Why it pays to use a travel advisor

Now more than ever, it could pay to have a travel advisor in your corner. They can add value to your trip by saving you time and hassle, and making sure you have your dream vacation.

Rebecca Wzorek owns and runs Travel with Rebecca, based in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

She's been a travel advisor for more than a decade, taking tons of research trips and staying on top of the very latest information.

"I've already done the vetting. I know what experience my clients are going to get. If I'm going to recommend a vacation package to you, I'm going to put my stamp of approval on it," she said.

Rebecca has relationships with tour operators, drivers, and hotels, and is able to provide her clients with perks and an extra layer of customer care.

"There might be a nice little bottle of wine or a fruit plate waiting for them. There might be nice room upgrade," she said.

And don't worry, it won't cost you more.

"When you book through me, you're not paying an extra penny. You're paying the same price, but they [the suppliers] are compensating us," she said.

Another plus of using a travel advisor is if something goes wrong on your trip, you have someone on your side. If your flight is delayed or cancelled, a travel agent can work to re-book you, or if your driver comes without promised child car seats, an advisor can get you a refund, like Rebecca did for her clients.

"I'm here advocating in your corner," she said.

On top of the commissions that agents traditionally receive from suppliers, many also charge consumers a professional or planning fee. ASTA, the American Society of Travel Advisors, says fees can start at around $50 to $100.

"If it's a very simple trip, you're not going to be paying very much at all. If it's very complex trip - multiple weeks, multiple destinations - you can expect to probably pay a little bit more," said Mike Schotty of ASTA.

For those of you who using AI to plan your trips, Mike has this word of caution: "It's a wonderful, wonderful tool, but ChatGPT has never been to Rome. It's never tasted the pasta. It's never had a glass of wine."

He warns it might also provide outdated information.

Mike also says it's important that consumers find and use a verified, trusted travel advisor. He says look for professional accreditations like ASTA.

ASTA has a free consumer search engine, VeriVacation, to help you find the right travel advisor for you.

Also, as you would with any other service, get references and see how long the advisor has been in business. You should also check for reviews and complaints.

Bottom line: you could do our own taxes, or buy or sell our own homes, but there's a reason many people hire accountants and real estate agents to do the work for them - they're the experts!

That's the same reason you might consider hiring a travel advisor for your next vacation.