Frequently Asked Questions About Working With a Travel Advisor
There’s a bit of mystery that surrounds the travel industry, and we’re here to help clear that up. Here are some of our most frequently asked questions, answered!
Why should I book my trip with a travel advisor when I could book it myself?
WHIT Travel is an affiliate of SmartFlyer, a Virtuoso agency. When you work with our team you benefit from the global industry relationships we have built with luxury hotels, travel vendors, and tour providers. This means custom hotel and tour suggestions, ideal room placement, special rates, VIP perks (like resort credits and upgrades), and often surprise extras unavailable to the public. You'll receive guidance from a group of very discerning travelers, who have actually seen the hotels and resorts we’re recommending. Part of our expertise is having insider knowledge about luxury hotels all over the world, plus a few properties that aren't listed online.
We help you mitigate risk when booking your trip. Working with an advisor ensures you're getting what you're paying for, and helps prevent the dreaded “this looked better online” thought when you arrive to a hotel. We help clear through the clutter of often misleading online reviews, and share our knowledge of properties we’ve seen and had experience with, so you’re can make an informed (unbiased) decision of which is the right pick for you.
Your time is your most valuable asset. We do all the research and trip organization, you can be as involved in the planning process as you’d like. We make recommendations based on your travel preferences, and you'll receive tailored options that have been perfectly curated just for you - minus the hours of research.
We’ll keep everything organized for you. Our team will remind you of upcoming payments, gather all of your confirmation numbers, transfers, tour info, plus necessary documents in one easy-to-use app, or a printable PDF if you prefer.
You have an actual person to call when you need support. The best part of being a small team is our clients will always have an individual to reach out to during their travels if they need assistance. There’s no waiting on hold, we’re always here to help.
2. What exactly does it mean to be a full-service travel advisor?
Full-service means we don't just book hotels and flights (although we're happy to if that's all you need). We can also book VIP car services, secure hard-to-get dining reservations, arrange private charters, secure those hard-to-get concert tickets (hey T-Swift!), coordinate exclusive private tours, book and stock private villas, suggest insider experiences, and arrange special moments you have in mind to surprise your travel companion.
3. What if I don’t need a complex itinerary and just want to book a quick hotel?
We can absolutely book luxury hotel stays and quick trips for existing clients!
Our strong partner relationships translates to benefits for you like complimentary breakfast, welcome drinks, spa credits and more. Plus, you're always placed first on the list for upgrades should they be available. If you’re looking for a simple hotel booking, feel free to use our Virtuoso Booking Link.
4. Why should I trust WHIT Travel? What makes you an expert in planning?
Aside from investing in continuing industry education like attending luxury travel conferences Virtuoso Travel Week and TRUE Italy, our travel expertise comes mainly from experience.
We've traveled, quite a bit. We’re proud to say we’re up to 40 countries and counting. We've also lived abroad more than once. Nothing educates like experience, and now when we travel it's for you. We're always on the lookout for top hotels, tour guides and hidden gems we know our clients will love.
We also know we can't know it all. That's where our community comes in. We are in constant communication with over 250 other luxury travel advisors who live all across the globe and travel just like we do. If we haven't been where you're going yet, we can bet one of them has.
5. This all sounds almost too good to be true. How do you get paid?
There is often a great deal of mystery behind how the travel industry works. Let's clear that up!
Travel advisors are often paid a small commission directly from hotels we book for our clients. This comes at no cost to you, and all rates we quote are equal to or better than what is available to the public.
To help protect our time and because we also book non-commissionable reservations and experiences, there is an initial upfront cost for new clients in need of a custom trip design. This cost varies depending on the length and type of trip.
Ready to start planning your completely custom dream getaway with an expert travel designer? Contact us here and let’s go!
