05/28/2026
I’m going to continue sharing some educational posts about what it’s actually like working with a travel agent — because honestly, a lot of people just don’t know how it works behind the scenes.
Funny enough, many parts of using a travel agent are very similar to working with a real estate agent, so some of this may sound familiar.
One thing I mentioned recently is that travel agents typically don’t get paid until after you travel. Most of our work actually happens long before your trip ever begins — researching options, building quotes, booking reservations, handling payments, answering questions, sending reminders, sharing travel tips, monitoring for price drops, helping with changes, and sometimes navigating unexpected issues along the way.
And I truly love doing it.
I love helping make travel easier, less stressful, and more exciting for my clients. That’s the joy behind what I do.
So what happens if a trip gets canceled?
In many cases, unless the trip is very close to departure, there’s a good chance I may not get paid at all for the time already spent working on it. That’s one reason some travel advisors charge planning fees — because there is a lot of time and care invested behind the scenes.
Personally, I choose to continue offering my services the way I do because I value relationships and long-term trust with my clients. If life happens and plans change, I’m still happy to help navigate those situations for you.
One thing I always want clients to know: you never need to apologize for asking questions, making changes, or needing help. That’s literally my job, and I genuinely enjoy serving people in this way.
The only thing I ask is that if you know you don’t plan to book through me, please be respectful of the time involved on both sides. My goal is always to focus my energy on helping the people who truly want support planning their travels.
At the end of the day, people may not remember every detail of a conversation, but they absolutely remember how they felt. I never want someone walking away feeling frustrated or unheard. I want them to feel taken care of, supported, and excited for their trip.
If you’ve ever had questions about how using a travel agent works, feel free to ask. I’m always happy to help.
