated than you might at first think.

Traditionally,  travel advisors are paid a commission by their suppliers . So if you go on a cruise, the cruise line will pay the travel advisor you use for booking your trip. 

Commissions are usually a standard commission rate decided by the cruise line (such as 20 percent of the cost of the cruise), though this can range depending on, for example, whether your travel advisor is affiliated with a host agency that can provide higher commissions for the suppliers they use most frequently due to business partnerships (though often the host agencies take a portion of a travel advisor’s commission, which can further complicate things). This is the case for cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and resorts and even vacation packagers. 

Commissions were once the standard way that travel advisors made money: not by charging customers, but by earning money from the suppliers they used. 

Tammy Levent, President of  Elite Travel Management , explains why her agency has never charged fees: “At Elite Travel, after thriving in the travel industry for over 30 years, we have built a solid reputation based on trust and exceptional service. We understand the competitive nature of today’s travel market, especially with the rise of online booking platforms…”

“Introducing a service fee could discourage potential clients from booking with us,” Levent explained. “We aim to remove any barriers that might prevent someone from experiencing our superior service and competitive rates. We are confident that once clients experience Elite Travel’s offerings, they will see the value we provide. Furthermore, during our initial interactions, we communicated to our clients that we operate on a commission basis. We’d like to ask that they contact us with serious booking intentions or wait until they are ready to book, ensuring a commitment to the quality and earnestness of our services.” 

The Growth in Travel Agents Charging Fees 

Let’s be real: there’s a cost of living crisis happening in cities and countries across the globe, and that’s led a lot of people in different industries to change their business tactics.

The same is happening among travel advisors, and a new trend has begun: charging fees for certain travel planning services. Of the 26 travel advisors who chose to share their expertise for this feature, 17 of them charged some type of travel planning service fee, though their fee structures are not equal. 

So what are some specific reasons that travel advisors are beginning to charge fees for their services? Let’s take a closer look.

Why Do Some Travel Agents Charge Fees?

One of the biggest reasons why travel advisors choose to charge fees for their travel planning services is  to weed out any clients that might not be serious clients in the long run . Travel advisors can spend hours quoting and pricing trips for travelers, yet those same travelers might just book directly or choose to plan the trip themselves, therefore taking away the opportunity for their advisor to generate income from those hours. That’s only one example of one of  the frustrations of a travel advisor .

More complicated bookings like FIT trips, group travel, destination weddings, or meetings can also take hours to plan, yet most travel advisors aren’t paid by the hour. That means they’re relying on the promise of a commission only after their clients have left on their trip.

Another reason should be easy to understand:  sometimes commissions just aren’t enough . Imagine a travel advisor only earns $200 in commission from a FIT booking that took 16 hours to plan, book and execute. Divided by the number of hours spent planning the trip, the travel advisor’s take-home pay is only $12.5 per hour.

While this is a creative example, it can demonstrate that sometimes, the amount of time spent planning travel for others doesn’t actually pay when it comes down to the amount of commission the advisor will earn, leading some to introduce travel planning fees, fees for booking airfare (another segment that pays relatively limited or no commission) and more.

JoAnne Weeks, Vacation Division Director at Acendas Travel, was one of the travel advisors who started out not charging fees, but found them useful and even necessary after the pandemic ended. 

“I am the first to admit that I pushed back on fees for a long time,” said Weeks. “Especially for cruises, but I came to realize, I was giving away my 28 years of cruise expertise to my clients for free. People would request information, I take my time to research, put together a custom quote for lines they hadn’t even heard of, only for them to take my information I gifted them and book it themselves. We grew tired of being used. You’re required to pay to consult a lawyer, a plumber’s service call, heck even the person cutting your hair. We are worth it.” 

Weeks said that the revenge travel trend of the post-pandemic travel era led to many travelers asking for information, but leaving without booking with Acendas Travel, leaving her to implement a fee structure in 2021. Fees for her agency include a cruise concierge fee, FIT fee, flat air service fees and more, all adjusted according to how long each takes to plan. 

Nick Pena, Luxury Travel Designer at Cruise Planners, is a travel advisor who charges clients fees for ticketing airfare, changing their itineraries and cancellations. 

“Charging fees helps weed out the clients I don’t want and keep the ones that value the work that I do,” Pena explained. “Having a fee structure allows the advisor to have a more stable income, guaranteeing my time is paid for whether they do the trip or not. Even simple tasks like ticketing airline tickets get a fee of $25. No one else works for free, why should I?”

“The imposition of a professional fee is a testament to my value,” he continued. “I offer a life-saving lighthouse amidst overwhelming travel options, constantly changing regulations, and unforeseen circumstances that can arise even in the most meticulously planned trips. My fees ensure that I remain by the client’s side, a vigilant sentinel, as they navigate through the unpredictable waters of global travel.”

Why Book with a Travel Agent? 

Travel agents don’t always charge fees, though it’s becoming a growing trend. So why, then, should a traveler choose to book their next trip with a travel advisor? 

Well,  it’s all about expertise . Travel advisors are experts at planning travel, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. While you could book something online without ever talking to a human being, that human connection is often what people need, especially when things go wrong on trips or when you’re looking to book something completely unique. 

Madeline Steuber Johnson, co-owner of Steuber Travel Group, explains her agency’s outlook: “We have multiple calls getting to know our clients; we often spend a lot of time designing an entire itinerary before it even gets to a DMC. We hand-pick the hotels and we push back in the quoting process with our partners, asking follow-up questions and making alternative suggestions so that we really deliver something highly personalized. That, in itself, requires investing a huge amount of time into our education and destination knowledge as well. We are not in the business of acting as a middleman or woman, forwarding generic itineraries provided by companies doing this on a mass market scale.” 

“As you can see, our business model isn’t profitable if we do not charge for our time given the sheer amount of time we enjoy investing into our clients,” continued Steuber. “Other industries charge for their time and I have felt from the founding of our company that the travel industry is behind when it comes to fees. Interior designers are a great example: they charge for their time designing and they do not let the commission percentage they can make on a sofa dictate how hard they work for a client. We don’t want to compromise our deliverables or change our process to favor quantity over quality so we can make more money. So with that, we feel confident in the value we bring for the fee we charge!”

In the End, It’s Up To You

While travel advisors are increasingly starting to charge some form of travel planning fee for their services, not all of them are doing so. Travelers can take note and make sure to find the best fit for them, their travel needs and their budget. Yet the benefit of using a travel advisor of any kind can’t be stated enough: they are much-needed support in an often overwhelming planning period, and can save travelers hours of planning work. 

Tammy Levent

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The Complete Guide to Booking Travel Online

What is an online travel agency, and what are the best sites and apps to use to search for hotels and flights we break it all down for you..

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There’s a lot to navigate when researching and booking travel online.

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My first travel adventure was to Venezuela. I booked the ticket with a travel agent over a pay phone. The agent searched a dozen flight itineraries over a few days, all so I could save $15.

Times have changed. Today, flight searches start online , often on your mobile device. Passengers book either directly with the airline or hotel or with online travel agencies. Rarely do we get on the phone. In fact, American Airlines and United Airlines charge $25 to make a domestic flight booking by phone. And pay phones hardly exist anymore.

So, what is the best way to book online? Here is our complete guide to online travel agencies, search tools, and the variety of booking options available on both mobile devices and desktops.

What is an OTA?

An online travel agency, or OTA, is a website or mobile app that allows users to search for and book travel services such as flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and activities. The booking is made directly with the online travel agency but confirmed by the service provider, such as an airline or a hotel. As a customer, your relationship is with the OTA.

What are the main OTAs?

Many online travel agencies nowadays are owned by two main companies: Expedia and Priceline. The Expedia Group is the largest online travel agency in the United States with 70 percent market share, according to travel data firm Phocuswright. Expedia Group operates Expedia.com , Orbitz, Hotels.com , Trivago, CheapTickets , Hotwire , Vrbo , and Travelocity .

Priceline is a major competitor to Expedia, with global revenues larger than the Expedia Group. The company owns Priceline.com, Booking.com, Cheapflights, Momondo, and Kayak—the latter two being metasearch engines (more on that below).

There are also independent newcomers such as Hopper (a mobile-only booking tool) and Kiwi.com (which allows you to book flights on air carriers that don’t normally have a commercial relationship).

Are OTA fares lower than booking directly?

Generally, no. The fares that are displayed by an OTA will be similar if not slightly more expensive when compared to an airline’s website. They’re usually only a few dollars higher or lower. The OTAs charge a booking fee to the airlines, and often that fee is passed directly to consumers. For example, Lufthansa tacks on an additional $18 to any booking made through an OTA for Lufthansa flights. The same flights are exactly $18 cheaper on the airline’s website.

Where you can score a good travel deal through an OTA is when booking a last-minute hotel and flight package. Many OTAs have cut agreements with airlines allowing last-minute travelers to access lower rates than are typically available when passengers book a flight alone.

Are all airlines available to be booked through OTAs?

No. Many OTAs do not display flights from some of the low-fare leaders. For example, Southwest and Allegiant flights are not available through OTAs; the same goes for Ryanair in Europe. And, earlier this year United Airlines threatened to pull out of Expedia altogether, only recently signing a multi-year agreement to stay in. The airlines would rather not lose any margin to online travel agencies in an already low-margin industry and would rather maintain a direct relationship with the customer.

Are smaller OTAs safe to use?

Expedia and Priceline are the two largest players in the online booking space, but there are dozens of independent OTAs, such as CheapOAir, OneTravel, JustFly, and SmartFares. Confusingly, you might actually stumble on ads for these OTAs while using Expedia or Priceline sites. That’s because the larger OTAs earn revenue through advertising, sending passengers to smaller OTAs and charging those OTAs for the favor.

Buyer beware: some of these lesser-known OTAs are masters at hidden fees. For example, a flight search on JetBlue allows for free seat selection in many instances. If you perform the same search on FlightNetwork, an independent OTA, and select a seat, you will be charged an additional $25—despite the fact that JetBlue doesn’t charge a seat selection fee if you book directly.

What if you need to change your itinerary?

Itinerary changes are often a pain. If your plans change, it won’t matter whether you’ve booked directly with an airline or with an OTA—you’re going to pay fees for the privilege, if you can even change your ticket at all.

