How to Work With a Travel Agent: A Practical Guide for Busy Travellers
If you’ve ever tried to plan a trip online, you know how it often starts.
A few tabs open.
A few reviews.
A few price comparisons.
Then suddenly it’s late, you’ve got too many tabs open to count, and you’re still not sure:
- Which hotel location actually makes sense
- Whether that flight connection is realistic
- If the price you’re seeing is good value
- Or if you’ve missed something important
Many people who contact us say something similar:
“I can book it myself… I just don’t want to anymore.”
If that sounds familiar, this guide explains how working with a travel agent actually works, what to expect from the process, and when it’s likely to be worth it.
Key Takeaways: Working With a Travel Agent
- A travel agent focuses on how a trip works as a whole, not just individual bookings
- Professional planning is most valuable for complex, international, or multi-part trips
- Roam Wisely uses a planning fee that is credited if you proceed with booking
- Clients work with one advisor from early planning through travel support
What does a travel agent actually do?
A travel agent coordinates flights, accommodation, transport, timing, and pacing into a single itinerary that works in real life, not just on paper.
A modern travel agent isn’t just there to book flights or hotels. The real value comes from how everything fits together.
At Roam Wisely, that means thinking about the entire trip experience, including:
- Whether the itinerary flows smoothly from place to place
- Whether hotel locations are practical, not just well-reviewed
- Whether flight connections are realistic for real people
- Whether the pace will still feel comfortable after several busy days
- Whether there are hidden conditions in fares or bookings
Anyone can book individual components online.
The difference is having someone look at the trip as a whole and consider how it will actually feel once you’re there.
When does it make sense to use a travel agent?
Not every trip needs professional planning.
A simple overnight stay close to home? You may not need help.
Working with a travel agent tends to be most useful when a trip has more moving parts, higher costs, or less room for error.
This often includes:
- Overseas travel
- Multi-city itineraries
- Family holidays
- Cruises and organised tours
- Theme park holidays
- Road trips involving car hire
- Trips that combine flights, accommodation, and rail travel
Most of our clients aren’t unsure how to book.
They simply want confidence that what they’re booking actually works.
What the process looks like at Roam Wisely
Some people assume working with a travel agent will feel formal or awkward.
It doesn’t.
Below is how the process typically works.
Step 1: The first conversation (free)
The first step is simply a conversation.
There’s no pressure and no commitment.
We talk about:
- Where you’re thinking of going
- Who’s travelling
- Rough timing
- What matters most (comfort, pace, experiences, budget, etc.)
- What you’re unsure about
You don’t need exact dates.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You don’t need to have everything figured out.
This conversation helps both sides decide whether we’re a good fit.
What helps before the first conversation (optional)
You don’t need to prepare anything in advance. Many people reach out while they’re still in the early thinking stage.
If you do have some of the following, it can help the conversation flow more smoothly:
- A rough travel window (even just the month or season)
- Who is travelling (adults, teens, children, multi-generational)
- Destination ideas, even if they’re uncertain
- Past trips you’ve enjoyed
- Any concerns about budget, pace, mobility, or long flights
If you don’t have any of that yet, that’s completely fine too.
Most people start with:
“We just know we want to go somewhere next year.”
That’s more than enough.
Step 2: Itinerary planning ($150 planning fee)
If you’d like us to build a complete itinerary, a $150 planning fee applies.
This covers the time and expertise involved in proper planning, including:
- Researching routes and options
- Structuring the trip so it flows well
- Matching flights, accommodation, transfers, and activities
- Thinking through pacing, logistics, and practical details
- Presenting everything in a clear, easy-to-follow proposal
If you proceed to book your trip through Roam Wisely, the $150 planning fee is credited toward your final booking. In that case, it does not cost you extra.
This is always explained clearly before any work begins.
Step 3: Refining the trip together
Once you receive your proposed itinerary, we refine it based on your feedback.
That may include:
- Adjusting the pace
- Changing hotels
- Shifting dates
- Adding or removing experiences
- Simplifying the route
You stay in control of all decisions.
Our role is to explain options, flag issues, and make sure everything makes sense before anything is booked.
Step 4: Booking and coordination
Once you’re happy with the plan, we handle the bookings, including:
- Flights
- Hotels and accommodation
- Transfers
- Tours and experiences
- Tickets (including theme parks)
- Car hire where needed
You approve everything before it’s booked.
You receive clear documentation instead of scattered confirmation emails from multiple websites.
Step 5: Before you travel
As your trip approaches, we help with the practical details.
