Way back in 2005, I went on my first big international trip to Europe with my sister. Back then, travel blogs didn’t exist and there was very little online to help us navigate booking the trip, so we went to our on-campus travel agent.
They booked our tours, flights, and hotels. It was nice to have their help since we had no idea what to expect.
Now that I’m a travel blogger, I had no intention of ever working with a travel agent, until I realized something key – they can get you perks like free breakfast and upgrades that you can’t get by booking through the typical channels. Here’s why:
Agents vs. Self Booking
Up until super recently I would book through your usual hotel aggregator sites (like booking, Priceline, etc.) and only recently realized that this is the worst possible way to do it.
A friend who works for a high end hotel chain recently told me that when guests book through these mediums they get the least desirable rooms, almost no chance for an upgrade, and the worst customer service. Why? These aggregators book large blocks of rooms at a discounted price, pocket the difference, and present you with a room that costs the same as it would if you booked directly or through an agent. Basically, these sites can be great for research, but you should never book on them.
Wouldn’t it be best to just book directly with the hotel? In some cases, sure, but if you’re looking at a higher end hotel, cruise, or other experience, agents can often get you extra perks like free breakfast, room upgrades upon arrival (provided there’s availability), early check in or late check out, and even up to $100 resort credits. They are often prioritized over credit card bookers like Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, and you can still get hotel loyalty points when you book through an agent (like a Virtuoso agent). It’s a win-win.
Agent Perks and How They Get Them
Why would a hotel want to give these extra perks to agents and how do they get said perks?
Higher end hotels know that agents with a good relationship with their clients can help them get business that may not have otherwise gotten, and those long term relationships are great for both parties. While not every hotel offers perks like mentioned above these are ones that do:
- Four Seasons,
- Hilton Impresario,
- Hyatt Privé,
- IHG Luxury & Lifestyle,
- Marriott STARS & Luminous (Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION),
- Peninsula Hotels PenClub,
- Rocco Forte Hotels Sir Rocco’s Knights,
- Rosewood Elite,
- Shangri-La’s The Luxury Circle,
- SLH WithIn,
- Accor STEP,
- Belmond Bellini Club,
- Couture by Langham,
- Dorchester Collection’s Diamond Club,
- Jumeirah Passport to Luxury,
- Mandarin Oriental Fan Club and more.
So if you’re looking to go on a honeymoon in Bali or just want perks when having a luxury getaway at some of the best hotels and overwater bungalows in Bora Bora, they can help you get those perks.
In most cases, the agent will book the room and then follow up with the hotel management personally to speak to them about the possibility of upgrades and other possible perks. Depending on their agency, they can call on their colleagues who are experts in various parts of the world to help them as well.
How to Work With an Agent
So how do you find an agent to work with? After 12 years of booking my own trips, providing travel advice, and sending everyone on my blog to these aggregators who honestly do bloggers dirty, I decided to cut them out and do bookings directly with hotels for my readers, myself. I have some great relationships I’ve built in the travel industry all over the world, and I’ve been booking our BMTM Women’s Adventures, taking over 200 women around the world for over six years now, so it’s high time I offer the next level in personalized service.
I became a Virtuoso agent this year and have already scored readers some wonderful perks and upgrades at some of my favorite hotels around the world – perks I really wish I’d known about or knew where to ask way before now.
I do not charge any fees for hotel and flight bookings (and a nominal fee for full trip planning), and can get you the best rates plus perks, so these benefits are at no extra cost to you.
Ready to book your dream trip? I can help with flights, hotels, cruises, and anything you may need. Contact me now to start planning.
READ NEXT: how Virtuoso really works
Can I Get Perks Without Dealing with an Agent?
Certainly! If you already know your room type, dates, and exactly what you wish to book, you can do so online through Virtuoso’s booking portal, which will get you the perks. It just has to be tied to an agent (this link will take you to my page). You can do a search for the hotel you want, the dates you want, and you can book it yourself without having to ever talk to anyone.
(note that this must be done on desktop, or you’ll want to scroll down on your phone to ‘access full site’ in the footer links on your phone).
- Step one: Follow this link and search for your hotel.
- Step two: Once you select your room type and book you’ll be asked to confirm your advisor. The link will lead you to my Virtuoso page.
- Step three: Make an account.
- Step four: You’ll see the room total with your perks and make your booking (you’re booking directly with the hotel, so you can use your hotel credit card to get all the perks and points).
If you don’t see the best possible rate, please reach out to me with your desired trip dates and hotel, as I can often go directly to the hotel and get a great package for you if you’re not finding what you want on Virtuoso.
It’s as easy as any other booking platform, just cross reference with the hotel website to make sure you’re not missing out on any promotional rates or member only rates, as they are sometimes available only directly with the hotels. Otherwise, the room rates should be the exact same that the hotel charges, or perhaps even a bit lower.
Do Travel Agents Cost Money?
Some agents do charge a fee if they are doing extensive planning for you. However, if you’re just looking to book a hotel to get the perks or already know where you want to go and don’t need extensive trip planning, I don’t charge any fees for booking flights, hotels, and cruises, but you still get the best rates and all the perks.
If you are hoping for a full planning service, we can do that for you for a percentage of your total trip budget (dependent on the extent of your trip plans).
Can You Still Get Rewards Points and Status with an Agent?
YES you can still get loyalty rewards points when you book through a Virtuoso agent like me, whereas hotel aggregator bookings usually do not allow you to get nights and points when you purchase, which keeps you from reaching status and getting free rooms in the future.
Can I Get Help With Bookings If Needed?
If we book a flight for you that gets canceled or there are issues with your trip, since it’s travel after all and anything can happen, we provide support whenever you need it. If you need help with a flight, you can contact us 24/7 and we can help you sort it out without you having to wait for hours on the phone.
More questions? Reach out to me!
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