For example, CheapTickets.com, which is part of the Expedia Group, charges $25 to change or cancel a ticket if that change is requested after 24 hours of making the booking—it is free if you do so within 24 hours of booking. However, the fees go up from there. JustFly, an independent OTA, charges a $75 fee for changes to domestic flights in addition to airline change fees, plus the difference in fare, for tickets that can be changed. For an international trip, the fee rises to $200. That means to change an international flight with Delta (which charges a $100 change fee) booked through JustFly, you’ll be assessed $300 in fees, plus the difference in fare. At that rate, you may as well book a new flight. FlightNetwork indicates in its terms of service that changes may incur a change fee but doesn’t specify what those fees are. That hardly makes the few dollars you saved by booking with the OTA in the first place worth it.

What is an OTA price match policy?

To assure travelers that they are getting the lowest fare possible, many OTAs have a price match policy. The rules vary and so do the benefits.

For example, if you book with Orbitz and find a less expensive flight, car rental, or activity on any U.S.-based website within 24 hours of your booking, Orbitz will refund you the difference you paid. And it works: I have personally found a flight in the same class, on the same airline, for the same origin and destination cities, and requested Orbitz to refund the difference of around $35. Within a few weeks, I received a check in the mail. A similar program applies for CheapOAir, but there’s a catch—the price difference must be found on a major OTA such as Expedia or Travelocity.

Expedia has a particularly good price match policy, but you have to pay extra for it at the time of booking. Expedia offers the price match option as an add-on that costs between $5 and $30 when you book. With the price match applied, if the airfare on Expedia drops between 120 days of the flight and up to six hours before the flight, Expedia will automatically refund you the difference in fare. Unfortunately, fares generally do not drop substantially as the travel date approaches, so while this might give you peace of mind, it’s probably not worth the expense.

How do Google Flights and other travel metasearch engines work?

Frequent fliers are likely familiar with websites such as Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, or Skyscanner. On these websites, passengers search on the site but are redirected to the service provider to complete the booking, such as an airline, rental car company, or hotel.

Metasearch started with a product called ITA Matrix, which is a tool for searching airfares online but not for actually booking online. ITA Matrix allows for multi-city searching, such as setting two different departure or arrival airports, and for offering a calendar view of fares for easier comparison. That company was acquired by Google in 2011, and savvy travelers swear by it to help find the least expensive fares online. Most consumers are more familiar with Google Flights, which has gained traction more recently not least because it has the benefit of being displayed first in search results on Google.

Metasearch engines receive distribution fees from the airlines for sending traffic to the supplier websites. There are no additional hidden fees for using a metasearch engine because you’re booking directly with the airline or hotel.

A major benefit of the metasearch engines is their price tracking tool, which lets users know whether the displayed fares are low, average, or high for the flight, allowing travelers to make a more informed decision on whether to book a flight or not . Google Flights and Kayak, for instance, both have price tracking tools.

Why not just book directly?

The airlines would definitely much rather you book directly with them. Over the past five years, they have gotten much better at marketing and selling their product directly to consumers online and through mobile sites and apps. But in the past, they weren’t so good at it. In fact, Delta, Northwest, United, American, and Continental got together to invest $145 million to launch Orbitz in 1999 to counter the threat from Expedia. Now Orbitz is owned by Expedia.

The airlines also try to encourage customers to book directly so that they can maintain a closer relationship with them. It allows carriers to connect bookings with loyalty programs and create special offers and discounts catered to individual passengers.

There is another benefit to booking directly. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires carriers to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty, so long as the booking is made at least seven days before travel. The law applies, however, only to U.S. and foreign air carriers that have websites marketed to U.S. consumers. This means that, in theory, an online travel agency does not have to offer such a policy, although most OTAs do.

What are the options for booking on your mobile device?

Airlines and the major OTAs all have apps to help you book and manage your trip on your mobile device, but their functionality is lacking compared to these websites’ desktop editions. For example, Expedia’s app doesn’t allow you to view flights on a month-view calendar. Kayak has an app with more bells and whistles and a better user interface, including a month-view calendar with color-coded pricing. It also has a handy “augmented reality” function to help you see if your carry-on bag will fit in the overhead bin (a feature originally developed by KLM). Point your phone’s camera at the luggage, and it’ll give you the dimensions.

While apps are improving and gaining in popularity, you still might find it easier to locate the best deals on flights and hotels by using your desktop, where you can have multiple tabs open and have all the available search tools at your disposal. Apps are fine for booking directly with an airline once you know which flights you want to book.

If you’re determined to use your mobile device, you may want to look into Hopper. Hopper is a mobile-first flight booking tool that has a solid price prediction tool. You can research travel options and book directly on the app. Another benefit of Hopper: Of its team of 300 employees, nearly half are dedicated to customer support and are based in Canada versus some OTAs and airlines that outsource much of their customer service further afield.

The bottom line?

Like many travelers, I enjoy a flight deal as much as the next person, but I also don’t like any added hassle. I typically start my travel searches using the ITA Matrix or Google Flights to get a general sense of the fares. It helps to know what is a good deal and what is expensive for a particular route. I do my research, typically on a desktop computer. When I’m ready to book, I’ll book directly with the airline. I’ve found that customer service is better when booking directly with the service provider. But I’ve also saved money by using OTAs and have booked with them, too. Whichever way you choose to book, you can be safe in the knowledge that finding and purchasing travel online is a lot easier today than searching for a deal with a travel agent on a pay phone.

>> Next: How to Get the Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

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The Pros and Cons of Booking Through Online Travel Agencies

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You’re likely already familiar with online travel agencies, even if you don’t travel often. These companies — such as Priceline , Expedia and Orbitz — act as intermediaries between you and a travel provider.

Booking your travel through an OTA can be a good idea in some circumstances, but you’ll want to be wary of its pitfalls. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of online travel agencies, so you’ll know what to use to book your next vacation.

Pros of booking through online travel agencies

There are certainly advantages booking through online travel agencies, though you’ll find different experiences whether you’re using public OTAs — such as Kayak — or private ones like those offered by your card issuer, such as the Chase's travel portal .

✅ It may be cheaper

When searching for flights online, you may see different prices for the same routes that vary across websites. Although it may be a result of fare type — for example, some search results may not clarify that a fare is basic economy rather than main cabin or economy — other times, the difference comes down to competition for your business.

Online travel services will often offer slightly lower prices on flights in an effort to entice you as a customer. This is true for both hotels and airlines.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for online travel-booking websites

✅ It can earn you more rewards

Have you ever heard of shopping portals ? By logging into a shopping portal, you can earn rewards for purchases made with many online merchants. Some hotel chains, such as Hilton , Marriott and IHG , can be accessed through shopping portals while still booking directly on the hotel website. In this way, you can earn rewards with the hotel directly as well as with the shopping portal.

The same isn’t true for shopping portals and most airline sites. However, many public online travel agencies are accessible through shopping portals, which can then earn you rewards for airfare bookings. By opting to book in this way, you’ll be able to earn points or cash-back rewards through the shopping portal that you’d otherwise miss.

Some card issuers will also reward you heavily when using their online travel services. Clear examples of this can be seen with Capital One and Chase. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , for example, you’ll get 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel .

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is similar. With this card, you can get 10 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase's portal.

While these numbers are high, it’s important to remember that there are trade-offs when booking through an OTA rather than directly with a hotel or airline. We’ll get into that a little later.

Online travel agencies offered by your card issuer may not feature the same prices as booking directly; you’ll want to compare these before committing to a purchase.

Some card issuers will go so far as to give your points more value when redeeming through their online travel agencies.

This is true with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . When redeeming points on Chase's travel portal, you’ll get 1.25 cents in value per point rather than 1 cent elsewhere.

» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth this year?

Cons of booking through online travel agencies

There are several downsides when it comes to using online travel services for booking travel. It mainly comes down to the fact that travel providers prefer that you book directly with them — and offer more perks to woo your business.

❌ It can be harder to change a booking

Ever needed to change a flight after it's booked? No matter the reason, attempting to alter or otherwise cancel a flight can be a hassle — especially if you’ve booked through a third party.

Generally speaking, rather than offering you direct assistance, both hotels and airlines will recommend you contact the online travel agency you’ve booked with in order to make any changes.

While you may be able to make changes or get refunds with the travel agency, airlines and hotels can — and will — offer much more flexibility when you’ve booked with them directly. You may also be subject to additional fees charged by the online travel agency, which can erase any savings you’ve received.

❌ You may not receive elite benefits

This is the real kicker for anyone wanting elite status. Although airlines will almost always recognize your elite status and allow you to earn miles even for bookings made through an online travel agency, hotels and rental car companies will not.

This is especially important for hotel chains. Earning elite status with hotels generally relies on elite night credits. Although these can be earned in a variety of ways — including having complimentary status by holding certain credit cards — the main method of acquiring elite night credits is by spending nights in hotels. Rooms booked through an online travel agency do not count toward elite status as elite night credits.

Additionally, you will not receive any of the benefits of your existing elite status if your booking is through a third party. This can mean the loss of perks such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and even free Wi-Fi.

» Learn more: The best airline and hotel rewards loyalty programs this year

❌ It may be more expensive

Did you know that many hotel chains have best price guarantees? Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and IHG all have a guarantee that’ll give you either points or a discount if you find a better rate elsewhere.

These guarantees are generous; Hilton, for example, will match the rate and then discount it by a further 25%.

Although you’ll need to file claims for these guarantees and they face limitations — such as a 24-hour window from when you made the booking — you can save a lot of money on your stay if your request is approved.

Online travel agencies can be hit or miss

There are two sides to every coin and this is no different, as there are several benefits and limitations of online travel services. Depending on your needs and loyalty program status, you’ll want to choose whether to book directly with a travel provider or rely on OTAs to do the job for you.

Booking travel through credit card portals from issuers like Chase and Capital One can earn you big rewards. But if you anticipate altering your travel plans or aim to earn elite status instead, booking directly is the way to go.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Fee Free Program

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Looking for extra income?   Want to be your own boss and work from home?

Are you comfortable with talking to new people and making friends in person and on social media?

