Are you ready for a getaway where you can sit back, relax and let all the kinks be worked out for you? Barely having to lift a finger during the planning process and never anxious when small — or even big — hiccups present themselves, opting instead to fully lean into a tropical state of bliss as you while away the hours somewhere in paradise. While this idyllic scene might sound too good to be true, it can indeed be the reality when you opt to work with a travel advisor to plan your next all-inclusive vacation.
Meaning all the essentials — think food, drinks, entertainment and activities — are included in the base booking price, for many travelers, an all-inclusive vacation is the answer to life’s modern stressors, and when they plan their visit with the help of a travel agent, the experience is only better.
If you’re thinking about working with an advisor to help arrange your next all-inclusive stay, but haven’t pulled the trigger, it’s probably because you still have questions about what travel agents do, if it’s worth the effort to work with one and how, exactly, they make money — especially if it means tapping into their expertise is going to come at a higher cost to you. We hear you, and we’re here to help with insights into the burning question: “Should I use a travel agent for an all-inclusive vacation?”
What Do Travel Agents Do and How Do They Get Paid?
Travel advisors specialize in planning and booking vacations for their clients. And while it sounds simple on paper, there’s a lot that goes into mastering the intricacies of the travel industry including but not limited to familiarizing oneself with different brands and product portfolios, becoming proficient in various booking platforms and forging relationships across borders. Travel advisors advise their clients, and the real value of working with one shines through in the form of first-hand knowledge and understanding of a quickly-paced sector.
While many pack their bags only a few times a year, travel pros are always on the go, meaning they’re up to-do-date with the latest rules and regulations and are ready to share all the essential details with their clients. Pair this with the fact advisors are regularly invited to experience destinations and properties around the world on familiarization trips (FAM trips), and there’s no denying they know what they’re talking about when you ask for their recommendations.
As for how much it costs to work with a travel agent, the answer is it depends. When asked if travel advisors charge for their services, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) said this: “Most do, especially if they are arranging a very elaborate itinerary. Fees vary greatly, from negligible to $100 and up, depending on the complexity of the trip. At the very top end, one travel agency charges a $100,000 membership fee just to be a client—but that is very unusual. Most offer a free consultation and will advise you then of their fee structure.”
Why Should I Use a Travel Agent for An All-Inclusive Vacation?
Travel Advisors Know Destinations
A quick Google search for “all-inclusive resort” or “all-inclusive vacation” will surely yield a surplus of results. From the Caribbean and Mexico to Europe and beyond, every destination has something special to offer, but the truth is, some places are better suited for specific travelers. Think about it, a family with young children probably has different boxes to check than a solo traveler or a pair of honeymooners, and when you throw budgets and schedules into the mix, it adds a whole other layer to the equation.
Travel advisors understand this, and after asking a few basic questions like “Who will you be traveling with?,” “What does your budget look like?” and “What do you want to do while you’re there?,” can use their destination know-how to help determine your perfect match.
Travel Advisors Can Differentiate Online From Reality
Members of the travel industry talk. They don’t hold back when telling each other about what they love, what they hate and what they felt was merely “meh” about a particular resort or experience. Thanks to Facebook groups and message boards, advisors can get all their thoughts out in the open, and that’s to the benefit of you, the potential traveler. Because, while most things can be made to look amazing online, intel from the larger advisor community means travel pros know which hotels, destinations, tours … you name it, walk the walk versus simply talk the talk.
Travel Advisors Tour Resorts
Like we mentioned above, advisors get a pretty nice job perk in the form of FAM trips, familiarization outings lined up by a property, destination or tour operator to help ensure they share accurate information when discussing a particular product with their clients. In the case of all-inclusive properties, that might mean taste-testing food and beverage offerings, getting a peek inside different room categories, checking out the beach and scoping out onsite entertainment and activities.
And while it’s true most advisors haven’t stayed the night at every all-inclusive resort under the sun — that would be a massively impressive feat — it’s not uncommon for them to have toured a property or a similar hotel within a specific brand’s portfolio. Similarly, advisors can attend virtual FAM trips, allowing them to cover more metaphorical ground, even when they can’t be somewhere in person.
Travel Advisors Have Connections
With a network around the globe, travel advisors have connections, and you never know when they’ll come in handy. While no one wants to think about something bad or unexpected happening during their trip, sometimes things like flight cancellations and delays, treacherous weather and accidents happen. In these instances, travel pros know what to do, and who to call to make the situation a little less stressful.
Of course, agents’ industry relationships allow them to tap into fun things too, including saving you money. From special deals and promotions to exclusive rates and discounts, advisors can sometimes negotiate prices on excursions, spa treatments, room upgrades and more.
Travel Advisors Make Your Life Easier
The bottom line is, you should book an all-inclusive vacation with a travel advisor because they make your life easier. Travel advisors are trusted professionals who have a knack for saving you time and money, they know how to book every element of your trip, and they can help plan every detail. From dining and tours to flights and transfers, you can rest easy knowing you have a knowledgeable expert in your corner, advising you every step of the way.
Have more questions about working with a travel advisor? Visit ASTA’s website to learn more.
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