Fee Schedule 2026|2027

$50 non-refundable fee for services rendered at onset of booking

$250 planning fee for Time and Research for Custom itineraries, multi-destination routing. (If the client decides to make more than a few changes to the itinerary, there will be an additional fee applied).

Explanation of Travel Consultant Fees

To compensate for time, labor, and changes in how the industry pays out. While many still rely on supplier commissions, over half of U.S. advisors charge fees due to several core factors:

Lost or Reduced Supplier Commissions: Major airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agents decades ago, and some hotels or operators have cut commission rates or excluded certain bookings

Protection Against Cancelled Trips: Commissions are only paid by hotels or cruise lines after the client travels (or upon final deposit). If a client cancels, the agent gets $0 for hours of prior work without a service fee

Compensation for Time and Research: Custom itineraries, multi-destination routing, group logistics, and activity coordination require extensive planning hours that commissions alone do not always cover.

Complex Concierge Services: Agents charge for high-touch, hands-on management—such as booking private car services, spa appointments, hard-to-get restaurant reservations, and real-time troubleshooting during flight delays

Key Reasons Travel Agents Charge Fees

Lost or Reduced Supplier Commissions: Major airlines stopped paying commissions to travel agents decades ago, and some hotels or operators have cut commission rates or excluded certain bookings
Protection Against Cancelled Trips: Commissions are only paid by hotels or cruise lines after the client travels (or upon final deposit). If a client cancels, the agent gets $0 for hours of prior work without a service fee.
Compensation for Time and Research: Custom itineraries, multi-destination routing, group logistics, and activity coordination require extensive planning hours that commissions alone do not always cover.
Complex Concierge Services: Agents charge for high-touch, hands-on management—such as booking private car services, spa appointments, hard-to-get restaurant reservations, and real-time troubleshooting during flight delays.
Shift to a Professional Fee-for-Service Model: Many advisors operate like consultants (such as interior designers or financial planners), charging flat planning fees, hourly rates, or retainers to guarantee they are paid fairly for their expertise.

How Travel Agent Pricing Works

Commission-Based (Often Free to You): For standard cruises, all-inclusive resorts, and guided tours, the travel supplier pays the agent a 10% to 20% commission built into the public price. Price-parity rules mean you pay the exact same rate whether you book yourself or use an agent.
Fee-Based or Hybrid: For complex custom travel, group trips, or itinerary design, agents often charge flat planning fees (ranging from $200 to over $2,000) or apply a deposit toward the final cost.

While people sometimes think hiring a travel agent costs extra, modern advisors use a fee-for-service model that protects your vac…

For a custom multi-stop itinerary, travel advisors almost universally move away from a “free” or commission-only model. Because crafting an independent, multi-destination vacation requires immense research, coordination, and handling of low- or zero-commission logistics, professionals charge upfront fees to protect their time and expertise.

What to Expect: Multi-Stop Planning Fees

Depending on the complexity of your trip, the number of destinations, and the advisor’s specialization, custom multi-stop itinerary fees generally follow these pricing structures in 2026:

Flat Itinerary Design Fee: This is the most common model. An upfront fee covers the entire scope of research, building the proposal, and managing revisions.
- Standard Multi-Stop Trip (e.g., 2–3 cities over 10 days): $300 to $700.
- Complex or Multi-Country Trip (e.g., 15+ days, multiple flights, trains, and private tours): $750 to $1,500+.
Per-Day/Per-Week Pricing: Some advisors charge a structural rate based strictly on the length of your trip. A typical starting framework is $500 per 7 nights of travel for a single family, while higher-touch concierge services can range from $100 to $250 per day of travel.
The “Deposit” or Retainer Model: Many agents request an upfront design retainer of $250 to $1,000. Some will credit this fee back toward your final trip balance if you book the package through them, while others keep it as a non-refundable professional service fee regardless of whether you book.

Why the Fee Structure Varies So Greatly

A multi-stop trip usually incorporates components that do not compensate the travel agent at all. While a standard hotel might pay a commission, elements like inter-city train tickets, regional budget flights, private drivers, and specialized museum or tour guides often pay $0 to the advisor. The upfront fee ensures the agent is fairly paid for the hours spent weaving these tricky logistics into a seamless timeline.