Have you booked travel for yourself or your family in the past?

If your answers are yes, then you will easily succeed as a travel agent at BNT Travel Group! All you need to invest is your passion; we will help with the rest!

Become a Travel Agent

Becoming an independent travel agent in today’s booming entrepreneurial world requires no startup costs and no investments. You do not need to borrow money for office space rent, employees, or system fees.  

But you do need to choose the right host travel agency to work with.  

Join BNT Travel Group

Become a home-based independent travel agent at BNT Travel Group with no investments, no startup costs, and no monthly fees*!  You will get all the tools and training you need to become a successful travel agent.  

BNT Travel Group equips you with access to various resources that allow you to perform all necessary transactions including hotel, airline ticket, car rental, cruise line, tour operator, and travel insurance bookings free of charge.

All you need is a computer, phone, and passion to succeed!

Affiliating with BNT Travel Group is the most valuable way to begin or continue your career in the booming travel industry. The travel industry has been growing each year and is projected to continue its growth for years to come. Instead of building your own travel agency from the ground up and spending countless amounts of time and money on everything your new business needs, you can begin instantly with a proven foundation and award-winning support system.

Yes, it's Free!   

Unlike our competitors, we have designed a free host agency program, which grants the ability to experience the travel business and earn an income without any investments, memberships, or monthly fees.   While keeping our program free of costs, we still offer high commissions to all of our agents.

What's the catch?

 There is no catch! BNT Travel Group charges a one-time $249 registration fee, which is FULLY REFUNDABLE  upon your first commission of $350 (combined) or more actually received from the vendor within 3 months after the signing up date (applies only to newly joined agents, not applies to renewals). This refund is guaranteed by our  legal contract .  

Why do we charge a one-time fee?

There are three reasons: 1. To confirm your commitment to our brand. 

2. To guarantee that you are embarking on your new venture with a serious state of mind. 3. To cover the expenses of your registration process with vendors.

Our Preferred Supplier Commissions  

BNT Travel Group has a notable reputation and established relationships with all of our tour and travel partners, allowing us to obtain some of the highest commission levels in the travel industry.  Tours Operators - up to 20%

Cruise Lines - up to 16%

Travel Insurance Companies - up to 28%

Car Rentals - up to 10 %

Hotels - up to 15%

Exclusive Tours and Packages - up to 20%

Your commissions  

Our tour suppliers pay us commissions worth up to 30% of the total sale, depending on the type of travel.

From that percentage, you receive a commission payment of 80% (Our commission split level starts from 80/20 percent for beginners as well as for advanced travel agents). Advanced travel agents will receive up to 90% of the commissions received from vendors.

Learn more about the BNT Travel Group commissions and payments structure ( click here ). 

The more you sell, the more you get

Once you have reached $7500 in gross commissions during a 12-month period, we will increase your commission rate to 85 %, and to 90% if your gross commissions reach over $10,000.

Travel Agent Training

Learn how to become a professional travel agent and grow your client base with our advanced start-up and continuing travel agent training programs. You can learn at your own pace and from the coziness of your own home.

Unlimited video training & travel agent tutorials

Online webinars with industry and destination experts

Access to FAM Trips (Familiarization trips)

Participation in EDGE events by Travel Leaders

Various destination and local events

Free online marketing center with unlimited templates and resources  provided by our vendors

Various marketing webinars

Social media marketing tutorials and support

Direct mail and a sophisticated email marketing system 

Agent Support

Unlimited support

Personalized mentoring programs customized for each individual agent

New agent orientation program

The travel industry is on the rise with growing revenue and profits- becom e a part of it!

By working with BNT Travel Group, you earn the highest commissions, pay no fees, and

travel as a part of your job; there is nothing to lose by joining our family.

We will guide you through every step of your journey to becoming a successful travel professional.

NO OTHER HOST TRAVEL AGENCIES CAN MATCH OUR OFFE R!

Unlock Your New Career: The Ultimate Guide to Travel Agent Training Free

Embarking on a travel agent career doesn’t have to strain your wallet, thanks to a wealth of travel agent training free programs at your disposal. This guide unearths a selection of comprehensive free resources that cover everything from the basics of travel planning to advanced customer service techniques. Learn through online courses, webinars, and industry events—all without spending a penny. Start your journey with our roadmap to free travel agent training, and set yourself up for a successful, cost-effective career .

• Access to a variety of free resources like online courses and webinars empowers aspiring travel agents to enhance their knowledge and skills without breaking the bank.
• Options for career progression include joining a host agency for support and resources or striking out independently to craft a unique travel business aligned with personal aspirations.
• A successful travel agent must build a comprehensive skillset, identify a niche market to specialize in, and create a robust business plan with clear goals and effective marketing strategies.

Get information on Travel Agent Training programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Discovering Free Travel Agent Training Opportunities

Pursuing a career as a travel agent need not be a costly affair. The world is your classroom, with a host of free training opportunities just waiting to be explored. Organizations like ASTA and ACTA are treasure troves of knowledge, offering travel agent certification programs that equip aspiring agents with the tools to succeed in America and Canada. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to sharpen your existing skills, there’s a wealth of resources at your fingertips, including:

• Online courses
• Virtual events
• Industry conferences

These resources cater to every learning style and schedule.

For those ready to dive in, LuxRally Travel opens its doors to eager learners through an agent application process, leading to a commission-only based contract akin to starting your own business. This model not only educates but also immerses you in the real-world dynamics of the travel industry, offering a practical approach to learning. We’ll further dissect these opportunities to see how they can fuel your burgeoning career.

Online Courses

In our digital age, online courses are the cornerstone for convenient, low-cost, and comprehensive learning for travel agents. These courses cover the A to Z of the travel industry, from understanding the roles and responsibilities of a travel agent to mastering the art of crafting tailor-made travel experiences for clients. Platforms like Alison are a goldmine for free courses specifically designed for travel consultants, providing strategies that are vital for a successful career. Here, you can absorb knowledge at your own pace and revisit complex topics until you’re confident in your expertise.

The wide-ranging and comprehensive nature of online courses facilitates the development of a robust skillset that includes everything from booking strategies to customer service excellence. These online resources are not just about acquiring knowledge; they’re about empowering you with the skills to rise above the competition and make a tangible impact in the travel agency business.

Webinars and Virtual Events

The interactive nature of webinars and virtual events brings a dynamic edge to your education as a travel agent. Imagine learning directly from industry experts about the latest trends in content creation, AI communication, and specific travel group information—all from the comfort of your home. As the travel landscape evolves, especially in light of global events like COVID-19, staying informed about destination updates and policies becomes crucial. Webinars provide this cutting-edge knowledge with the added benefit of real-time interaction, allowing for immediate responses to your burning questions.

Dive deeper into specialized themes such as luxury travel or cruises through targeted webinars that immediately benefit your clientele. These virtual events are not just learning sessions; they’re interactive platforms that connect you with a community of travel professionals, fostering a sense of belonging and offering support as you navigate the industry’s complexities.

Industry Events and Conferences

Beyond the digital realm, industry events and conferences are your gateway to the pulsating heart of the travel world. These gatherings are a melting pot of ideas, trends, and best practices, allowing you to immerse yourself in the travel industry’s latest innovations. Networking is a hidden gem of these events, providing the chance to rub elbows with travel suppliers, tour operators, and fellow professionals who can become invaluable contacts throughout your career.

Key events like the ASTA Global Convention or the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) are not to be missed, offering workshops and speakers that can skyrocket your knowledge and professional connections. Imagine yourself actively engaging with industry thought leaders, absorbing their wisdom, and applying it to your own travel agency business. Such experiences are not just about learning; they encapsulate the essence of growth and opportunity in the travel industry.

How to Become a Travel Agent for Free: Choosing Your Path

The path to becoming a successful travel agent is as unique as the destinations you’ll help your clients discover. You have the freedom to choose how you’ll embark on this journey—whether it’s through the supportive environment of a host agency or the independent spirit of starting your own business. Each path offers distinct advantages and the choice ultimately hinges on your personal goals and preferences.

Consider the achievability of your goals and the level of support you’ll need to reach them. Partnering with a host agency can provide a scaffolding of resources and expertise, while going independent offers the thrill of steering your own ship. As we delve into the benefits of each option, think about what aligns best with your vision for your travel agency business.

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Host Agency Benefits

A host agency can be the wind in your sails, offering a robust support system that can propel your travel business forward. With higher commission levels thanks to collective buying power, and a plethora of business and marketing support services, host agencies provide a strong foundation for your agency. The legitimacy and problem-solving efficiency that comes with a host agency’s established network can be a game-changer for new agents, offering a level of professional clout that’s hard to achieve on one’s own. To make an informed decision, it’s crucial to research host agency reviews before choosing the right partner for your business.

Furthermore, the reduced startup costs associated with partnering with a host agency, including licensing and access to airline ticketing support, can be a financial lifesaver for those just entering the industry. These benefits extend beyond being mere perks; they serve as critical tools that can help you focus on growing your business and refining your craft without the added pressure of navigating the administrative maze of the travel industry.

Independent Travel Agent Advantages

Embracing the role of an independent travel agent is like stepping into a world of endless possibilities. Here, you’re the captain of your destiny, with the freedom to make business decisions, set your schedule, and work from any corner of the globe. The financial rewards of this path are equally enticing, with the potential to earn commissions, charge service fees, and benefit from tax deductions associated with running a home-based agency.

This independence transcends the realm of financial gain; it centers on creating a business that truly reflects your values and caters to your clients’ unique needs. As an independent agent, you hold the reins, and with that comes the thrilling opportunity to build something truly your own, something that stands as a testament to your hard work and dedication.

Building Your Travel Agent Skillset

The framework for a successful travel agent involves a diverse range of skills that extends beyond mere passion for travel. Interestingly, no specific formal qualifications are required to enter this profession, making it an accessible career path for many. Yet, to truly excel, you need to cultivate a deep understanding of travel agency operations, gain proficiency in tour booking systems, acquire extensive geographical knowledge, and ensure fluency in English.

Mastering these skills does more than just prepare you for the day-to-day tasks of a travel agent. They enable you to provide exceptional customer service, communicate effectively with clients, and manage a myriad of travel details with finesse. This skillset is your arsenal, equipping you to navigate the complexities of the industry and to emerge as a trusted travel professional.

