What It *Really* Means When a Travel Professional Says Their Services Are Free
My clients are often surprised when I tell them my services are free.
Why? Because I do a TON of work–how can I not charge a fee for everything I do for them?
Well, that’s a great question! And since I pride myself on transparency, today’s blog post is devoted to answering all your burning questions about this sticky subject.
Keep reading to learn what I do, how I get paid for it, and why you always want to book your vacation with a travel pro.
“What exactly do you do?”
I’m so glad you asked! In fact, I have an entire blog post about what I do for my clients from start to finish. You can check it out here.
I can’t speak for all travel pros, so here’s a short list of what I do for my clients:
Research properties, destinations, and excursions
Create detailed itineraries based on your vacation needs
Make all payments associated with your trip
Make dining reservations
Book excursions, spa trips, and other events
Coordinate transportation
Stay up to date on policy changes and new promotions, which I apply to your reservations to save you money!
Long story short: I work hard to plan the vacation of your dreams so you don’t have to!
“So How Do You Get Paid?”
Short answer? I get paid by the destination.
But I know you’re here for a more detailed response, so here’s the inside scoop:
When you book your vacation–either through a travel pro, online, or directly through the destination–the price you see includes a percentage of profit or commission.
The destination builds this commission into the price and passes it along to travel professionals when we plan your vacation.
So, regardless of how you book your vacation, you’re paying that commission.
Booking Yourself vs. Booking with a Travel Pro
So why should you book with a travel professional like me when you could do it yourself?
When you book online with sites like Expedia or directly through your destination, YOU have to research, comparison shop, and do everything else I listed above. (And the destination or online booking platform keeps the commission.)
When you book through me, I’ll use my knowledge and experience to build the vacation of your dreams and you’ll have a real person to speak with throughout the process (without the hold times).
Plus, that commission fee you pay? It goes to me, a local small business owner, instead being absorbed by the destination or an online booking site.
To Sum It Up
When you book your vacation–either through a travel pro, online, or directly through the destination–the price that you see includes a percentage of profit or commission.
That commission is passed along to the travel professional who books your vacation on your behalf.
A travel professional saves you time by researching destinations, properties, and excursions as well as creating detailed itineraries and making all payments and reservations associated with your trip.
When you book with a travel professional, you not only save valuable time, but you support a local small business.
So if you’re thinking about booking that long awaited vacation, fill out my travel quote request form to get started.