Frequently Asked Questions

An agent usually helps with trip planning; where to go, what to do, and how to get there. An agent essentially takes care of accommodations or lodging, transportation, and admission to events and activities like theme parks or museums for example. 

A Travel agent can be beneficial for a variety of reasons such as

• helping tailor trips to meet the needs of everyone traveling,

• general knowledge of destinations, accommodations, etc.,

• access to discounts that aren't available to the general public,

• helping to make travel as stress free as possible by assisting with booking, trip adjustments, payments, and more.

A travel agent can do as much or as little as you would like.

Suppliers like Disney, Universal, Expedia, hotels, etc. include travel agent commissions in the cost of packages, lodging, or admissions.

Most people book travel without using an agent and don't realize they are paying for a service they aren't receiving. 

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I don't charge fees. :)

I love travel and planning trips. My job is to help you plan out your vacation or trip and get the accommodation, transportation, and activities that you prefer, hopefully at the best price available.

In most cases, the answer is yes. Travel agents can often access discounts not available to the general public. 

Agents also receive news about sales and deals before the public and can in some cases apply those to existing reservations (This happens often with Disney packages.) 

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There are some instances when travel agents won't have access to the best deal (maybe tickets to a theme park are cheaper through a different supplier/website for example); however, a good agent will help or encourage you to book with the best option even if they don't get a commission from the supplier. 

The time it takes to plan is totally up to you. If you want to plan and book a trip quickly, I will help make it happen. If you prefer to take your time and check out all options, I'll also patiently help however I can.

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As far as booking or making reservations, some suppliers allow a price hold for a day or a few days. There's always the risk of losing a good deal if you wait too long to book. 

To protect your card info from fraud, I only accept payment over the phone while booking your trip.

Every supplier has a different deposit amount. Here are some examples:

• Disney requires $200 for a hotel and ticket package. Ticket only purchases must be paid in full. Hotel only booking is a one night deposit. Cruises usually require a 20% down payment. 

• Universal requires $50 per person for packages. Ticket only purchases must be paid in full. Hotel only booking is a one night deposit.

• Some hotels require one night deposit, a percentage of the total cost, or don't require a deposit to book.

• Cruise lines all vary but usually require a certain amount per person or percentage of the total price.

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Final payment varies depending on the supplier as well.

• Disney Resort packages must be paid in full 30 days before travel occurs. Cruise final payments are due 60-120 days before travel.

• Universal packages must be paid 45 days before travel happens.

• Other suppliers like hotels (Expedia) usually require final payment at checkin. Other cruise lines have varying due dates. 

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If you have any questions related to payment, feel free to send me a message, and I'll get info to you asap.

Boardwalk Travel Agency is my host agency so you might see that name on quotes or emails that I send you.

This totally depends on the supplier. Most suppliers allow bookings for at least 12 months into the future. Some allow even more like Disney World which sometimes allows bookings up to 499 days in the future or a Disney cruise can sometimes have options up to 18 months in the future. It really depends. 

I can book airfare but it's not something I usually do or would suggest doing for most clients.

This is one area of travel that I suggest clients book for themselves. It can get very complicated if things go sideways at an airport. It's much easier for clients to directly work with an airline to resolve problems.

Some cruise lines allow existing reservations to be transferred to an agent.

Disney allows transfers but there are some limitations. Disney only allows transfers if the booking occurred within the past 30 days.

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Other suppliers don't allow transfers like Universal Orlando Resort.

You're free to book your vacation however you choose. You might not be able to access the discounts an agent is able to get or potentially add on in the future.

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Please keep in mind, most suppliers already include travel agent fees in the cost of their products. So you're already paying for a travel agent even if you don't use one. It can be helpful to use a trusted travel agent since you're already paying for the service!

That's when a travel agent is incredibly helpful! Travel agents have the resources and ability to help navigate difficult situations or problems. For instance, I'm usually able to help my clients modify existing reservations due to changed circumstances during their trips.

Many suppliers have separate contact info for travel agents to use making it easier and hopefully quicker for a travel agent to communicate with suppliers than the general public. This can in many circumstances save precious trip time when things aren't going quite right.