Finding Your Niche in the Travel Industry

Within the wide landscape of the travel industry, identifying your specific niche can serve as a guiding compass that guides your agency to success. Specializing allows you to channel your efforts into areas that resonate with your passion and expertise. Whether it’s the opulence of luxury travel, the thrill of adventure, or the precision of corporate travel, honing in on a specific segment can lead to deeper customer satisfaction, market differentiation, and sustainable business growth.

When selecting your niche, consider what sets your heart racing. Is it:

• designing lavish getaways that ooze exclusivity
• curating experiences that push boundaries and incite discovery
• ensuring seamless travel for busy professionals

Understanding and catering to the unique preferences of your clientele is paramount for personalizing their journey and fostering enduring loyalty.

Luxury Travel

Luxury travel is synonymous with the finer things in life, blending relaxation with adventure and treating comfort and exclusivity as its hallmarks. This niche is about more than just opulent hotels and premium flights; it’s about crafting experiences that resonate with exclusivity and personalized attention. Some examples of luxury travel experiences include:

• Arranging private yacht sailings
• Securing reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants
• Booking exclusive access to private villas or resorts
• Organizing personalized guided tours and excursions
• Providing VIP airport transfers and chauffeur services

These are the touches that define luxury travel.

Catering to an affluent clientele means offering bespoke travel options that exceed expectations. The luxury travel niche requires a meticulous eye for detail and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellence at every turn. As a luxury travel agent, your job is to create those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that become treasured memories for your clients.

Adventure Travel

Adventure travel speaks to the soul of the explorer, to those who seek activities that test their limits and immerse them in the natural world. This niche is about physical and explorative experiences that take clients off the beaten path—think mountain climbing, white-water rafting, and exhilarating bike trails. It attracts individuals who crave challenge and novelty, those who find joy in conquering peaks and forging through untamed landscapes.

As an adventure travel agent, your role is to:

• Facilitate transformative journeys
• Ensure each trip is thrilling, safe, and well-coordinated
• Ignite passion and provide clients with the tools to embark on adventures that will become pivotal chapters in their life stories.

Corporate Travel

Corporate travel agents, also known as travel advisors, are the architects of seamless business travel, specializing in organizing trips that cater to the specific needs of companies and organizations. This often involves handling complex bookings, like:

• multi-destination itineraries
• group travel arrangements
• transportation logistics
• accommodation reservations
• visa and passport requirements

In addition to these tasks, corporate travel agents also craft detailed travel plans to ensure every aspect of the journey aligns with the business’s objectives. In corporate travel, you’re not just booking flights and accommodations; you’re providing solutions that adhere to the company’s standards for safety, risk management, and employee care.

Navigating the corporate travel landscape requires a different set of skills, including a deep understanding of the business world and the ability to anticipate and meet the demands of corporate clients. As a corporate travel agent, your expertise can make the difference between a stressful business trip and a productive, hassle-free experience for your clients.

Creating a Solid Business Plan

Venturing into the travel industry requires more than just a love for travel; it demands a solid business plan that acts as your strategic roadmap. The executive summary of your plan is the beacon that guides potential investors and stakeholders, providing a snapshot of your business concept and strategic direction. It’s where you define your unique selling points and articulate how your travel agency stands out from the competition.

This exhaustive document transcends being a mere formality; it manifests your vision and the blueprint for your success. It informs stakeholders about your value proposition and outlines the steps you’ll take to make your travel agency business a reality, considering the chosen business structure.

Setting Goals

Setting goals is akin to charting a course for your travel agency. Employing the SMART framework ensures your goals are:

This provides clarity and direction. Whether it’s increasing bookings or boosting your online presence, clear and specific objectives keep your agency’s journey on track. These goals must be measurable, with concrete metrics that allow you to track progress and adjust your strategy as needed.

Timelines are crucial, creating a sense of urgency and ensuring regular reviews of your agency’s course. With each accomplished goal, you’re doing more than just ticking off a box; you’re attaining new milestones in your agency’s growth and solidifying your reputation in the travel industry.

Defining Target Markets

Understanding your clients’ needs, preferences, and expectations is the compass that steers your marketing efforts in the right direction. By defining your target markets, you can tailor your website content and marketing messages to resonate with your ideal clients, setting your agency apart from its competitors. Detailed customer personas, crafted from thorough market research, allow you to visualize and connect with your audience, enhancing the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns.

Testing different marketing approaches and gathering direct customer feedback are essential for fine-tuning your agency’s understanding of its clientele. Considering cultural and linguistic factors is key to ensuring your content resonates with your target audience and builds a strong, relatable brand presence.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

A well-navigated financial course is the backbone of any successful travel agency. Your financial plans should include:

• Revenue projections
• Budgeting for expenses
• Developing pricing strategies
• Cost control methods

All of these are integral to your business plan. While the initial investment to launch your career as a travel agent is relatively low, thoughtful budgeting and financial planning ensure that you can maximize your returns and sustain your business over the long term.

Lean on the support that a host agency can provide in backend bookkeeping and reporting to minimize the need for expensive software investments. Don’t forget to consider the protective umbrella of Errors and Omissions insurance; some host agencies extend this coverage to their independent agents, safeguarding against potential liability lawsuits. Above all, meticulous financial tracking is essential, ensuring you maintain a clear ledger of expenses, refunds, and commissions—often, seeking the expertise of a professional accountant can be a wise investment for your travel agency.

Marketing Your Travel Agency

In the vibrant tapestry of the travel industry, effectively marketing your travel agency is what makes your brand’s colors shine the brightest. A strategically planned online marketing approach should encompass a professional website and search engine optimization, and content that engages and converts potential clients into loyal customers. As the digital landscape continually evolves, so too must your marketing strategies to align with industry trends and changing customer preferences.

Your marketing efforts are a dynamic part of your travel agency’s growth, involving clear goals and the tracking of key performance indicators to gauge success. Whether it’s through compelling storytelling on your website or eye-catching campaigns on social media, your marketing endeavors are the magnet that draws clients to your agency.

Online Presence

In the current digital age, an online presence is as vital for a travel agency as its travel services. A responsive and mobile-optimized website is the first port of call for many potential clients, and it needs to make a lasting impression with its user-friendly design and engaging content. Your website should not only facilitate easy bookings but also showcase your agency’s unique identity and expertise, catering to the specific preferences of your target audience. Online travel agencies that excel in these aspects will undoubtedly attract more clients and thrive in the competitive market.

Here are some tips to improve your online presence:

• Incorporate customer reviews and testimonials on your website as a form of social proof to build trust and credibility with visitors.
• Utilize tools like Google Analytics to gain insights into your audience and shape your marketing strategies accordingly.
• Remember, your online presence is more than just a website—it’s the digital face of your brand and the cornerstone of your client base’s trust in your expertise and services.

Social Media Marketing

Social media serves as the heartbeat of contemporary marketing, and for travel agencies, it’s a playground for engagement and brand building. Start by focusing on one or two primary channels that align with your content style and audience demographics, gradually expanding as you grow more confident and capable. Your social media content should be a mix of visually appealing posts, engaging narratives, and calls to action that resonate with your audience and reflect the spirit of your travel brand.

Harness the power of social media insights to tailor your content and engagement strategies, ensuring you reach the right audience with messages that spark interest and drive bookings. Collaborate with influencers to amplify your reach and credibility, and always be responsive to customer inquiries, as a swift and effective social media presence can foster customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Networking Opportunities

The adage ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know’ is especially applicable in the travel industry. Networking opportunities abound at events like the LuxRally Travel Sales Symposium, where agents can engage in meaningful discussions with vendors, attend informative presentations, and expand their professional network. Building strong relationships with reliable suppliers can significantly boost your agency’s efficiency and value proposition to clients.

Don’t overlook niche markets, which can offer unique networking opportunities to form partnerships with related organizations and influencers. Online platforms and industry groups provide a forum to share experiences, collaborate on opportunities, and gain insights from peers, further expanding your professional network and fostering industry collaboration.

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The 10 best online travel agencies in 2024

The top 10 online travel agencies.

• Booking.com
• Lastminute.com

Best online travel agencies for business travel

1. travelperk.

Main offerings and features:

• Industry-leading travel inventory
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 fast customer support in target 15s
• VAT reclaim
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Save time and money on your business travel with TravelPerk

2. sap concur.

• Works with some of the biggest brands
• Easy tracking and reporting of expenses for expense reports
• Many connected apps, such as Uber and Airbnb for cars and hotels
• One solution for a variety of business travel spending

Click below to compare both platforms’ features and benefits

• Ample integrations
• Award-winning mobile app
• Employee-centric travel management

Click below for a more detailed comparison between both platforms:

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel, 1. booking.com.

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards program

• Simple interface and booking tool
• Deals when making more than one booking
• 38 different languages and offers a 24-hour, multilingual customer support service
• Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• Millions of reviews to help make your decision

3. Lastminute.com

• Filter hotels according to budgets, star ratings, guest ratings, board types, and more
• ATOL protection on flight + hotel bundles
• Flash sales for last-minute deals
• Payment plans to spread out the cost of travel
• Extra entertainment booking for your trips, like theatrical productions and day trips
• Gift cards for gifting travel

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

• Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
• 24/7 support
• Lower prices on the app
• Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel

6. Bookmundi

Best online travel agencies for flights

1. skyscanner.

• Super flexible booking filters
• Cheaper flights and hotels than other OTAs
• Price alerts for travel routes of interest
• Easy-to-use booking tool and UI
• Hundreds of location and currency options
• One-way, return, and multi-city travel options

2. Kiwi.com

• Simple flight booking tool
• Partnerships with Booking.com and Rentalcars.com
• Discover deals anywhere with the option to open up your search
• Easy-to-use app

How do online travel agencies work?

What are the advantages of booking through an online travel agency.

• Access to comparison tools
• Peer reviews to help you with your decisions
• Flexible cancellation policies
• All your travel in one place
• Local flights and deals

Rewards programs

Comparison tools, peer reviews, flexible cancellation.