Travel Agent VS Internet

If you’re going on a cruise–With nearly 150 cruise lines and more than 225,000 staterooms to choose from, according to Cruise Lines International Association, where does one begin to narrow the choices for this very popular vacation option? Try a travel agent. Travel counselors stay plugged in to what’s hot – and what’s not – by frequently going on cruises and ship inspections and attending industry workshops. Agencies like Adelman Travel can also work on your behalf to get you the best price, plus special perks and benefits not available when booking online or directly with the cruise line. For instance, Adelman Travel can book you on one of its popular Ensemble® Hosted Cruises, which offers the extra attention of a knowledgeable host when needed during the cruise, plus other privileges like a private cocktail party onboard and a complimentary Ensemble® Experience shore event, ranging from gourmet luncheons and private museum openings to special musical performances and personally guided wildlife cruises. Expect the same insider information and special deals from many travel agents when it comes to independent or escorted tours.
If your trip is complex– A vacation involving a 10-day Mediterranean cruise followed by a week on your own driving the Grand Corniche into Monte Carlo and on to Provence requires numerous airline, cruise, hotel, and car reservations. Arrival and departure times, hotel check-in and check-out policies, directions to the rental car agency, all can be overwhelming to most travelers. Leave those critical details (they’re all interconnected, too) to a travel counselor who has instant access to it all. The travel pro can probably even give you turn-by-turn directions to pick up your car in Nice (and what to do if rental agency is closed when you drop it off), not to mention the best café for people-watching along the famous “Croisette” in Cannes.
If you’re looking for the out-of-the-ordinary – As more people search for the “road less traveled” when it comes to vacation experiences, savvy travel agents are creating quite a following in creating personalized “over-the-top” vacations for their adventurous clients. For instance, Adelman Travel has access to hundreds of unique experiences for their clients – oftentimes off-limits to the general public. Interested in complimentary breakfast for two in a 13th century Irish castle? Sipping champagne at the foot of a waterfall in Hawaii? Building a nomad home out of felt, wood, and rope in Mongolia? Arriving by seaplane for a romantic private lunch on a remote Scottish Loch? Whether it’s staying in a centuries-old castle or partaking in a culturally enriched encounter led by local experts, travelers have hundreds of these kinds of unique experiences to choose from when they book their vacation with a Great Southern Travel expert.
If you’re traveling overseas – Do I need a passport and/or visa? What inoculations are required for entry? Are there security issues or travel advisories for this country? These are just three of a myriad of questions that a travel agent can answer for you within minutes. Travel counselors also have access to the specific locale and region, such as which museums are closed for renovation, which holidays shut down the city, and which festivals are coming up. Also, depending on your destination, certain “undiscovered” spots may not be accessible via the mainstream airlines (and by most travelers). Not to worry as travel agencies like Adelman Travel have relationships with charter carriers and lesser-known airlines to get you to your hidden treasure.
If you want an ally 24/7 – Many people like the comfort in knowing they have a built-in problem solver if anything should happen along the way. When your flight to Ft. Lauderdale is cancelled (meaning you may miss your cruise), or the resort has lost your reservation (and it’s sold out for the next three days), or you’ve slipped and broken your leg while shopping along the Strøget in Copenhagen (and you’re in desperate need of a doctor), who are you going to call? If you booked it through an agency, you’ve got help – immediately and round-the-clock. Travel agents can also recommend ways for you to save money without jeopardizing the quality of the vacation experience. Changing your departure or return date, selecting a similar but slightly different room at the resort, or modifying your choice of travel supplier in many instances will reap great savings.

And what about pricing? The Smart Money article also compared the vacation pricing of three traditional travel agencies to two travel Web sites. The results? The travel agents were able to deliver the greatest savings to their clients when going head to head with Expedia and Travelocity.

Indeed, a travel agent should not be the sole source when planning your next vacation. But if you’re seeking extraordinary experiences, insider connections, VIP treatment, and exclusive perks and privileges not possible on your own – plus the benefit of a real person – there’s none better.