You could ABSOLUTELY book your trip online! I say that to people all the time, and I mean it. But where I come in is everything that happens around the booking: my relationships with the hoteliers, knowing what to do when something goes wrong, and catching the little details you wouldn’t even know to look for. So yes, people still use travel advisors, and honestly, more of them should! Booking sites can show you thousands of options, but they can’t tell you which one is right for you, and they won’t be the one picking up the phone when your flight is delayed. Here’s what working with an advisor actually looks like, from my side of the desk.
I’ve actually been there
One of the biggest benefits of working with me is that my recommendations come from places I’ve actually stayed, toured, and experienced myself! I’ve slept in a villa called Mere at Namale, cooked kokoda barefoot on the beach at Nanuku, and stayed at three different properties across Moorea and Bora Bora on my own honeymoon, and every one of those trips changed how I plan for my clients. Just as important, I’m not impressed by every hotel I visit. Every time I walk through a property, I’m asking myself one question: would I be proud to send my clients here? Sometimes the answer is no, and knowing which hotels not to put you at is a big part of my job. Pretty pictures tell a story that may not be accurate, and I’d much rather you hear the honest version from me than find out when you arrive!
You get a real person who knows your trip
When you book online and something goes wrong, you’re usually stuck in customer service menus, waiting on hold, and explaining your whole trip to someone who’s never heard of you. When you work with me, you have someone who already knows your trip, your preferences, and your priorities. I had honeymoon clients heading to Italy who booked their own flights without letting me look at them first, and the layover was too short for my comfort. Sure enough, the flight was delayed and they were about to miss their transfer window. My supplier had already alerted the transfer company before I even heard about it (I love suppliers who problem-solve!), and I jumped in right away to keep my clients updated and get everything sorted. You can’t call your transfer company while you’re in the air, but I can!
Your trip is built around you
No 2 travelers are alike! Some couples want nonstop adventure, some want to do absolutely nothing for a week, and some want a little of both. That’s why I start every trip by really getting to know you, and when a couple is torn, I’ll ask what each of you does not want first, find the overlap, and build toward what you do want from there. Sometimes that changes everything. I once had honeymooners come to me thinking they could “only afford” Hawaii, and I told them that if they were willing to fly about 90 minutes farther, I could get them to Tahiti, the place they’d always dreamed about! They had no idea it was that close. Later they texted me “WE MADE IT!” with a picture of themselves on the beach, and it made my whole day. The best trips are the ones that feel like I heard you and knew you inside and out.
I can open doors you might not know exist
Because Susan’s Travel Services is a Virtuoso agency, my clients get VIP treatment at partner properties because of who we are, with perks like room upgrades when available and resort credits. But some of the most important things I do, you’ll never see. On that same Italy honeymoon, I emailed every hotel to flag my clients as VIPs, and every single one wrote back saying they didn’t have the reservation! I kept pushing until one hotel asked if I meant a “Spirits” party. The vendor had gotten my clients’ last name wrong on everything, so I had them fix every train ticket, hotel, and transfer, and my clients never knew there was a problem. I also make sure you have the right travel protection for your trip (hint: it’s not the one that comes with your credit card). I know what could go wrong so that it doesn’t.
Why I charge a planning fee
You’ll see some advisors say “it costs nothing to work with me, so why not!” I see it differently. I charge a travel design fee, and no work starts until it’s paid, because every trip I plan is designed from scratch around you and the fee covers that time and expertise. It also means I’m working with couples who are just as committed to their trip as I am! My job is to give you value, which means the right resort, the right room, the right transfers, and someone in your corner from your first call until you’re home.
The bottom line
Your trip is a big investment of your time and money, and it’s a trip you’ll remember for the rest of your life! Working with a travel advisor means having someone guiding you through the planning, advocating for you when something comes up, and making sure the trip you take is the one you were hoping for. I’m your advocate, and that’s my favorite part of this job!
If you’ve been thinking about your next trip and want someone in your corner, that’s where I come in! Book a complimentary consultation with me! We’ll get to know each other, I’ll walk you through how Susan’s Travel Services works (including what being a Virtuoso agency means for you), and we’ll talk about next steps.