Flexiperk: Cancel anytime, anywhere. Get a minimum of 80% of your money back.

One account for all of your travel needs, a local approach to global travel, wrapping up.

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
• Find hundreds of resources on all things business travel, from tips on traveling more sustainably, to advice on setting up a business travel policy, and managing your expenses. Our latest e-books and blog posts have you covered.
• Never miss another update. Stay in touch with us on social for the latest product releases, upcoming events, and articles fresh off the press.

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Unlocking the Perks: Do Travel Agents Get Free Travel?

Jan 18, 2024 | Abundance , Aspiring travel agents , Launch a travel business , Travel Business

Do travel agents get free travel? The short answer? Yes! But, in order to benefit from the perks of being a travel agent, you have to put in the time and effort of being an engaged travel professional.

Originally published January 2023; Updated January 2024

Hey there, travel enthusiasts! Today we’re here to spill the beans on the ultimate question: How do travel agents travel for free or score those fantastic perks? If you're curious, buckle up because we’re about to give you the inside scoop.

Rather watch than read? Check out the video below!

The Benefits of Being a Travel Agent

Before we dive into the details, we need to emphasize one crucial point – being a travel agent isn't just about reaping the rewards; it's about genuinely being a part of an amazing industry.

Now, let's address the burning question: Do travel agents actually get to travel for free?

Yes, They Do!

Here's How Travel Agents Get Free Travel

Fam trips (familiarization trips).

Travel suppliers worldwide leverage travel agents to sell their products. To ensure agents are well-versed in what they're selling, suppliers offer Fam Trips. These are essentially free or heavily discounted trips for agents to experience the products firsthand. Picture agents exploring Martinique, cruising on Harmony of the Seas, or embarking on a Virgin Voyages adventure.

Building Relationships

The key is selling and building relationships. The more active you are in selling, the more opportunities arise for free or discounted travel. Suppliers want agents to be knowledgeable advocates for their products, leading to mutually beneficial relationships.

Travel Agent Rates

Many hotels and resorts offer special rates for travel agents. With codes or specific memberships, agents can enjoy significantly reduced rates at various accommodations. This includes things like being a Hyatt member and having access to Hyatt's travel agent discount code.

Upgrades and VIP Treatment

As you establish yourself in the industry, you may be offered VIP treatment and upgrades.

Site Inspections

Travel agents have the opportunity to participate in site inspections. This involves touring different properties or cruise ships, allowing agents to gain firsthand knowledge and enhance their expertise.

Incentive Programs

Many incentive programs offer bonuses, perks, and even contests for travel agents. These can range from extra bonuses to entirely free trips.

How to Access These Travel Agent Perks

To unlock these benefits, you need to be an active travel agent. Most agents, whether working for an agency or independently, require an IATAN or CLIA card. These credentials prove you're a legitimate travel agent. As you build your experience and sell more, you'll gain access to these cards and their associated perks.

If you're considering a career in travel, check out our free masterclass that gives a comprehensive orientation to the travel industry.

Being a travel agent is not just a job; it's a passport to a world of experiences. Familiarization trips, discounted rates, VIP treatment – these are not just perks; they're the rewards of being an active and engaged travel professional. So, if you're dreaming of exploring the world while helping others do the same, becoming a travel agent might just be the perfect journey for you.

Until next time, happy travels! ✈️🌍

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3 Proven Strategies to Boost Sales in Your Travel Agency

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Grab the free toolkit: Top 10 Tools for Travel Agents

So many travel agents struggle to grow their businesses because they don’t have the right tools in their toolbox. 🙁

That’s why we put together Cyndi’s Top 10 Tools for Travel Agents – to give you the tools you need to grow your client base and business!

Inside, you’ll find:

💰 Valuable marketing content 👀 Helpful YouTube videos 🎨 Design resources 🎧 Podcast episodes 💸 Discounts and coupons ⭐ …and SO much additional gold to help you grow your business!

You’re going to love it!

JOIN THE FREE MASTERCLASS

Wondering if becoming a travel agent is right for you .

Our travel agent trainings and certifications have helped thousands of people successfully transition into making travel their new way of life. Grab a spot in our masterclass and learn the simple systems our clients use to create wildly successful travel businesses in record time.

It's Official, Our  Leads Program and Booking Portal With Over 750,000 Hotels Has Launched For Our Agents. Learn More

Join Our Team

Free Travel Agent Training

Program Overview

Our training is entirely free for those accepted into our program. It is extensive, taking between 50-80 hours to complete, and yes, you can fail. Our system is designed to remove those who are not serious about earning six or seven figures as a travel agent. Upon graduation, you will join a collaborative team and gain access to extensive resources for continued education. Most importantly, you will be a fully licensed agent able to earn commission on something everyone does: travel.

This is a commission-only based 1099 contract. While we will be here to train you and give pointers, you should treat this like starting your own business. You will be responsible for winning your clients and managing your own time. We recommend doing this part-time until you've created a large enough client base to comfortably replace your current job's salary. Many of our agents have started down this path and have become full-time.

Need More Information? Read Our Travel Agent Training FAQs

Apply to Join Our Team

Complete our agent application form, and you'll receive an email with an invitation for an interview or a denial within 24-48 hours. Incomplete applications are automatically rejected.

You will be emailed an invitation for an interview or receive a denial within 24-48 hours.

