In the age of endless online booking sites, a common question we hear is, “Why should I use a travel agent? Isn’t it just an extra cost?” It’s a fair question, but it’s based on one of the biggest misconceptions in travel. While it might seem like handling everything yourself is the cheapest route, working with a professional travel advisor can often save you cold, hard cash.
As a top travel agency in Jackson Hole, we believe in transparency and in providing incredible value. We want to pull back the curtain and show you how partnering with an expert for your next big trip—whether it’s to the Tetons or across the globe—is one of the smartest financial decisions you can make.
Forget the idea of luxury fees; let’s talk about real, tangible savings.
To put it simply: it’s a common myth that using a travel agent is expensive or will stretch your travel budget. But in reality, a great travel advisor can actually help you save. Possible discounts, deals, upgrades, add-ons, preventing costly mistakes, and more.
Keep reading to get the details.
First, How Do Travel Agents Get Paid?
Understanding how we’re compensated is key to seeing why our services are so affordable. There isn’t some secret, hidden fee. The process is straightforward and typically follows one of two models.
The Commission Model (Often at No Direct Cost to You)
For many types of travel, like cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and guided tours, our payment comes from a built-in commission paid by the travel supplier (e.g., the cruise line or the hotel) after you travel. This price is the same whether you book through us or book directly.
With this model, you get our expert advice, planning services, and advocacy for free. The supplier is essentially paying us for bringing them a happy, well-prepared customer.
The Fee-Based Model (You Pay for Expertise)
For more complex trips, like a custom-designed multi-country itinerary or a simple airline ticket booking where commissions are very low, many modern advisors charge a professional service fee. This can be a flat “plan-to-go” fee or a percentage of the trip cost. This fee covers the dozens of hours of research, logistical coordination, and expert itinerary design that goes into crafting a unique journey.
This model ensures our travel agents are compensated for their professional work. This also allows us to focus entirely on what’s best for you, not on which supplier pays the highest commission.
Now, let’s get to the good part: how this structure, even with a fee, provides you with affordable travel agent services that save you money in the long run.
4 Tangible Ways a Travel Agent Saves You Cold, Hard Cash
These aren’t abstract benefits; these are real savings that can significantly impact your travel budget.
1. Access to Exclusive Deals and Promotions
Travel agents have access to deals and pricing that you will never find on a public website. Because we book in high volume, we are the first to know about special promotions.
- Consolidated Pricing: For things like cruises and tours, we often have access to pricing that is lower than what’s advertised online.
- Supplier Relationships: We have personal relationships with sales managers at hotels and tour companies. This allows us to negotiate on your behalf or access unadvertised deals to help close a booking.
- Package Savings: We are masters at bundling. By packaging flights, hotels, transfers, and tours together, we can often unlock savings that aren’t available when booking each component separately. For example, the official reservation service for Jackson Hole often has airfare credit promotions available only through travel agent channels.
2. The Power of Perks (That Add Up Fast)
This is one of our biggest secret weapons for saving you money. Top travel agencies are members of powerful networks like Virtuoso, a global consortium for luxury and experiential travel. Our membership in these networks gives our clients instant VIP status and a host of valuable, complimentary perks.
Imagine this scenario for a one-week hotel stay:
- Free Daily Breakfast for Two: This can easily save you $50-$70 per day. Over a week, that’s up to $490 in savings.
- A $100 Resort or Spa Credit: This is free money to spend on a nice dinner, a relaxing massage, or a fun activity.
- A Room Upgrade on Arrival: We can often get you an upgrade to a room with a better view or more space, a value of hundreds of dollars.
These perks—which you don’t get when you book online—can easily add up to more than a professional planning fee, making our services not just affordable, but profitable for you.
3. Preventing Costly Mistakes
A huge part of a travel advisor’s job is preventing problems you didn’t even know could happen. A simple planning mistake can cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
- Logistical Errors: Have you ever booked a hotel that looks close to the action on a map, only to realize it’s a 30-minute taxi ride away? We prevent that. We know the best locations for your style and budget.
- Visa & Entry Requirements: We ensure you have the correct travel documentation for every country you visit, saving you from the nightmare of being denied entry at the border.
- Fine Print: We read the fine print on cancellation policies and travel insurance so you don’t have to. We make sure you’re protected.
4. Unlocking Package and Airfare Savings
While booking a simple domestic flight might be easy online, complex international airfare is a different story. We have access to advanced booking systems and know the intricacies of fare classes, routing rules, and airline partnerships. We can often find more convenient routes or better-priced business class seats than the average consumer.
The “Hidden” Savings: What’s Your Time and Sanity Worth?
Beyond the direct cash savings, the true value of a travel advisor often lies in what you gain back.
Saving Your Most Valuable Asset: Time
Research shows that people can spend anywhere from 10 to 30 hours planning a single vacation. What is that time worth to you? A travel advisor does all that legwork—the endless scrolling through reviews, the price comparisons, the logistical puzzles. We give you back your weekends.
Your Advocate When Things Go Wrong
This is perhaps the most priceless benefit. When a flight is cancelled, a hotel loses your reservation, or an emergency happens mid-trip, you have one person to call. You won’t be the one spending three hours on hold with an airline. We are. We handle the problems, fighting on your behalf to get your vacation back on track. That peace of mind is invaluable.
Is It Worth It for Every Trip?
To be completely honest, if you’re just booking a single, non-refundable flight from one city to another, you probably don’t need us. But for trips that are important to you—a family vacation to Jackson Hole, a honeymoon to one of our other amazing destinations, a complex European adventure, or a milestone birthday cruise—the value we provide is immense.
Your Expert Travel Agency in Jackson Hole
At Labbé Travel, our goal is to provide affordable travel agent services by focusing on immense value. We leverage our expertise and industry connections to build you a better, smarter, and more memorable vacation. We’re passionate about travel and are committed to helping you explore the world with confidence and peace of mind.
Learn more about our travel philosophy and how we work by reaching out to us. Let us help you plan a trip that’s better than you imagined and more affordable than you thought possible!