Should You Get a Travel Agent to Book Your Vacation? Here Are the Pros and Cons

If you’re getting ready to travel you may be considering using a travel agent to help plan your itinerary and book for your trip. Although there are scenarios and occasions where a travel agent could be a great asset in your trip-planning pursuits, you may not always need professional assistance. So, we’ve consulted with travel experts to break down all the pros and cons of using travel agents. 

Pros of hiring a travel agent

There are several great benefits of partnering with a travel agent. Here are a few of the standout advantages:

You get expert advice

Travel agents, after all, are experts in travel planning, and they often have inside information about a number of different destinations. “The best travel agents are experts in the place you’re traveling to, and will likely have experienced the trip they’re helping you book themselves,” says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet. “Given that, they can make personal recommendations and give advice specific to you, such as activities that fit your travel style or restaurants that fit your preferences.”

You have a go-to helper if anything goes wrong

Travel advisors can be a great resource to ensure you’re comfortable and have a smooth trip, and if something does go wrong, they’re also there to help you out, such as handling getting you rebooked in a different hotel room should something go awry, says French. “You might need support for a variety of possible disruptions, say a snowstorm delaying flights or an illness or injury to someone in your travel group,” French adds. “A travel agent is there to ensure you actually go on the trip, which means they’ll help make modifications to your itinerary in those events.”

You may get access to better deals or perks

Chris Gray Faust, executive editor of Cruise Critic, shares that travel agents have access to a treasure trove of travel deals, and can often offer special pricing that you wouldn’t have access to without working with them. “Beyond discounted pricing, they can also provide ways to save in other areas or [ways to] take full advantage of offerings available to you—bringing not just cost savings, but delivering an even greater overall value,” Gray Faust says. 

You get expert assistance with logistics, especially abroad

For many, the time and research it takes to manage the logistics of traveling, especially internationally, can be overwhelming, says Melissa DaSilva, president of Trafalgar, North America. “Advisors will step in to manage all of the logistics of in-destination transportation, score hard-to-get reservations at the best restaurants and deal with any hiccups, like flight delays or cancellations,” she explains. Travel advisors are also well-versed in the destination’s top accommodations to guide travelers towards exactly what they are looking for within their budget, says DaSilva. “Advisors can help travelers save money by keeping a pulse on the latest offers, special fares and deals, and book bucket list experiences that you may not have even known about if you hadn’t spoken to an advisor,” she says.

Cons of hiring a travel agent

There could be instances when utilizing a travel agent may not make sense. Here are some reasons you may want to skip using one. 

The added layer of communication may be unnecessary

Travel agents can be helpful in making and changing reservations, French says, but sometimes they can end up being an unnecessary middleman. “If you need to change your hotel reservation, often it’s easier to just call the hotel yourself, rather than wait for the travel agent to do it,” she acknowledges.

The enjoyment of planning your own travels could be missed

Sure, there is the convenience factor of outsourcing your trip-planning duties, but surrendering all those tasks could leave you with some vacation remorse. “If you let the agent do all the planning, then that might rob you of some of the joy that comes from travel—which is the very act of planning the trip,” cautions French. 

The travel agent may not possess the expertise you need

Gray Faust says, just like any other professional industry, the depth of travel agent knowledge and expertise varies from agent to agent, and not all agents are built the same. “When you’re looking for a travel agent, be sure to ask about their experience, their affiliations, any ongoing education and any specialties,” Gray Faust continues. “Many agents specialize in certain travel types, so their knowledge of those particular trips is even more expansive than a more generic agent.”

How much does it cost to use a travel agent?

Cost for travel agents can vary. “It depends,” says French with NerdWallet. “Sometimes, travel agents won’t cost you anything if their paychecks come from commissions paid by the suppliers who you end up booking with.” 

Other travel agencies charge fees for individual services like research, bookings and changes, in which case they might charge either by time or by service provided, French says. 

Be sure to ask that question upfront, Gray Faust says, so you don’t have any unexpected charges tacked on to your bill.

Are travel agents swayed by hospitality providers who offer higher commissions?

While it’s impossible to say definitively, as it varies by agent, French says to consider that “those who work on commission are incentivized to book you on trips that pay them out.”

Gray Faust offers a differing outlook. “A good travel agent will not be swayed by commissions, as it’s in their best interest to deliver a quality service to their clients to turn them into returning customers,” she states. 

How can you find a suitable travel agent?

Spread the news that you’re planning a trip. “Word-of-mouth is a great way to find a travel advisor—ask your family and friends to connect you with someone they worked with and loved,” DaSilva suggests.

She also recommends searching for an advisor that’s certified or credentialed and use resources such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). “Good travel advisors will respond in a timely manner and ask a lot of questions about what you want from your next vacation to fully understand your needs so they can match you with your perfect travel experiences,” adds DaSilva.