• What's in the Free Online LuxRally Travel Agent Training Curriculum? Our self-directed curriculum includes but is not limited to: ​ What is a Travel Agent? The LuxRally Mindset Tenets of Sales Quick-Quoting Fundamentals Evaluating Clients Problem Solving Steps of the Sale Closing Techniques How to Use Travel Leaders Select Hotel Benefits Programs Flights and Airlines Hotel Brands Primer Introduction to All-Inclusive Resorts Introduction to Wholesalers How to Use Wholesaler Portals Cruising Primer How to Use Cruise Portals Ancillary Services LuxRally Concierge Services Travel Insurance Accounting and Finance Group Contracts and Tools Booking Groups at All-Inclusive Resorts Booking Groups on Cruises Marketing Basics Fraud and Scam Detection How to Use Our Knowledge Base The curriculum ends with a concluding assessment. Once the self-guided portion of your training is completed your will begin preparing for your practical exam, a hands-on assesment of your sales skills and knowledge. Opportunities for continued learning are offered post-graduation. Thorough GDS training is provided upon request.
• How much does LuxRally Travel's Agent Training cost? Zero. Free. No hidden fees, no catch.
• Do I need experience to become a luxury travel advisor with LuxRally Travel? No, we do not hire prior travel agents. Our methods and philosophies are often opposite to that of traditional travel agencies. For example, we do not believe in charging service fees, and this is something experienced agents cannot wrap their heads around. Additionally, while we enjoy free travel occasionally, we do not believe in FAM culture. FAMs are free group trips for travel agents and often create a conflict of interest between the agents and their clients. Traditional travel agents may send people to a location in exchange for a FAM trip. We find this practice repulsive. The average travel agent makes $46,000 a year; LuxRally Travel agents are trained to make multiples of that. The LuxRally system is best for beginners as it takes more energy for us to fix existing agents than to make new ones.
• Who is a good fit for the LuxRally Travel team? We want general hustlers here to make money and who know how to sell. We want you if you have no sales experience but can prove to us that you are a natural-born hustler. Those with prior sales experience, mortgage brokers, car dealers, jewelers, IT salespeople, concierges, hotel sales managers, medical, pharma, top producing real estate agents, timeshare salespeople, etc., tend to be better at not only understanding the value of their networks but also understand how to advocate for their clients when interacting with vendors. We also look for individuals with large networks that deal primarily with the upper middle class and wealthy and those with a passion for all things travel, especially luxury travel and luxury dining.
• How long does LuxRally's travel agent training take? The training can be broken down into three portions: A Self-Guided Course on Teachable: 50-70 hours (varies by the speed of the individual). This should take you 2-4 weeks. A Launch Meeting on Microsoft Teams: 1-2 hours (scheduled weekly) You Will Have a One Week Period to Prepare for Your Practical Exam A Practical Exam / Final Assessment on Microsoft Teams: 3-4 hours (scheduled weekly) You have four weeks to complete the Teachable portion of your training. If you do not complete the training within four weeks of your enrollment (note: enrollment occurs after your contract is signed/counter-signed), you will be removed from the program. You have three attempts to pass your practical exam. If you fail on your first attempt, you may retake it the following week. You can expect to become an agent within 3-6 weeks, depending on how quickly you complete the teachable and whether you pass your final assessment on the first attempt.
• Do I need anything specific to become a travel agent? From a practical standpoint, you will need a solid computer (preferably with multiple screens), a smartphone, and a current job that allows you to interrupt your day to handle issues for traveling clients. This is a 24/7/365 career. While you will not be working all of the time, clients need to be able to reach you if they experience an emergency while on a trip.
• What is the difference between a travel agent and a travel advisor? There is no real difference; however, travel advisor is often the preferred term for those in the luxury sector.
• Do I need to get my own leads? The short answer is that you will be responsible for getting your own leads and must cultivate a stable source of clients to earn six or seven figures as a Luxury Travel Agent. That being said, we have just launched our FastTrack program. FastTrack gamifies our leads program through a unique credit system, rewarding successful deals with additional credits and providing opportunities to earn more through various tasks. Credits are redeemed for leads. If an agent runs out of credits (because they did not close any leads), they can earn credits through various tasks or wait for their quarterly replenishment. Credits cannot be bought by agents. The Credits system is created to ensure agents with solid close rates work the leads and that agents with low closing rates do not take large quantities of leads. Participating in FastTrack is currently invite only. The program has completed it's pilot and has begun rolling out to other agents as of May 6th, 2024. We are expanding the program to make it accessible to all agents. Agents who score high on their final exam are more likely to be invited into the FastTrack program.
• Do I need to make my own travel brand to be successful? No, it is not a requirement for success. You can use the LuxRally Travel brand to market yourself as an agent. After graduation from our training program and completion of our orientation, you will receive the following: An @LuxRallyTravel.com Email A Landing Page (Agent Profile) on Our Website Access to Branded Templates for Business Cards, Flyers, and Other Promotional Materials Additionally, once you are officially a LuxRally Travel Agent, you will have access to our marketing team to help you create promotional branded materials. Sponsoring an event and need signage? Need help with a social media post? Our team has your back. Now, creating a brand might make sense if you plan on getting leads through SEO or paid ads that require landing pages. However, for most people, creating an independent travel brand is not necessary. Your name will be the brand you will want to focus on. When someone thinks about you i.e., "David Eisen", you want them to automatically think about travel. After completing our training, if you are still determining which path is right for you, we suggest scheduling a one-on-one session with our CMO to evaluate what would be most beneficial to growing a healthy client base. Some agents use social media and personal networks, while others use branded websites and more traditional marketing tactics. It all depends on your situation, networks and background. A simple example would be if your background is in digital marketing. If you have experience in SEO, we would never discourage you from having your own site. We don't make money until you do, so we always provide feedback based on what we think will be practical for ramping up your business. Whatever you choose to do, know that we support both approaches and will provide candid feedback after learning more about your goals.
• What can I earn commission on? Hotel Stays (including groups) Cruises Flights (select flights, not all flights pay commission, you will learn about this in our agent training) Tours Car Service Travel Insurance Rental Cars Private Villas Private Jets Luxury Trains
• How do I get Paid? We offer a commission split based on your received commissions from your client's bookings. It is one of the best commission splits in the industry, starting at 80%/20% in your favor, meaning you keep 80% of what you make. After your first $100,000 in commissions, your split increases to 90%/10%, meaning you keep 90% of what you make. The commission resets each year back to 80%. The most productive LuxRally travel advisors earn multiples of the average travel agent.
• Will I be a fully licensed travel agent after completing the LuxRally Travel Agent Training Program? Yes, after completing our training and orientation, you will be fully licensed under our host agency with all IATA and Seller of Travel licenses required.
• What is the LuxRally Travel Agent Portal? Our comprehensive portal is the one-stop shop for creating clients, making bookings, overseeing your accounting, and more. Instead of getting lost across dozens of systems, our agent portal centralizes all the essential tools you need to be a successful travel agent. These Features include: A Dashboard with Key Statistics About Your Performance, Top Clients, and Top Vendors A Booking Dashboard Where You Can Quickly Make Bookings Directly in the Portal (Launching Q3 2024) Quick Invoicing to Efficiently Complete All Accounting Work Associated With Your Booking Agent Analytics to Take a Deeper Dive Into Your Performance Over Time A CRM to Manage All of Your Client Information in One Place An Accounting Portal to Manage Invoices, Match and Track Commissions, and begin Collections From Vendors For Unpaid Commissions Direct Access to the LuxRally Travel Knowledge Base to Quickly Find Educational Resources Access to a Leads Program to Claim Leads and Track Your Performance (Launching in April 2024) Direct Access to Our "Schedule a 1:1" Feature to Easily Get in Touch With LuxRally Travel Staff When Your Need In-Depth Support in Sales or Marketing Our portal has been designed to minimize the administrative workload on our agents. It is developed in house meaning we make adjustments quickly based on agent feedback.
• What happens after training is over? After training, you become a fully licensed travel agent, ready to sell. We provide access to a superabundance of resources to ensure that all new agents feel welcomed and confident. ​ The LuxRally Group Chat: Our group chat is a go-to for most agents seeking hotel recommendations, assistance with booking tools and third parties, advice on utilizing benefits programs, and general guidance for anything that may come up. LuxRally Agents sign agreements stating they cannot poach each other's clients, allowing our agents to confidently ask for assistance without fear of giving up a promising lead. ​ Continued Mentorship: One-on-One sessions with members from our sales and marketing teams available to our agents. Whether you need a refresher on using a booking tool or lead generation advice, you will have access to a solid mentor. ​ Bi-Weekly Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions with David Eisen: David Eisen is not only the founder of LuxRally Travel but is believed to be the highest-grossing single travel agent in the world. Our agents can casually ask David anything travel related on bi-weekly video calls. Bi-Weekly Marketing Round Tables with Courtney Eisen: Courtney Eisen has an extensive marketing background and highlights destinations to focus on, marketing best practices and open format Q&A opportunities. Office Hours With Top Closers: Our top performing agents have open office hour sessions where you can join, ask questions and learn from other agents about specific strategies to better serve clients and increase earnings. ​ Weekly Vendor Chats: Each week, a vendor is invited to a companywide weekly video conference to present educational materials and lead a Q&A. From General Managers of Forbes Five-Star hotels to Mega Yacht experts, our agents have access to continued education directly from industry professionals.
• What if I fail? Follow our training, and, likely, you won't. However, in the rare case you do, you will owe us nothing unless you leave to join another agency. Before parting ways, we will remove you from our website, group chats, and other internal resources. While a tiny percentage of our agents who complete training drop out of the program, we understand that selling travel is not for everyone.
• Why should I choose LuxRally Travel as my host agency? We can confidently say we offer more to our agents than any other host agency with the following: Free, Comprehensive Travel Agent Training We Cover Licensing and Errors and Omissions Insurance for Our Agents We Do Not Charge Our Agents Any Subscription or Membership Fees to be a Part of Our Host Agency Weekly Group Classes One-on-One Sessions Available to All Agents, Even After Training, With Sales and Marketing Teams Competitive Commission Splits (80%/20% vs. 70%/30%), Meaning You Make More Money The Most Advanced Agent Portal on the Market Mentorship From the Highest-grossing Travel Agent in the World Modern Best Practices That Generate Revenue and Maximize Client Satisfaction A Culture of Camaraderie An In-House Team Negotiating Deals for our Agency Directly With Vendors A Comprehensive Knowledge Base Annual Sales Symposiums for In-Person Training and Networking Most importantly, we only make money once you do. We are vested in your success and will do everything possible to give you the best shot in this industry. These are just a few reasons why starting your career as a travel agent with LuxRally Travel is the best move. Lastly, we do not hire people who are already agents, so you will miss out if you ramp up with another host. Our methods are directly opposed to the fee-saturated "best practices" of archaic host agencies, and we've found it takes an immense amount of energy to break the bad habits of existing agents.
• What are the requirements to remain an agent with LuxRally Travel? To maintain your status as an agent with LuxRally Travel, you must meet the following requirements throughout the duration of your time with us: Email Communication: Agents must regularly log into their LuxRally Travel email address. If they have not logged in within 30 days or use an alternate email address for communications, this could affect their standing. Sales Performance: Agents must make at least one sale every 90 days. This can be any sale as long as it is not personal travel (booked by the agent for their own travel). Availability: It's important that agents have ample availability for clients. Limited availability may impact their ability to serve clients effectively. Equipment: Agents need access to a reliable computer to run their travel business. Without this, they may struggle to manage their work efficiently. Community Participation: Being part of the official LuxRally Travel Agent Facebook chat(s) or group(s) is a requirement. This helps agents stay connected and updated with the latest information. These are private channels for agency-related information and support. Revenue Generation: Our agents must sell $30,000 in revenue per year. That would equate to $3,000 a year in commission (an incredibly low number). If you go through our training and cannot hit this small milestone, this is likely not the right career path for you. By meeting these requirements, agents can ensure they maintain their status with LuxRally Travel. Agents who do not meet these requirements are cut from our agency. If you have additional questions regarding this list of requirements, we encourage you to ask them during your interview after applying to our program.
• What are the next steps? Go ahead and apply to join our team. You will be asked to schedule an interview or denied from our program within 24-48 hours.

Reviews From Our Agents

Ashley harrison, shaheim davis, derek van den top, steven sheldon, lori jureller, how we compare to other hosts.

Last Updated 09/01/23

More Resources

The Ivy League of Travel Agent Schools

What is a Travel Agent License?

How to Select the Best Host Travel Agency For Your Business

What is a Host Travel Agency?

How Much do Travel Agents Make?

Travel Agent Certification

Protect Your Trip »

Is a travel agent worth it the pros and cons.

Travel experts agree there are several advantages to hiring a vacation planner.

The Pros & Cons of Using a Travel Agent

Getty Images

A travel agent can save you money and time.

Need to pivot your trip plans but don't want to deal with the extra time, money and hassle of rebooking flights and accommodations on your own? That's just one area where a knowledgeable travel agent (also commonly known as a travel advisor) can help. Read on to discover the other benefits – as well as the downsides – of using a travel agent, so you can confidently decide whether or not a travel agent is worth it for your next trip.

The Pros of Using a Travel Agent

Travel agents can save you money – and get you other perks.

"In some cases, you'll actually get a better  deal by working with a travel agent," says Jackie Steele, travel expert at MagicGuides . "This could be in the form of a cruise onboard credit (free spending money to use on the ship), access to special agency/group rates, or even just learning about a discount you qualify for but weren't aware of." The best agents will even keep an eye on new discounts as they're announced and apply them to your trip even after you've booked, he notes.

Travel agents handle all the details

Hotel room? Booked. Dinner reservations? Made. Tour tickets? Ready to go. A travel agent handles every detail of your vacation itinerary. "The traveler still gets to be involved in the fun part of dreaming up ideas and providing their travel wishes, while we take and perfect them," says Jessica Parker, founder of Trip Whisperer .

Molly McShea, owner and travel advisor at McShea Travel , points out that travel agents can also help with timing logistics. "Travel agents know how many days should be spent in each destination, which tours go together, and how many things you should do in a day," she says, adding that crafting an itinerary can be challenging if it's not something you regularly do. Additionally, travel agents can help you choose the best time to visit your preferred destination(s) based on seasonality and your budget, and sift through travel insurance policies to find the best option for your needs.

Travel agents can provide local expertise

"A travel advisor's industry connections and relationships provide added value to their clients," says Valerie Edman, a luxury travel advisor and agency owner at Cultured Travel LLC. She says when working with a travel agent, travelers gain access to a global network of connections including:

• In-destination specialists who work exclusively with travel advisors and can connect travelers with unique, off-the-beaten-path experiences they wouldn't otherwise know about
• Exclusive experiences not available to the general public

You'll avoid surprise fees

When deciding if a travel agent is worth it for you, remember this: A reputable agent can guarantee you won't encounter any surprise fees on accommodations and activities once your trip is booked.

