For hotel and cruise bookings, using a travel advisor costs you nothing extra, advisors earn a commission from the supplier, so your price stays the same or better and you often walk away with perks you couldn’t get on your own.
New to travel advisors? Start with my complete guide here.
Does It Cost Money to Use a Travel Advisor?
One of the first questions people ask me is, “Does it cost money to use a travel advisor?”
And I get it, there’s a lot of confusion out there. Some people assume using an advisor is only for luxury travelers with unlimited budgets. Others think it’s totally free and I’m paid entirely by hotels and cruise lines. I was confused too, and then I became one and it all made sense.
The real answer is that it depends and I’m going to break it down.
How Travel Advisors Actually Get Paid
There are two main ways advisors earn income:
1. Supplier Commissions
For many trips, especially hotels, cruises, and packaged vacations, the supplier pays a commission after you travel. That means you pay the same price you would have paid online, but you get a human on your side to help plan, book, and troubleshoot.
This is why you’ll often hear, “It doesn’t cost anything extra to use an advisor.” For certain types of trips, that’s absolutely true.
2. Planning Fees
For more custom trips, advisors charge a planning fee. This covers:
- Researching multiple options
- Building detailed itineraries
- Coordinating reservations and activities
- Help with adjusting plans if things change
- Being your go-to person before and during travel
Charging a planning fee covers my time doing research, making reservations, and booking things that aren’t commissionable.
When Working with Me Is Complimentary
You’ll usually pay no planning fee when:
- You need help booking a hotel stay
- You’re planning a cruise
- You want an all-inclusive resort
- You already know where you want to go and just need booking support
In these cases, I’m paid by the supplier, and you still get my help with:
- Room recommendations
- Perks when available
- Coordinating special requests
- And I’ll rarely leave you without my own personal recommendations for restaurants or activities, because that’s just who I am
While these options can be simpler to book on your own as well, you are also supporting my dream by allowing me to help at no additional cost to you.
When Working with Me Will Involve a Planning Fee
Custom trips take time, creativity, and a lot of behind-the-scenes work. A fee typically applies when:
- You want a multi-city itinerary
- You know where you want to go but need direction on everything else
- You need restaurant recommendations and activity reservations
- You want something super personalized to your travel style
What You’re Actually Paying For
- Time saved scrolling through endless options
- Someone who knows what’s worth it and what’s not
- Help if plans change
- Access to perks and relationships
- A trip that feels like you, not a copy-paste itinerary
For a lot of people, that peace of mind and time saving is priceless.
This also covers my time and keeps me from spending hours planning something fabulous and then a client going to book it all on their own and me ending up with no compensation for my time at all.
My Approach to Pricing
I believe travel planning should feel approachable and transparent. My services are structured as:
- Complimentary planning for hotel-only or cruise bookings
- Custom weekend itineraries starting at $99
- One-week trips starting at $249
- Extended or multi-stop trips starting at $499
- Specialty options like surprise trips and foodie-focused itineraries
You’ll always know the cost upfront before we start. Generally, it averages to about $50 per day of planning give or take complexity. If you’re curious what your trip would cost to plan, I’m always happy to discuss.
So, Is It Worth It?
If you love researching travel and have hours to compare options, you might not need an advisor. I personally wouldn’t hire one because it’s one of my favorite things to do, which is why I became one!
But if you want someone to narrow the choices, handle the details, and make it fun versus overwhelming, then yes, working with an advisor can be one of the best travel decisions you make. Imagine being able to simply tell me the kind of trip you want to take and then everything else is taken care of. All you have to do is answer some questions and provide a credit card.
Ready to Plan?
Whether you need a quick hotel booking or a fully customized adventure, I’d love to help make your next trip easier and better.
You can learn more about my services here or send me a message and tell me where you’re dreaming of going next.
Planning a trip soon?
Grab my free carry-on packing checklist so you don’t forget the essentials.
Download it here: https://wandersandwink.com/packing-list
Travel Advisor FAQs
Do travel advisors cost more than booking yourself?
For hotels and cruises, working with me costs you nothing. I earn a commission from the supplier, so your price stays the same or better. For more complex trips that require custom itinerary building, I charge a planning fee and that gets discussed upfront before we start so there are no surprises. Either way, you’re likely also getting perks and upgrades that you simply cannot get booking on your own.
How does a travel advisor get paid?
For hotel and cruise bookings, I earn a commission paid by the hotel or cruise line and it doesn’t come out of your pocket or affect your rate. For detailed custom itinerary planning, I charge a planning fee that we agree on before I start working. I’ll always be upfront about which applies to your trip before we do anything.
Is it worth using a travel advisor for a short trip?
It depends on the trip. For a quick weekend getaway, a planning fee may not make sense for either of us. But if you’re booking a hotel I work with, I can often still add value through perks and upgrades at no extra cost to you. The best thing to do is just ask because a two-minute conversation will tell us both whether it’s worth it.
What’s the difference between a travel advisor and a travel agent?
Functionally they do the same thing, but “travel advisor” reflects a more modern, consultative approach. Less transaction, more relationship. I’m not just booking flights and sending you a confirmation. I’m building a trip around your specific family, your food preferences, your budget, and your travel style, and I’m available if something goes wrong while you’re on the road.
How do I find a good travel advisor?
Look for someone who has actually been to the places they’re recommending and who specializes in the kind of travel you want to do. A generalist who books everything for everyone is very different from an advisor who focuses on your specific niche. Read their content, check if their voice feels trustworthy, and then just reach out because a good advisor will tell you quickly whether they’re the right fit for your trip.
Becca Marsh is a certified travel advisor affiliated with Fora Travel and the voice behind Wanders & Wink, based in Grants Pass, Oregon. A lifelong traveler who has explored every U.S. state and dozens of countries from the street food stalls of Vietnam to the Michelin-starred restaurants of Paris, she specializes in food-forward family travel that actually delivers on the fantasy. She takes her own family on at least six trips a year (research, she calls it…) and brings that firsthand experience to every itinerary she builds for her clients. She believes great travel is accessible to everyone and will always tell you exactly where to go and what to order.
