Little-Known Ways Travel Advisors Add Big Value

Here’s something most people don’t realize: travel advisors aren’t just for the big stuff—honeymoons, safaris, multi-country itineraries. Sure, those may be the bread and butter of some agencies, but you’re probably leaving money (and perks) on the table if you’re not looping in a travel advisor for literally everything else, too.

That one-off hotel night in Paris? The cruise you’re booking online? That small-group tour with a luxury operator? Yeah, those too.

Here’s the thing: working with a travel advisor doesn’t cost you extra. But it does unlock a whole layer of benefits, upgrades, and behind-the-scenes support that you simply can’t access on your own.

So let’s talk about what you may be missing.

Never Book a Cruise Without Your Travel Advisor

Seriously. Never.

When you book a cruise through a travel advisor, you pay the exact same price you’d find on the cruise line’s website. But here’s what you also get:

• Onboard credits (sometimes hundreds of dollars)
• Complimentary room upgrades (when available)
• Private shore excursions or exclusive experiences
• Welcome amenities and hosted cocktail receptions
• Access to Distinctive Voyages benefits through preferred partnerships

And if the cruise line drops the price or runs a promotion after you’ve booked? Your advisor can help rebook you at the lower rate or apply additional perks. Good luck getting that kind of service from a chatbot!

Real talk: Naturally cruise lines want you to book direct (they don’t have to share their profits with an advisor if you do) so they try to make it look like maybe you’re getting a better deal. Bottomline: You’re not. You’re just getting less support and fewer perks and no personal advocate.

That One-Night Luxury Hotel Stay? Book It Through Your Advisor

Maybe you just need one night at a Four Seasons before your flight home. Or a weekend at a boutique property in Napa. Seems simple enough to book yourself, right?

Except when you book through a travel advisor who has access to preferred partner programs (like SELECT Hotels & Resorts or CURATED Hotels & Resorts), you get:

• Room upgrades upon arrival (subject to availability, but it happens more often than you’d think)
• Daily breakfast for two
• $100 property credit to use on dining, spa, or activities
• Early check-in and late checkout (when available)
• Welcome amenities

And you pay the same rate. No hidden fees. No loyalty program hoops to jump through. Just VIP treatment because of the relationship your advisor has with the property.

Why hotels do this: They want repeat business from advisors who send high-value clients. So they take extra care of those advisor’s clients. Which means they take care of you.

Booking a Tour with a Luxury Operator? Still Use Your Advisor

Planning to book that Abercrombie & Kent safari? Or a Backroads biking trip through Tuscany? Maybe a Natural Habitat expedition or a Butterfield & Robinson walking tour?

Here’s what most people don’t know: the price is the same whether you book directly or through a travel advisor... And…wait for it: Sometimes it’s even less.

When you book through your advisor, you also get:

• Truly personalized help with pre- and post-trip planning (hotels, transfers, extensions)
• Insider intel on the best trips for your interests and travel style
• Assistance with upgrades or special requests
• A dedicated advocate before, during, and after your trip

Here’s the kicker: If something goes wrong on the trip—flight delays, missed connections, last-minute changes—you have someone in your corner who can actually help. Tour operators are great, but they’re not always easy to reach in real-time or able to assist with other hiccups. A great advisor? They’re on it.

Yes, Even Flights and Travel Insurance

Booked a trip using miles and points? That’s great! But you can still loop in your travel advisor for:

• Flight routing advice (trust me, not all layovers are created equal)
• Visa and entry requirement guidance
• Travel insurance recommendations
• Airport VIP services like lounge access, meet-and-greet, or fast-track security

About travel insurance: Most people either skip it entirely or buy the cheapest option without understanding what it covers. A good travel advisor will walk you through the difference between basic trip cancellation and comprehensive coverage—especially for expensive or complex trips where “cancel for any reason” coverage is worth its weight in gold if you need it…and you never know when you might. Trust me…we have stories.

When Things Go Sideways

Flight delayed and you’re going to miss your connection? Illness abroad and you need to get home early? Lost luggage with all your medications inside?

This is where having a travel advisor really matters.

Instead of sitting on hold with an airline for two hours or panicking in a foreign country, you have a real human you can call (or text, or email) who will:

• Contact airlines, hotels, and tour operators on your behalf
• Connect you with in-country partners who can help immediately
• Work with travel insurance concierge teams to expedite claims
• Rebook flights, hotels, and tours as needed

We’ve gotten clients on last-minute flights home for family emergencies. We’ve helped arrange emergency dental care abroad… All the things.

That kind of support? You can’t get it from an app.

The Bottom Line

Using a great travel advisor doesn’t just make sense for the big trips. It makes sense for everything.

Because here’s what it really comes down to: peace of mind.

Peace of mind that you’re getting the best options, the best perks, and the best experience. Peace of mind that someone’s handling the details behind the scenes so you don’t have to. Peace of mind that if something goes wrong, you’re not dealing with it alone.

And honestly? Travel should be joyful. Not stressful. That’s the whole point!

Travel well.