Do I Really Need a Travel Advisor? Myths, Realities, and When It Makes Sense

As a travel advisor, I get asked this all the time:

“Do travel agents still exist?” (Yes, we do 😊)

To be honest, I never used a travel agent myself because I genuinely enjoyed planning my own trips. But now that I’m on the other side, I clearly see how much time, money, and stress I could have saved over the years.

Working with a travel advisor doesn’t mean being completely hands-off (unless that’s what you want). It means having support, guidance, and access to better options for certain parts of your trip.

Here are honest answers to the most common questions I get — to help you decide if working with a travel advisor makes sense for you.

Myth vs. Reality: Travel Advisors Today

One of the biggest myths is that using a travel advisor automatically makes your trip much more expensive, or that you lose benefits by not booking directly with the airline, hotel, or cruise line.

In reality, most of the time travel advisors book directly with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and tour companies, just through an advisor portal. This means you usually receive the same benefits you would get booking on your own — plus the added support of having someone help if issues come up.

Another common misconception is that travel advisors can’t possibly know every brand or destination. While it’s true no one knows everything, we do know where to find accurate information quickly and how to navigate different travel companies efficiently. Having someone deal with potential issues before, during, or after your trip can be invaluable.

The Benefits of Working with a Travel Advisor

One of the biggest benefits of working with a travel advisor is saving time. Travel advisors do this day in and day out. Many of us are in this industry because we truly love travel and have years of personal travel experience, which gives insight you won’t always find online — or even through AI.

Travel advisors can also help you access deals, perks, or promotions you may not know about, and we often have relationships with travel companies that can help make things happen when something feels complicated or overwhelming.

And when things don’t go as planned — flight delays, cancellations, schedule changes — travel advisors are the ones spending hours on hold with customer service so you don’t have to, especially when you’re already dealing with airport stress or other travel issues.

When It Makes Sense to Use a Travel Advisor (and When It Doesn’t)

Working with a travel advisor makes the most sense for trips with multiple components, such as cruises, international travel, multi-city itineraries, group trips, or vacations that require coordination between flights, hotels, transfers, and experiences.

It may be less necessary for very simple bookings, such as standalone flights, short hotel stays, or car rentals, where there isn’t much planning involved and fewer opportunities for promotions or customization. In those cases, the process is often straightforward, and many travelers are comfortable handling it on their own.

That said, even experienced travelers benefit from having guidance and support — especially when something unexpected happens. For cruises in particular, if a travel advisor is selling a specific brand, it’s often because they’ve experienced it themselves and can offer useful tips, from what to pack to which restaurants are worth booking.

Travel Advisor vs. Booking Directly with Travel Companies

Booking directly often means waiting on hold, navigating multiple websites, and trying to piece everything together yourself.

When you work with a travel advisor, you have one point of contact. You can text or email instead of calling call centers, and your advisor handles the research, comparisons, and booking details for you.

Because I work with one of the largest host agencies in the country, I also have access to exclusive deals and perks that aren’t always available to the public — and sometimes not even offered directly by the travel company.

Common Travel Planning Mistakes I See All the Time

When people plan trips on their own, I often see the same avoidable mistakes come up — not because they did anything wrong, but because travel planning has a lot of hidden details.

Many travel planning issues come down to details that don’t seem important at first, but make a big difference once you’re actually traveling.

For example, booking an airport thinking it’s nearby when it’s actually an hour away from the city center, or choosing an extremely early morning flight that sounds fine when booking — but feels exhausting when you’re traveling with kids or after a long journey.

Other common issues include unrealistic daily schedules that don’t account for travel time between locations, unnecessary backtracking that wastes valuable vacation time, or missing important requirements like visas. These details may seem minor, but they can quickly turn a long-awaited trip into a stressful experience.

What Happens After You Book with Me?

My role doesn’t stop once your trip is booked.

I send payment reminders, track important deadlines, and make sure all details are taken care of. If you need transfers, museum tickets, tours, or special requests like late check-out, I help coordinate those as well.

I work with vetted and reliable companies, but even when plans don’t go as expected, I’m there to help find solutions, adjust arrangements, and keep your trip on track as smoothly as possible.

Why Work With Me?

I became a travel advisor because I truly love what I do. Through my own travels and experience in the industry, I’ve gathered the resources needed to create trips that are efficient, well thought out, and aligned with what each client actually wants.

Having traveled extensively, there’s a good chance I’ve been to — or deeply researched — the destination you’re considering. That allows me to make practical recommendations that help you maximize your time and get the experience you’re looking for.

I’ve even tested itineraries created by AI for trips like New York City, and mine consistently came out more time-efficient and realistic. That’s the difference personal experience and thoughtful planning can make.

A Quick Note About Planning Fees

Some travel advisors charge a planning or consultation fee, especially for trips with multiple components or travelers. Planning takes time, research, and expertise, and this fee often serves as a commitment from clients.

Travel advisors are primarily compensated through commission when a trip is booked. In cases where a client chooses not to move forward after receiving a detailed proposal, a planning fee helps compensate for the work involved. Any fees are always discussed upfront, so there are no surprises.

If after reading this you still love planning your own trips, I completely get it — I do too.

But if you feel you could benefit from guidance, support, or saving time and stress, I’d love to help. Whether you want full planning or just assistance with certain parts of your trip, I’m happy to meet you where you are.

Click below to set up a one-on-one with me, and let’s talk about the most fun topic there is — your next trip.

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