Related Articles
Can Travel Agents Save You Money – Do travel agents save money? Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we will get a commission (at no cost to you) if you click and make a purchase. Please read our affiliate disclosure for more information.
With all of today’s options for booking hotels, flights and activities while on vacation, it is a common belief that travel agents only add costs to the eventual price of a trip. It’s only natural to avoid using a travel agent when you’re already spending your hard-earned cash on the vacation itself. So, to help you better understand their role, I’ll answer the burning question: do travel agents save you money?
Can Travel Agents Save You Money
In short, yes, travel agents can save you money. In fact, many travel agents have access to exclusive offers that you cannot find otherwise when you book your travel online. Combine this with their extensive knowledge, and you’ll find that using a travel agent is one of the best ways to stay on budget.
March 2019 Issue
So, what exactly can they do to save money? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to cover.
Before we get into the financial side of things, it’s helpful to understand exactly what a travel agent’s day in the office looks like—especially since their responsibilities are often misunderstood.
The main role of a travel agent is to provide customers with transportation and accommodation for their trip. However, they are certainly not afraid to give advice on the best places and tourist activities, either.
They help decide on a reasonable budget, write down all the hopes and dreams, and then go on to plan the perfect vacation for everyone involved.
Costco Travel Review And Guide
While it seems like a luxury, hiring a travel agent is more affordable than you might think. In most cases, you don’t pay them at all.
Yes, some travel agents incorporate a small fee for their time into your overall budget, while others may ask for a deposit up front. But a service fee shouldn’t scare you—it’s only understandable that a travel agent is paid what they deserve for their knowledge and expertise. Regardless, it is rarely expensive.
However, a service fee is not always what you should expect when you hire an agent. To make sure you’re only paying for what you can afford, simply ask your travel agent about any fees during your initial consultation.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Best-Online-Travel-Agencies-Primary-333d6c684a874542919cd62a9d587ba0.jpg?strip=all "Can Travel Agents Save You Money")
Realistically, in most cases, you set your own budget for your vacation. And, rather than paying hotels or airlines directly, you typically pay your agent with what you plan to spend on vacation, and they use your cash to do all the back-end work. the scenes for you. That makes for a simple payment situation on your end.
What You Need To Know About Using Costco To Book Your Next Vacation
If travel agents don’t make most of their money directly from customers, it’s natural to wonder how they even make anything. But, to give you an idea, their income comes from few alternative sources apart from the travelers who need them the most.
As for income, it is better to see a travel agent in the light of a seller. Agents do most of their work together with specific companies by “selling” their products to travelers. For example, they can sell customers on staying at a particular hotel from which the agent ultimately receives a commission for referring travelers.
The travel industry has certainly changed over the past few decades. But, back in the day, agents made most of their money through airline commissions. Airlines quickly began to reduce commission due to their new partnerships with the internet, and in particular, travel websites, such as Expedia and Travelocity, which made booking travel as simple as a few clicks. . Since then, travel agents have had to rely more on other hospitality sources for commission, including hotels, cruises, and package holidays.
Now, I know what you might be thinking. If I go with a travel agent, they will only sell me the most expensive option to get the highest commission for themselves. And, in all reality, you may very well be. However, this usually only happens if you are dealing with a genuinely unethical agent, and fortunately, that is not the dominant attitude in the industry.
Vintage 1948 Greyhound Print Ad Pretty Mom Child Relax Bus
If you know the whole world and trust yourself with all the planning of a vacation, consider yourself lucky. Many of us struggle to plan a vacation, spending hours upon hours delving into the world of online reviews and disheartening prices. Think about it, how many times have you booked your own plane ticket, only to be left with $50 one-way that leaves at the same time as your connecting flight? Well, good news: you’re definitely not the only one.
This is why travel agents exist. A travel agent will be your right hand man when it comes to vacation; they’ll book your reservations, handle deposits and payments, plan itineraries, and even solve any problems that may arise while you’re enjoying yourself in Cabo.
They know their way around the hospitality industry and do their research to ensure you are getting the best deal in all areas.
Besides travel agents being an absolute convenience, to give you a clear idea of how they can easily save you some cash, I’m going to break down some of the money-saving advantages of using a travel agent to book your vacation your next
Ways A Travel Agent Can Save You Money
You can think that Kayak is providing you the lowest price on all hotel and car rental services. But think again. Travel agents find a lot of information from sites like Kayak, but they also have additional access to exclusive offers that are not readily available on the internet.
Travel agents have connections with various airlines, resorts, tour companies, and many other corporations for your travel needs. Being so up close and personal gives travel agents an edge. In fact, most agents have contracted rates with companies that are lower than what you can find on your own. Not to mention, their relationship with companies provides agents with the opportunity to negotiate costs when necessary.
Customers are much more likely to get special offers—including upgrades wherever possible—when they rely on a travel agent who employs face-to-face communication and connections.
Travel agents understand—and generally respect—the amount of money you’ll be spending on your vacation. After all, they are the ones who set it all up. They have laid out the ultimate trip for you and your loved ones and they definitely don’t want to see you disappointed. Because of this, they take steps to ensure that everything goes well; this includes protecting your finances.
Reasons Why You Should Use A Travel Agent To Book Your Next Trip
The travel industry is rife with out-of-pocket surprise fees, and travel agents fully recognize them. To prevent you from paying outrageous costs for silly services, your agent will professionally take care of all your payment needs. Instead of racking up the bill by booking everything yourself online, just sit back, relax, and let your agent take care of you. They will find you exactly what you need while sticking to your budget.
Besides, it’s always unfortunate to see your flight delayed or cancelled. But as we discussed earlier, travel agents have their connections. Your agent will stick with you through thick and thin, even stepping in to help you in any rebooking process.
Travel agents are experts in guiding their clients through travel insurance, which ultimately protects you and your money if something goes wrong.
To get back to the original question, do travel agents save money? In short, yes, they can.
Top Things You Didn’t Know Travel Agents Can Do For Your Cruise Vacation
Whether it’s negotiating with cruise lines to find you the best deal or helping you avoid those inevitable hidden fees, booking your next vacation through a travel agent might just be one of the best ways to save some money on travel.
Plus, if you’re like me, and dread the idea of researching, planning and booking a vacation, it’s hard to go wrong by hiring a travel agent.
About the Author Zach Buchenau is a self-proclaimed personal finance nerd. When he’s not writing about budgeting, getting out of debt, making extra cash, and living a frugal life, you can find him building furniture, fly fishing, or developing websites. He is the co-founder of , and Chipotle’s most loyal customer. Travel agents help people all over the world get where they want to go every day. They also have travel resources, tips and tricks available to help travelers with their vacations or even a solo trip. But, they can also come at a high price for their services.
So… the real question is are travel agents worth it? Here are the pros and cons of travel agents.
The Problem With Selling Travel When Price And Amenities Are The Focus
Tired of endlessly searching for decent flights and trips within your budget? Want a travel itinerary completely planned for you, without doing any work? Save your time and effort by using a travel agent.
As a result, travel agents take the planning aspect out of a trip and give you more time for things that are most important to you, maybe that’s time with your family, or time to grow your business. Whatever it is, they are there to help you with all your travel needs.
Travel agents are for everyone, it is not a club for elites.
How can you save money on gas, we can save you money, apps that can save you money, how can you save money on car insurance, how much money can you save with solar panels, how much money can you save in a year, can you save money with solar panels, can you pay travel agents in installments, how much money can solar panels save you, do travel agents save you money, how can you save money, can travel agents save money on flights