This includes:
- A clear itinerary
- Key reminders
- Timing notes
- Practical tips based on your specific trip
The goal isn’t to overwhelm you with information.
It’s to help you feel prepared and confident before you go.
Step 6: Support while you travel
Even well-planned trips can run into problems.
Flights change.
Weather disrupts plans.
Accommodation makes mistakes.
Connections get tight.
When everything is booked across different websites, resolving issues can quickly become stressful.
When you’ve booked through us, you contact one person who already understands your trip and can step in to help coordinate solutions.
That peace of mind is one of the main reasons clients return.
Common myths about travel agents
“Travel agents are expensive”
Not always.
What many people underestimate is the cost of booking mistakes, such as:
- Non-refundable fares that don’t suit
- Hotels in impractical locations
- Transfers that don’t line up
- Tight connections that add stress
- Paying more later to fix avoidable issues
The value of working with a travel agent often comes from making better decisions upfront, which reduces stress and prevents unnecessary costs later.
“I can do everything myself online”
You can.
The real question is whether you want to spend the time researching, manage the uncertainty, and handle problems on your own if something goes wrong.
Most clients who work with us could book everything themselves.
They simply prefer not to.
“Travel agents only book cruises or luxury trips”
We help with a wide range of travel, including:
- Weekend getaways
- Family holidays
- Overseas travel
- Theme park trips
- Road trips
- Complex itineraries
- Simple flights when people want clarity
It’s less about the type of trip and more about wanting it structured properly.
What does it cost to work with Roam Wisely?
We’re upfront about costs.
- The first conversation is free
- A $150 planning fee applies if you’d like a full itinerary created
- That fee reflects the time and experience involved in proper planning
- If you proceed with booking through Roam Wisely, the $150 is included in your final booking
There are no surprise charges introduced later.
Everything is explained before work begins.
Who tends to get the most value from working with us?
We tend to work best with people who:
- Value their time
- Want clarity rather than endless options
- Are planning trips that matter to them
- Prefer dealing with one person rather than a system
- Want someone to think through the details properly
Many are families.
Many are experienced travellers.
Many are simply tired of second-guessing their bookings.
Is using a travel agent worth it?
Not for every trip.
But when time, money, and experience matter, good planning makes a real difference.
Roam Wisely exists to reduce the mental load of travel planning and help people feel confident about the trips they’re booking.
Frequently Asked Questions About Working With a Travel Agent
Do travel agents cost more than booking online?
Not necessarily.
In many cases, the overall cost is similar to booking online, especially once you factor in mistakes that can be expensive to fix later. These might include non-refundable fares, poor connections, or accommodation in impractical locations.
The value of a travel agent often comes from making better decisions upfront, rather than chasing the lowest visible price.
Do travel agents get better deals than I can find myself?
Sometimes, but not always.
A travel agent’s role isn’t just to find discounts. It’s to assess whether a fare, hotel, or itinerary is good value for your specific trip, including conditions, flexibility, location, and timing.
In many cases, travellers already see similar prices online. What they gain is clarity, coordination, and confidence that the booking actually works.
Can I work with a travel agent if I already have some bookings?
Yes, in many cases.
Some clients come to us with flights booked but want help structuring the rest of the trip. Others have accommodation reserved but are unsure whether the route or pacing makes sense.
Whether we can assist depends on what’s already booked and how flexible it is, but it’s always worth asking.
What types of trips are best suited to a travel agent?
Travel agents are most helpful when trips involve complexity, higher costs, or limited room for error.
This often includes international travel, multi-city itineraries, family holidays, cruises, theme park trips, or journeys that combine flights, accommodation, and rail travel.
Simple trips don’t always need professional planning, and we’re happy to say so.
Will I still be in control of the decisions?
Yes.
A travel agent does not decide for you. Our role is to explain options, highlight risks or trade-offs, and help structure the trip logically.
You approve everything before anything is booked.
What happens if something goes wrong while I’m travelling?
If you’ve booked everything yourself across multiple websites, resolving issues can mean long hold times, conflicting information, and added stress.
When you book through us, you contact one person who already understands your itinerary and can help coordinate changes or solutions. That support is one of the main reasons clients choose to work with a travel agent.
When should I contact a travel agent?
You don’t need a finished plan.
Many people reach out when they only know roughly when they want to travel or have a few destination ideas. Early conversations often help prevent costly changes later.
If you’re already feeling unsure or overwhelmed, that’s usually the right time.
If you’d like help with planning flights, accommodation, tours, theme parks, rail journeys, or a complete itinerary, even if it’s still just an early idea
Your first conversation is always free.