You'll have someone to troubleshoot unexpected travel issues

A travel advisor is essentially your personal vacation concierge. "Because they've been around for so long, agents really know what to look for," says Christopher Elliott , a consumer advocate and journalist. "Travel agents are among the first to know about flight cancellations and delays , making it easy for them to rebook itineraries right away." 

The Cons of Using a Travel Agent

It might not be your cheapest option.

There are some instances when it makes more sense to plan your own trip. "If you're planning a quick flight from New York City to Los Angeles, it's easy enough to book it yourself online directly or through a third-party booking site," says Elliott. "If you're planning a once-in-a-lifetime trip or bucket list honeymoon , that's when you call the experts."

You'll have less flexibility in your itinerary

The upside of working with a travel agent is having someone plan an epic vacation for you based on industry knowledge and local expertise. But this can also be a downside in the event you discover an activity you'd like to do or a restaurant you'd like to try that isn't on your pre-planned itinerary. If you alter your plans, you risk losing money; plus, the time it takes for you and your travel agent to coordinate your change of plans may not be worth the hassle.

You still have to do some research

It's important to find an agent you can trust, which means you still have to do some of the vacation planning. For this part, Parker recommends picking up the phone. "Lots of people avoid or don't pick up the phone as much anymore," she says. "That's where you get the high-touch service, tone of voice, excitement or concerns to manage." She advises to look for the following red flags:

• No fees: " Travel advisors are charging planning fees more now or increasing them, so the client knows more confidently than ever, we work for them, not the suppliers with the best commissions," Parker explains. "There are a lot of things that are non-commissionable and the advisor's time and expertise shouldn't be given away for free, either. That's the best way to show an advisor takes their business seriously."
• Limited options: If you work with someone who is inexperienced or has an incentive to book you with a certain supplier, they may not be prioritizing your best interests. "It's important to check if they are with a larger consortia, accreditations and network, typically listed on their website and signatures," says Parker. "That level of mindshare doesn't come with a lone advisor unless they have many, many years of experience."
• Slow response times: If communication is delayed, that's a sign they may be too busy to plan your trip – but again, this is something you can avoid by having the right conversations early on.

Edman suggestes starting your search with the American Society of Travel Advisors . "ASTA-verified travel advisors are committed to the highest industry standards and have verifiable industry knowledge so consumers can feel confident in working with them," she says.

You might also be interested in:

• Is Travel Insurance Worth It?
• First-Time Cruise Tips
• Carry-on Luggage Sizes by Airline
• What to Pack in Your Carry-on Bag
• The Best Luggage Brands

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Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Using a Travel Agent

You're convinced that having a travel expert by your side will be useful. But how do you go about knowing when and how to book with them?

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Confession: I’m a big fan of travel agents (whoops, sorry, travel advisers ), even though I could technically book all my trips through websites and apps. And despite the fact that many of us might consider this industry old-fashioned and out-of-date, research shows that travelers, and millennials in particular, are once again turning to these specialists to help plow through TripAdvisor detritus. If you’re wondering: how much does a travel agent cost, and why would I book with one anyway? Read on.

How to Know If You Need a Travel Agent

Once you’ve come around to the idea of hiring a travel agent, ask these three questions before booking:

• Is this a domestic trip or one that involves traveling to a part of the world you’ve never been? If it’s the former you don’t need a travel agent.
• Can I get a better deal by using a travel agent? (This question requires you pricing out your trip with and without one.)
• Is this a big-budget, special-event kind of trip? If the answer is yes, go with a travel agent.

The Pros of Using a Travel Agent

They can find crazy deals..

This is literally their job. If they have been in the travel business for many years, they likely have supplier relationships in place that can help leverage better deals for you. Many travel agents specialize in locations (i.e., cruise vacations in Europe). Some travel agents offer package deals, with more savings passed on to you then booking the trip on your own—that is good news to your wallet.

They will be your advocate.

One of the best ways to utilize a travel agent is as an advocate should something derail on your trip. They can help you with lost luggage, in the case of natural disasters, if you get stuck in a location before your trip, etc. They are there to help you get your trip back on track.

They’ll take care of the little things.

I love my travel agent, and I love all the extras she provides when we use her services for a trip. For instance, when we traveled to the Bahamas, she made sure there was a nice bottle of champagne and strawberries in our room on our arrival, and she also upgraded our room free of charge. While this certainly is not a guarantee when you use a travel agent, there are a lot of added-value extras you can expect when you use a travel agent. Why? Because travel agents know you don’t have to use them to book your trip, and they want to say thank you.

They’re true experts.

Most travel agents have been working in the industry for years now, and it’s their job to stay on top of travel trends and upcoming hot destinations. When I spoke with my travel agent about a trip to Europe recently, she offered a few alternate destinations. I was not thinking about the destinations she suggested, but the alternatives offered great activities, culture, food, interesting boutique hotels, and more options for less money than my original destination.

They don’t usually cost extra.

It’s a myth that working with a travel agent will automatically cost you more; most get paid via commissions from the hotel or outfitter. Sure, some travel agents do charge a fee for putting together an itinerary, but most will credit you that fee if you end up booking the trip through them. Make sure you know all the potential fees before you use a travel agent, and do not hesitate to negotiate away.

The Cons of Using a Travel Agent

They’re not going to help with cheaper airfare..

Back in the day, you would use a travel agent to book every aspect of your trip. However, with so many options to find low-cost airfare, like Google Flights , Scott’s Cheap Flights , and  Skyscanner , booking your own flights is easy and cost-effective. Most travel agents cannot score discounted flights, and many travel agents will not even bother. Follow these tips on how to find the cheapest flights possible , instead.

They’re not you.

This may seem obvious, although it’s still important to consider. A travel agent not only finds you the best deals, but they also offer suggestions for activities, restaurants, and more. This is great if you’re someone who doesn’t like to research these things, but you run the risk of working with someone who doesn’t get your personal preferences (maybe they lean toward road tours rather than technical singletrack). Do your own research first, and come up with a list of activities that you want to do. Once you have that list, pass it along to your travel agent to see if they can rustle up any deals as they book.

How to Find a Great One

One of the best ways to find a reputable travel agent is to get referrals from your friends and family. Anyone that has used that travel agent for a previous trip and enjoyed their service is someone worth checking out. As with anything, I always suggest talking to at least two different travel agents to see who you feel most comfortable with. Remember, they are there to work for you.

Know your travel budget before you reach out to a travel agent. Likely, this will be the first question they ask you and will help steer them toward the best destinations for that budget. If you are traveling somewhere that’s specialized, like going on that once-in-a-lifetime African safari , find a specialist that knows that region inside and out. They will usually have the best deals and relationships with hotels and activity companies in that area.

How Much Does a Travel Agent Cost?

Usually, the cost of hiring a travel agent to organize a trip for you is fairly minimal. Many agencies charge a flat fee of around $100, and others may charge a certain small percentage of your trip. Most of their take-home profits come from the hotels, wholesalers, resorts, and businesses they work with, but be sure to as your travel agent about fees upfront and before you start working with them to plan your next dream vacation. (No one likes hidden fees and surprises.)

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Katrina was incredible every step of the way. She helped us tighten up our itinerary and made great recommendations for hotels and restaurants that worked really well for our family. I would highly recommend anyone thinking about how to make their trip perfect go straight to Katrina.

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I was impressed by the high level of professionalism in planning and organizing my trip to NYC. Attention to detail and genuine care for my particular interests - great restaurants and seeing the best of the city - were evident in every step of the planning. I highly recommend Melissa!

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Thomas was amazing. He got us a free room upgrade, free breakfasts for 5 days (an ~$270 value), a $50 room credit, early checkin, late checkout and more. I am referring him to all of my friends who like to travel in style.

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What is a travel agency.

A travel agency supports a team of travel advisors who sell, curate and book travel. Travel advisors consult with clients on where to go, what to do and where to stay. In addition to planning and booking trips, advisors communicate with hotels and other partners (tour companies, cruises, etc.) to ensure each trip goes smoothly.

What is the difference between a travel advisor and a travel agent?

The terms travel agent and travel advisor are used interchangeably. The original term was ‘travel agent,’ but the industry has gone through a bit of a rebrand to showcase the breadth of work that a travel advisor does. We use both, but typically refer to our network of travel advisors simply as Fora Advisors.  

Fora Advisors (a.k.a. travel advisors / agents) work with clients to understand their travel needs and handle all the travel arrangements, from booking a hotel for a long weekend to planning a honeymoon to securing a room block for a corporate conference. 

What are the benefits of working with a travel agent?

Working with a travel agent helps you level up your travel experience. A travel agent handles all the logistics — on-the-ground transfers, hotel and tour bookings, itinerary planning — so you can get the most out of your trip, without any of the stress. 

Plus, our Fora travel agents have insider access to over 5,000 preferred partnerships, meaning you get complimentary perks, priority upgrades and so much more at thousands of locations around the globe. We put serious time and airline mileage into visiting these properties in person so we can give you the up-to-date intel on your destination. We also maintain close relationships with hotel management so you’re treated like the VIP you are from the moment you arrive.

In other words, working with a travel agent unlocks a secret travel world you need to be a part of. But don’t just take our word for it… we have tons of 5-star reviews from happy clients.

Will I get perks & benefits when I work with a Fora Advisor?

Yes — big time. Our travel advisors have access to upgrades & perks at over 5,000 partners around the world. Plus, our partnerships with brands like Virtuoso , Four Seasons , Rosewood and beyond — as well as with smaller, independent boutique hotels — ensure you get treated like a VIP wherever you travel to next.

What types of travel can I book with Fora?

You name it, we book it: resort vacations, safaris , city breaks, vacation home rentals, once-in-a-lifetime adventures, weekend escapes…We do it all.

Do Fora Advisors count as Disney travel agents? What about cruise travel agents?

Absolutely. We provide comprehensive training on just about everything in the travel industry, so our advisors are well equipped to curate any client’s dream trip. (Read more about the benefits of booking with a cruise travel agent .)

I’m planning a group trip. Can Fora Advisors help?

Of course! The more the merrier. Whether you’re organizing a family reunion, honeymoon , bachelorette party or company-wide retreat, we’re happy to help. Just get in touch with your Fora Advisor to begin the process.

