What Does a Travel Advisor Do?

People sometimes picture an advisor as someone who just books a hotel room, but the job is much bigger than that. Here's what I actually handle for a family from start to finish: **Before your trip:** • Destination research — including options you may not have thought of • Supplier comparison — pricing across multiple resorts, cruise lines, or tour operators • Booking and deposits — securing the reservation and managing the payment schedule • Promotion monitoring — checking daily for price drops and special offers • Dining reservations — restaurants, character meals, and the special experiences that book up fast • Activity planning — Lightning Lane strategy, excursions, spa appointments • Travel documents — passport timeline reminders, visa guidance, insurance quotes • Itinerary building — a day-by-day plan shaped around your group **During your trip:** • Real-time support — text or call me if plans change, weather disrupts, or you simply need a hand • Restaurant rebooking — if a reservation falls through, I work to find you an alternative • Airline help — if flights get canceled, I jump in on the rebooking **After your trip:** • A quick debrief — what worked, what didn't, so next time is even better • Future planning — I already know your family's preferences, so round two is easy

Most of us who focus on leisure travel earn a commission from the suppliers we book — hotels, resorts, cruise lines, tour operators. It's usually 10–16% of the booking, depending on the supplier. Here's the part that surprises people: that commission comes out of the supplier's own sales and marketing budget. It does not raise your price. Your room, cabin, or all-inclusive package costs the same whether you book it directly or through me. Some agencies do charge a planning fee, often $200–$500, usually applied as a credit toward your booking. We don't. Our service is entirely commission-based, which means you pay nothing extra to work with us.

An advisor isn't equally valuable for everyone, and I'd rather be honest about that. The people who get the most out of working with me tend to be: • Families with young children, where planning around naps, meal times, and age-appropriate activities takes real know-how • First-timers heading to Disney, a cruise ship, or an international all-inclusive, where the sheer number of choices is overwhelming • Multi-generational groups juggling different ages, budgets, and interests on one trip • Destination weddings, with room blocks, group excursions, and celebration logistics to coordinate • Busy professionals who have the budget but not the hours to plan it right • Budget-minded travelers who want someone who knows where the value and the promotions hide If you're a seasoned solo traveler booking a simple hotel stay in a city you know well, you may not need me. But for a complex, multi-part trip? That's where an advisor really earns their keep.