Travel Agent Fees & Rates
One of the most common questions people have about working with a travel agent is: what does it actually cost?
The short answer is that many of my services are completely free to you — I'm compensated by the hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators when I book on your behalf, the same way a mortgage broker is paid by the lender, not the buyer. For more complex, fully customized trip planning, I charge a planning fee that reflects the time and expertise involved. Either way, my goal is to be completely upfront about costs so there are never any surprises.
Here's exactly how my pricing works.
Travel Booking — No Charge
For straightforward vacation bookings, there is no fee to you. This covers the majority of trips I book, including:
All-inclusive resort vacations
Cruises
Vacation packages (hotel, air, and/or rental car combinations)
General tours
Hotel-only bookings
General travel advice and destination consultations are also included at no charge. If you're not sure which cruise line fits your style, which Caribbean island is right for your group, or which Mexico resort delivers the best value, I'm happy to talk through your options — no fee, no obligation.
Tailored Trip Planning — Custom Fee
For fully customized, independent trip planning — particularly for complex multi-city or multi-country itineraries — I charge a one-time planning fee based on the length of your trip and how far in advance we begin working together.
This service is especially popular with FIT travelers (Foreign Independent Travelers) — people who prefer a personalized, authentic travel experience over packaged group tours.
The planning fee covers everything from initial research and itinerary building through final booking and trip organization. It's a one-time charge — no matter how many times we revise and tweak your itinerary to get it perfect, there are no additional fees.
Planning fees are due before delivery of your initial proposal and are non-refundable, including in cases where a client decides not to move forward with booking. This reflects the significant research and planning time invested upfront.
When You Contact Us Trip Length Planning Fee
2+ months before departure 7 days or less $150
2+ months before departure More than 7 days $225
Less than 2 months before departure 7 days or less $200
Less than 2 months before departure More than 7 days $300
2 weeks or less before departure Any length Contact for pricing
As you can see, the earlier you reach out, the better the rate — and the more time I have to build you the best possible itinerary. For complex European trips especially, starting the conversation 6–12 months out is ideal.
Airline Ticketing & Flight Research
Airline Ticketing If you'd like me to handle your flight bookings directly, I charge a small administrative fee per person:
Domestic flights: $25 per person
International flights: $35 per person
Flight Research Booking international flights — especially for multi-city or multi-country itineraries in Europe — can be genuinely complicated. Which city to fly into, whether to use separate tickets or a single itinerary, how to connect between countries by train vs. air — these decisions can significantly affect both your cost and your experience. I'll do the research and make a recommendation.
$50 per itinerary
Frequent Flyer Award Bookings Have a stockpile of frequent flyer miles but no idea how to use them for your trip? I've booked award travel to Europe, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and across the U.S., and I know how to navigate the availability and routing rules that make award bookings frustrating to do on your own.
$75 per booking — and you're only charged this fee if I successfully find available award space for your trip
Have questions about pricing?
Every trip is different, and I'm always happy to talk through what your specific vacation would look like in terms of services and fees before you commit to anything.