04/10/2026
๐จ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ
I came across a recent news segment that suggested travelers should use a travel advisor for free adviceโฆ and then book everything themselves
That is not a โtravel hack.โ
That is a gross misunderstanding of how this industry actually works.
Hereโs the reality ๐
Most agents work on commission only, but many are starting to charge planning fees, and rightfully so.
Commission is already built into the prices of the travel component (cruises, resorts, hotels, Expedia etc). You, as the consumer, never sees it. But if you book on your own after you โpick our brain for freeโ and donโt book with usโฆ.well, we make ZERO. Guess what? You didnโt save any money either.
Another misconception?
That travel advisors are always on โvacationโ or traveling for free. I canโt tell you the last time I took a true vacation. No cell phone and truly able to disconnect from work and life. As travel agents we are always โonโ. We are still monitoring or servicing clients who may also be traveling the same time we are or we could be with them while escorting a group.
When we travel, weโre working.
Weโre touring resorts, taking notes, meeting with suppliers, evaluating experiences, and paying attention to the details most travelers would never think to look for.
We may be at an oceanfront resortโฆand never touch the sand. Or on a cruise balcony long enough to take a photo, this one happens more often than youโd realize.
Because weโre there to learn, to vet, and to make sure when we recommend something, itโs based on firsthand knowledge, not guesswork.
We invest in travel so our clients donโt have to take risks.
Professional travel advisors are not Google.
We are not โidea generators.โ
And we are certainly not here to provide free advice.
We have bills to pay and food to put on the table just like you. This is how we make our living and sometimes itโs feast or famine. We work HARD for our clients, sometimes waiting months and many cases over a year to be paid, and we deserve to get paid for OUR time.
We are business owners. We are problem-solvers. And we are experts at what we do.
We:
โข Design personalized travel experiences
โข Navigate supplier systems and policies, that are always changing
โข Monitor changes, disruptions, and risks in destinations across the globe
โข Advocate for our clients when things go wrong
โข And stay with our clients from planning โ travel โ return
That level of service doesnโt start at booking.
It starts the moment you ask for expertise.
๐ก Letโs put this in perspective:
You wouldnโt ask an attorney how to fight a lawsuitโฆ then represent yourself to save money.
You wouldnโt ask a financial advisor what to invest inโฆ then cut them out of the transaction.
So why is it acceptable to do that to a travel advisor?
Organizations like ASTA - American Society of Travel Advisors responded quickly, and rightfully so. I am a proud member of ASTA and a VTA (verified travel advisor) with them.
This is about an industry made up of ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ
โข 95% are small business owners
โข 80% are women-owned
This is real expertise. Real careers. Real livelihoods.
โ๏ธ In most cases, working with a professional travel advisor doesnโt cost more. In fact we have access to deals & perks you canโt find in public.
โ๏ธ It actually saves you time, stress, and costly mistakes
โ๏ธ And in every case, youโre getting someone in your corner
If you want DIY travel, thatโs your choice.
But if you choose to work with a professionalโฆ
๐๐ปRespect the process
๐๐ป Respect the expertise
๐๐ปRespect the business behind it
๐๐ปRespect the travel advisor
Iโve spent 10+ years earning certifications, attending conferences and trainings to gain knowledge and engage with suppliers and the travel industry all so I can better serve my clients.
The difference between a โtripโ and a ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ-๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ is the person behind it.
Oh Sheesh Travel LLC opened in 2015 and has been happily assisting client with their travel needs since then.
