How do we get paid for helping you plan your vacation?

For most cruises, resorts, hotels and vacation packages, the travel supplier pays us a commission after you travel. That commission is generally part of the supplier’s pricing structure, whether you book through a travel advisor or book directly.

So, in many cases, booking directly doesn’t mean you’ve found a secret cheaper price by eliminating the travel advisor. You may simply be choosing to do all the research, planning and reservation management yourself.

And Sometimes, We Can Add a Little Extra

One of the benefits of working with a travel advisor is that we may have access to special amenities, promotions or added-value perks through our travel partners.

Depending on the property, cruise line, rate and availability, that might mean things like:

• Room or cabin upgrades 

• Complimentary breakfast 

• Onboard credit 

• Parking 

• Resort credits 

• Welcome amenities 

• Early check-in or late checkout 

• Other special perks

These aren't available with every booking, and we won't promise something that isn't there. But we always love finding a little something extra when we can.

Sometimes the best value isn't simply finding the lowest price. It's getting more for the money you're already spending.

So What Do You Get When You Book With Us?

A real person in your corner.

We help sort through the overwhelming number of choices, compare options, choose the right ship or resort, select a cabin or room, understand the fine print and manage all those little details that can turn planning a vacation into a part-time job.

We also travel. We tour ships and resorts. We attend trainings. We build relationships with travel suppliers. And we keep up with an industry that seems to change approximately every twelve minutes.

Okay, perhaps not literally every twelve minutes.

Some weeks, though...

A Little Note About Our Time

Here's another way to think about how a travel advisor works.

Imagine asking a Realtor to spend weeks helping you find a house.

They research neighborhoods, search listings, schedule appointments, answer questions and drive around with you while you tour 45 houses.

Then, when you finally find the one, you say:

"Thanks! You've been incredibly helpful. I'm just going to go directly to the seller and buy it myself."

That's essentially what happens when a travel advisor researches, compares, plans and advises you on a vacation—and then the trip is booked directly with the cruise line, resort or another website.

Travel advisors are generally paid after their clients travel. We aren't paid by the hour for the research, emails, phone calls, comparisons and planning that happen beforehand.

So when you ask us to help plan your trip, we're investing our time and expertise in you. In return, we simply ask that when we find the vacation you're looking for, you allow us to book it for you.

That's how we get paid for the work we've already done—without sending you a bill for every hour we spent doing it.

Does It Ever Cost Extra to Use a Travel Advisor?

Sometimes.

Certain trips involve extensive research, complicated itineraries or services for which the travel supplier pays little or no commission. In those cases, a professional planning or service fee may apply.

If there is a fee, we'll tell you before we begin. No surprises.

The Bottom Line

Booking with TravelBugAdvisors isn't about having someone else click the “book” button.

It's about having someone help you make a smart decision before you spend thousands of dollars on a vacation. It's having someone who knows your reservation, understands the travel industry and is there to help when questions—or the occasional travel hiccup—arise.

And every once in a while, we might even have a little extra perk waiting for you.

You take the vacation. We'll help make getting there a whole lot easier.