Does it Cost More to Use a Travel Agent to Plan Your Vacation?
There’s a common misconception that working with a travel agent is expensive – but it isn’t!
The myth prevents many people from even considering it, and as a result, they miss out on all of the wonderful opportunities (and savings) that can result with working with a professional travel agency.
It’s common to assume that engaging a travel agent to help plan a group vacation or a destination wedding will be charged all kinds of fees.
But the truth is in many cases, it doesn’t cost any more to use a travel agent to plan your vacation!
Yes you read that correctly! Hiring a travel agent to help plan your trip often doesn’t cost any more than if you DIY your entire vacation.
How Much Does it Cost to Use a Travel Agency?
How Travel Agents Make Money
While some travel agency services may come with fees, most travel agents don’t make their money by charging fees for their services.
Instead, they earn their revenue through commissions from hotels, resorts, transportation companies, and so on. Travel agencies earn a percentage of the sale that doesn’t come out of your pocket.
And even though some agencies charge fees, there are benefits in the form of cost savings that come other ways.
Time is Money
When you work with a travel agent, you save a TON of time researching places to visit, hunting for deals, and putting together an itinerary. Simply put, you can use that time to earn money to put toward your vacation, or just simply relax knowing you’re in good hands!
Your travel agent has the experience to cut through the noise and provide recommendations that fit your itinerary and include the experiences that you want to have. Plus, they help you put together an amazing vacation without you spending countless hours researching the sea of options available to you.
Special Savings with Travel Agencies
Even if you are working with a travel agent that charges nominal fees, this often pays for itself in the form of deals and savings across numerous parts of your vacation. Not only can your travel agent help find packages that bundle travel, lodging, or activities at reduced costs, they also have access to deals and promotions that often aren’t available to the public.
Using their industry connections and insider information, travel agents often set their clients up with deals like bonus cash on cruise ships, free activities, hotel add-ons, and more – all of which can be difficult to obtain without the help of an experienced professional.
Timing & Experience
Rates for travel and lodging fluctuate throughout the year depending on demand, weather, peak tourist seasons, special events, etc. Your agent has the experience to identify the times of year best fits your needs and budget, and will even be able to warn you about potentially expensive times to travel.
You’ll avoid hidden upcharges, spiking rates, and limited availability – especially if you book early!
Keeping You to a Budget
A big part of a travel agent’s job is to keep you on budget. When you set a spending limit at the beginning of the planning stages, they’ll keep you on track throughout the whole process.
When you’re booking things yourself, it’s easy to let the expenses stack up without seeing the big picture price tag of the whole trip.
Your agent will make sure you have all of your arrangements taken care of within your set parameters, and can even help you keep track of spending on activities over the course of your vacation in real time!
Working with a travel agent makes your whole vacation planning process smoother!
And in most cases, doesn’t cost any more than planning on your own.
In some instances, you can even save money overall! Their speed and expertise, as well as access to special offers, reduce stress, help you build a tight, well-planned itinerary, and keeps you on budget so you don’t overspend – all while having the experience of a lifetime!
To get started planning your next vacation with Chicago’s favorite travel agency, contact Sunset Travel & Cruise today!