How do I make the most of my experience when planning a trip with Fora?

Tell us everything. Let us know if you love golf, must have access to a kids’ club or have a soft spot for off-the-beaten-path travel . Serious allergies or dietary restrictions are also very helpful information to share. That way, we’ll only show you options that fit your wants and needs. We also love to hear about your favorite hotels and trips you’ve enjoyed in the past, because that clues us in to your travel style.

If you’ve never worked with a travel advisor before, get our guide on what to expect when booking with a travel agent .

Wait, I kind of want to be a Fora Advisor myself. How can I join?

We love to hear it! We have a guide on how to become a travel agent . Then, when you’re interested in transforming your passion for travel into a meaningful career, apply to become a Fora Advisor today . 

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Travel Agency Invoice Templates

Here’s our collection of travel agency invoice templates. Feel free to download, modify, and use any you like.

Downloadable Free Travel Agency Invoice Templates

free travel agency invoice template

travel agency word and excel invoice template

printable travel agency invoice template

sample travel agency invoice template

These templates all have separate labor and materials sections and print well. for more templates, refer to our main page here . you can also check out our online invoice generator for an easy way to create an invoice for your projects that will look fantastic..

When should I use a travel agency invoice template?

As a travel agent or agency, you can benefit in several ways from using a travel agency invoice template:

• Accuracy and Consistency: Using a travel agency invoice template ensures that all essential details are consistently and accurately documented. This will reduce the likelihood of errors.
• Professionalism: A well-designed travel agency invoice template conveys professionalism to clients. This enhances your reputation and reinforces trust in your services.
• Time-Saving: Travel agency invoice templates streamline the billing process by providing pre-formatted fields. This eliminates the need to create invoices from scratch for each client.

By leveraging a template, you can improve efficiency, accuracy, and professionalism in your billing processes while maintaining organized financial records.

How do I create a travel agency invoice template?

Not sure how to create your own travel agency invoice? We’ve got you covered!

Try our online invoice generator.

With it, you can create a printer-friendly and fully customizable travel agency invoice template that includes the essential invoicing elements. The invoice generator even calculates subtotals and the total amount due, minimizing accounting errors.

After ensuring that your travel agency invoice is accurate and complete, send it to your client via email as a PDF attachment to maintain the format and ensure it cannot be altered. This method also provides both parties with a digital record of the transaction. If the client prefers a different method, you can also send the invoice through postal mail or use a client portal if your agency utilizes one, which might include invoicing capabilities for easy tracking and management.

Use a travel agency invoice when you have completed arranging travel services for a client or at the end of a booking process. It is essential when you need to formalize the request for payment for bookings made, including flights, accommodations, tours, and other travel services. This helps ensure that all charges are agreed upon and paid in a timely manner, maintaining clear and professional financial transactions with your clients.

To write a travel agency invoice, start with your travel agency’s contact information at the top, followed by the client’s details. List each service provided, such as airline tickets, hotel bookings, and other travel services, along with descriptions, dates, and prices for each. Include any taxes, fees, and additional charges. Clearly state the total amount due, payment terms (due date and accepted payment methods), and include a unique invoice number for tracking and record-keeping purposes. Ensure the invoice is clear and all charges are accurately described to avoid any confusion.

A travel agency invoice template should include the agency’s name and contact information, client’s name and contact details, and a detailed list of travel services provided with corresponding dates and charges. It should outline the costs for each element of the trip, including any taxes and additional fees. The template should also include total costs, payment terms, and a unique invoice number. Optionally, you can add fields for special instructions or additional notes related to the travel arrangements.

Customize a travel agency invoice by adding your agency’s branding, such as a logo and color scheme. Tailor the invoice template to include fields specifically useful for travel services, such as destination, travel dates, types of accommodations, and transportation options. Consider adding sections for advance deposits or cancellation policies. This customization not only enhances the professional appearance of your invoices but also makes them more informative and useful for both your agency and your clients.

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How to Become a Travel Agent: Everything You Need to Know

A re you great at finding reasonably priced flights and hotel rooms? Does making itineraries and solving booking issues come naturally to you? If your answer is yes, you might want to consider becoming a travel agent. And if you're the designated "trip-planning friend," you're already halfway there.

You might think the the profession is outdated, but that's not what the data shows: According to the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), 50 percent of travelers are more likely to use a travel agent now than they were in the past. Not only are travel agents needed, but the career's earning potential can be impressive, depending on the type of agent you choose to be. Use this guide to learn how to become a travel agent and kickstart your journey into a unique career.

RELATED: 26 Best Trip-Planning Hacks Straight From Travel Agents .

What do travel agents do?

A travel agent's job is to ensure their clients have the best travel arrangements. Using their expertise, they offer advice and essential details about your trip, make your reservations, book flights and hotels, and manage your travel plans overall. Any hiccups regarding your accommodations are handled by them, and they are the best at finding money-saving deals. Travel agents prioritize your needs, like your vacation schedule and budget.

Their goal is to provide peace of mind throughout the trip-planning process so you can get the most out of your vacation.

What credentials do you need to be a travel agent?

You don't necessarily need a degree to become a travel agent, but getting some training within the field could be in your best interest. This not only makes you an attractive candidate to employers and agencies who may require a form of certification , but also helps you appear more qualified, which can help further your career in the long run.

Even though there might not be a degree in "travel agency" per se, you can opt for a related program like business, economics, or hospitality instead.

What do you need to become a travel agent?

There are different ways to become a travel agent, but anyone hoping to break into the field should definitely keep the following three points in mind.

Decide what kind of travel agent you want to be.

Having a specific focus on the kind of travel experience you want to provide allows you to build the knowledge and resources to best help those specific clients. Suppose you want to work in corporate travel: Building your skills according to your niche clientele and field will help you sharpen the skills you need to develop your expertise.

Learn about the travel industry and its trends.

The travel agency field is constantly shifting, so it's important to stay up-to-date on industry changes and trends to know what you should be offering clients. People's preferences are ever-changing, so knowing what's hot and what's not is crucial. Spend time learning which places are popular and unpopular based on the season, or which restaurants are staple visits. This shows a solid and up-to-date understanding your clients will appreciate.

Build your communication and interpersonal skills.

A large part of being a travel agent is advising your clients and earning their trust, which doesn't happen overnight. Presenting yourself as knowledgeable and approachable can encourage them to trust your judgment and recommendations. This is especially important if you're not working with a travel agency, because you'll have to rely more on your brand and relationships instead of leaning on a company's reputation.

Maintaining a healthy balance of communication between you and your clients is also essential, which means scheduling phone calls, in-person meetings, keeping up with emails, and any other form of communication your client prefers.

RELATED: 9 Ways Flying First Class Can Actually Save You Money, Travel Experts Say .

Get certified if you can

Getting a certificate can be pricey and cost hundreds of dollars . So, if this option is not feasible for you, that's understandable. However, while certification isn't a requirement to become a travel agent, it can certainly help you throughout your career. Here are a few certificate programs to consider.

Certified Travel Counselor

This Travel Institute certificate requires at least five years of experience and a Certified Travel Association certification. This course focuses on marketing and building consumer relationships. CTC costs $550 to complete the course and $600 for the CTC Fast Track.

Certified Travel Industry Executive

CTIE is also backed by the Travel Institute and requires at least five years of field experience. This $550 program includes courses on travel business, marketing management, bookkeeping, and travel law.

ASTA Verified Travel Advisor

This certificate is given by the American Society of Travel Advisors and teaches applicants about the legalities of travel and how to solidify relationships with consumers. The nine-course program also focuses on ethical travel advising, agency law, and travel agency compliance.

For ASTA members, the course is $399, and for nonmember independent contractors, it's $598. Travel Advisor nonmembers pay the steepest price, which is $729, and $179 for recertification.

RELATED: 7 Hacks for Flying With Just a Carry-On—No Matter How Long Your Trip Is .

How much do travel agents make?

According to Indeed , travel agents make an average of $53,924, and salaries can range between $30,131 and $96,506, depending on where you live. But other factors can affect an agent's earning potential, like working independently instead of for a travel agency.

A travel agent's income also depends on their area of travel. The Hotel Agency Review 2023 report revealed that corporate and luxury travel agents earn much more than agents who focus on Disney and cruise trips.

Your experience level can also impact your earning potential, as agents who have worked in the field longer are typically viewed as more qualified.

RELATED:  The 7 Best Cruises to Book If You're Over 60 .

Do travel agents get discounts on flights?

Being a travel agent doesn't automatically mean you get tons of discounts and deals, but they do have access to perks that can help make planning trips easier and less expensive. Travel agents have the inside scoop on reduced rates because of their relationships with hotels and airlines. As a result, agents share these negotiated prices with their clients to help them save. Agents can, of course, also benefit from this insider knowledge and save money on their own trips.

Thanks to their agents, clients can enjoy luxury accommodations at high-end hotels like Hyatt Privé, Hilton Impresario, Marriott STARS&Luminous, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, and Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, to name a few. These perks range from spa services and later checkout times to room upgrades and complimentary breakfast.

How do you make money as a travel agent?

There are several ways a travel agent can make money in their field beyond selling travel packages or working for an agency.

Travel agents can charge a service fee, which is a base pay clients cover along with any other charges.

Travel agents can also make commissions from their contracts with hotels, tour/excursion companies, cruises, car rental services, and airlines. Add-ons like insurance can also help boost an agent's income, if their client wants it.

Booking group tours can increase a travel agent's earnings because their commission is based on how much their clients purchase, so more people means more accommodations. For example, booking travel for destination weddings or family reunions is an excellent way to book multiple hotel rooms. It's such a lucrative strategy that some agents make group booking their niche, because managing just a few a year can bring in a substantial profit.

RELATED: The Best Day to Book Flights for Your Next Getaway .

Being a travel agent comes with many perks, but ultimately, becoming one takes a lot of dedicated effort. Taking the time to learn about the travel industry is a great way to expand your tourism knowledge and consumer communication techniques. Refining your skills and becoming certified is one of the best ways to attract and retain clients.

So, if becoming a travel agent sounds like the career for you, join this community of globetrotters and combine your love for adventure, great deals, and helping others plan impressive getaways.

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