Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use a travel agent?

Even in the age of online booking, travel advisors (most of us don't use the word agent anymore) are a great source of information. A travel advisor can make sure that your trip is tailored to you, assist you in case of unexpected problems, and help you anticipate potential issues in advance. With the ever-changing travel rules currently, knowing the latest information is key!

Will I pay more if I book through an advisor?

Our fees are transparent. In many cases, you can save more on the cost of your travel than you spend to consult with us. We can work within your budget, and we always focus on making sure that you get a quality trip in return for our fees. We do not specialize in the lowest price, but the best value for the type of travel you desire.

Why do you charge fees?

Our time has value, as does our expertise. As we learned during the pandemic, many of us can work long hours to help clients, and then see no return when travel interruptions prevent our clients from enjoying their planned trip. Many of the products we work with actually cost us money to provide to you, our clients. Our fees are to compensate us for our time spent doing the research, scheduling, and negotiating that you don't want to spend your time to do, and our additional knowledge to see things done to the best of our abilities, using our expertise and industry connections.

Every seller of travel earns commissions on what they sell, whether they provide good service to their clients, or not. Travel Advisors will go the extra distance to see that your trip is as smooth as possible from beginning to end.

Do you book airfare only?

Only for established clients when it makes sense to do so. If you are new to our services, we do not typically book air only. Please bear in mind that it may be less expensive to do it yourself since the airlines don't pay commission, most of the time, and ticketing agencies charge fees, on top of what fees I might ask for. We will always let you know if this is something to consider when booking a trip. We can also do an air only consultation if you just need help ironing out the details so you can book your flights. Sadly, between the airlines not paying commissions, and the fraud liability involved, booking only air just doesn't make sense for us. Finally, if your air is booked directly with the airline, they have to answer to you when things go wrong, rather than send you to talk to your travel advisor (who likely can't resolve it any better), or another third party.

Do you book group travel?

Yes! Do you have an upcoming conference for your business or a student trip? Planning a destination wedding, or a family reunion? We can handle the details and ensure that you have access to group seating, entrances, and discounts.

Do you plan group travel?

Yes! From time to time, we may plan a group trip that suits a number of our clients and friends, or something we think people might enjoy doing in a group setting. Previous groups have included cruise sailings and land trips.