What Does a Travel Agency Do These Days?

Updated: Apr 19

Our initial consultation calls often start with potential clients asking us what we do and how it works. Many people have never worked with a travel agency or they have vague memories from when they or their parents worked with one 30 years ago. Well - times have changed! Here is the updated information you need to know:

What is a travel advisor? Is that the same as a travel agent?

The old understanding of a travel agent is someone who works in a brick and mortar building, and sits behind a desk with pre-built packages neatly stacked and ready to go.

In today's world, being a travel advisor is a different beast altogether. A travel advisor is a person who has a deep understanding of the travel industry and the way it works. We have certificates in hospitality and tourism. We complete trainings in our specialities - in vendors and in destinations. We take the time to build partnerships and relationships with others in the tourism industry around the world. We have various specialities, and we make sure we have the knowledge to help you plan the ideal trip every time.

What Does Our Travel Agency Do?

At Vacations by Jillian we specialize in planning custom itineraries around the world. We believe that traveling isn’t just about simply taking pictures and checking places off of a bucket list. It's about choosing to invest in your most important relationships, deliberately slowing down, and letting the environment, history, and community of a place inspire you. Helping our clients create meaningful memories they will reflect on and carry with them for the rest of their lives is why we do what we do. This means we plan each trip specifically and individually - no two trips are ever exactly alike.

How Does the Process Work?

Beginning & Booking process:

Each inquiry begins with an initial phone consultation where we'll get to know each other. You'll tell me what you're looking for in your vacation, and I'll give you background information about our agency and answer any questions you may have.
Once you decide to move forward we'll send you forms to get you set up in our system.
After we've received the forms back we'll add you to our queue, get to work on your custom proposal, and send you the first draft (this can take some time!).
We will work with you on adjusting the proposal, and once we've settled on your perfect itinerary you will click the "Approve Proposal" button.
We'll send you an invoice for deposit, and once you've authorized we will place that deposit and secure your trip components!

Next Steps:

We will send quotes for trip protection, and discuss flight options and offer advice on booking those. Note that in our opinion it is often in your best interest to book your flights directly with the airlines depending on the destination.
You'll receive an invitation to download our app and import your trip. You'll be able to access your detailed itinerary on-line, and on the App we provide.
We'll add information on your destination - restaurant suggestions where applicable, hidden spots to check out, and customized recreation suggestions - which we will also book.

Prior to Travel:

We'll check in with you in the months and weeks prior to travel and be a resource for any travel-related needs you may have.
We'll also provide you links so that you can check for updates on entry and exit requirements, and all the ins and outs of your destination.

During Travel:

While you're in destination you'll have direct access to all of your tour operators and travel suppliers, and we'll be here for backup if necessary.

Why book with a travel advisor?

In addition to the above - when you book with a travel advisor you have someone on your side. I'll be there to handle anything that comes up before your trip. I’m someone to take your ideas and make them a reality, and someone who actually cares as much about your vacation as you do. We also bring our contacts in the travel industry. We know which tours are going to fit your needs, and we know which travel partners to contact. (Like the one we worked with recently who put us on a waitlist for a sold out room at a hotel - and then got it booked for us when it became available - instead of the hotel putting it on their website).

If you’re looking for a Wellness Retreat that supports a local woman’s cooperative or you're looking for the perfect tours in Iceland for your multi-generational family trip - we're going to know where to look. We spend years building our knowledge base and our contacts, and we are experts in our field.

If I book a trip through you - am I still in control of my trip?

Of course - you are absolutely in control of your trip. Our job is to partner with you, to take some of the details and planning off of your plate, and to craft the trip you want to go on!

How do you get paid?

You hire us! Just like you may choose to hire a CPA for your taxes and a photographer for your wedding - you hire us for our training, knowledge, and expertise in what we do. For most travel we charge a $200 flat rate fee. That covers everything we do - from the initial planning and research to the custom itinerary. There are some instances, such as group trips, where we charge a higher fee. Sometimes we get paid a commission from the resort, hotel, or excursion we book for you, and sometimes we don't. Either way, we will always work directly for you and in your best interests.

Can you get me a better deal?

Short answer - it depends. Our job is to find you the best value on your vacation, although not necessarily the lowest cost. Pricing, while very important, is only one of

many factors I consider when putting together the best package. I take our clients’ budgets seriously and treat them with the same respect I would want my own vacation budget treated, but ultimately I keep your best interest in mind and make my travel recommendations with all relevant factors considered.

When you hire us - you're really paying for the value we and our destination partners bring - our expertise, knowledge, and support.

You're paying for things such as:

Personalized service
Customized planning
VIP treatment and access
Peace of mind - knowing that you're working with people who are invested in your trip and your happiness every step of the way.

What if I don’t book with you? Will you still help me with my travel?

Our agency is not set up to assist in trips we haven't booked. If you haven't booked your travel with us we wish you a wonderful vacation, and I hope that our knowledge and expertise paired with our excellent customer service will be the reasons you choose to hire us for your next adventure!