When I first began traveling, I scoffed at the idea of a travel agent: Pay someone for work I can do myself…work I even *enjoy* doing? Absolutely not.
But my friend Maddie was someone I’d often adventure around with (and still do), and she became a travel agent back in 2017. So inevitably, as travel became a staple in my life, I’d turn to her for recommendations and reservations. (And it turns out, you don’t even have to pay a TA! More on that soon.)
At this point, Maddie’s been my go-to TA for several years: She basically planned our entire Kenyan honeymoon and was the reason we got upgraded for free in Bora Bora last year. She’s also on a mission to visit every country in the world, having hit Country #90 last month. Suffice it to say: If I’m booking any international trips nowadays, I run a gut check past her.
The TL;DR: Working with TAs can have myriad benefits—and we wanted to share some of the lesser-known perks we’ve learned about after working with them over the years. So let’s get right into this interview with Maddie herself… (and feel free to comment with questions for her!)
—Henah
Why should even seasoned travelers consider working with a travel agent?
For the most part, there isn't a negative to it. 99.9% of the time, we can get the exact same pricing you can find online, if not better. We basically do all the grunt work for you and you get to enjoy the vacation part. If anything goes wrong, I have to deal with it, not you, LOL.
I'll occasionally get people who say they enjoy the planning aspect of it (girl, same), but you can still be super involved if you want to be. And supporting a (likely) small business is always a good thing!
What are some of the "lesser known" perks or advantages of working with a TA?
There are tons of hotels and resorts where I can get clients extra amenities for no extra cost. For example, Henah got upgraded to an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora just for booking with me; I think it was cheaper than the hotel's pricing, too. (Henah note: That would have cost us an additional $600/night!)
Another more niche thing is that I can often get hundreds of dollars off on business class prices. I have fantastic relationships with tons of hotels and resorts so you're treated like a VIP when you arrive as a client of mine. There are lots of savings and extra perks out there to be had!
What are some common misconceptions about TAs?
Having to pay for a travel agent is definitely the biggest one. Some agents do charge for their packages, but we don't. We work on commission, so whatever we book for you pays us, not you.
Another misconception is that we don't exist anymore, LOL. Or rather that people are shocked we still exist. Guess what—Expedia, Orbitz, Booking, etc—they're all travel agencies. The only thing is you don't get a real human with them, you just get a machine.
You're on a mission to visit every country: Which countries have really surprised you or blew you away in a way you didn't expect?
Yes, I am! I'm getting close to half way done the goal, too. I should be at the half way point by the end of 2024!
A couple places that have really surprised me are Egypt, Samoa, and Botswana. Every single person that I've ever spoken to told me how dangerous Egypt was before I went, to the point that I actually got nervous. I could not have felt safer the entire time. Obviously you still have to be smart, but it was just so funny to me how all these people who had never been were telling me all of these scary things that were so far from true.
For Samoa, we were basically the only Americans there. It was fantastic and everybody was so nice. The beaches were stunning and it had a lot to offer.
Botswana has my heart. I'm going to do a terrible job explaining why, but will just say you have to experience it for yourself. It's incredible.
What other countries are upcoming? How do you decide which country (or countries) you'll visit on each trip?
The next big trip I have though is to Chad (not a frat bro). Deciding which place I'm visiting next and what countries I'm visiting together is a combination of very specific planning and also just spontaneity.
I like to group places that are either easy to get between or logistically make sense to combine. For example, I recently got back from a trip to Europe where my goal was to see some micro-countries I hadn't previously visited (San Marino, Monaco, and Luxembourg). So the itinerary ended up taking me from Rome to San Marino, Cinque Terre to Nice (with a visit to Monaco!), then Luxembourg to Paris to Copenhagen. The 3 micro-countries were obviously intentional, but the other stops were a combination of visiting strategic places along the route and re-visiting some favorites.
What are your biggest travel tips or must-haves (irrespective of if you work with a TA or not)?
BRING AN EYE MASK ON THE PLANE WITH YOU! Game changer, I'm telling you. Do literally everything you can to be comfortable on the plane.
Try to immediately get yourself on the new time zone when you land. If you land in the AM in Europe, distract yourself with food or activities so you can last until 8-9 PM at least so you're not screwed the next day.
Be open to places you wouldn't otherwise consider. I've visited some incredible places by just having an opportunity and seizing it. Subscribing to flight deal notification services is a great way to do this. I personally use Going (formerly Scott's Cheap Flights), but there are plenty out there.
Where can people find you?
I'm all over the Internet! My personal/blog IG account is @aonewayticket. You can find my travel agency's very new IG account at @townplacetravelcruises. My blog is aonewayticket.com too! Feel free to reach out to chat all things travel so I can stop bothering my friends and family with it. :)
From Kayti:
These are a bit pricey, but I love that these shoes double as slides and slippers, and that they have memory foam (wearing a pair for my next travel day). 🥿
My friend
just launched her second novel and it’s the perfect holiday travel read!
From Henah:
👀 majestic disorder’s Moroccan group trips for the end of 2024/early 2025 are swoon-worthy.
My incredible friend Tyler just relaunched her Substack
, which was previously featured in roundups like this one. Focused on her experience being a Black woman in America, it’s incredibly powerful and I can’t wait to see more of her work.If you’re in Hurricane Helene’s path this week (as we are), stay safe. ❤️ Keep an emergency bag, portable phone chargers, water, and plenty of snacks nearby.
—
Welcome October with open arms next week…
—Kayti & Henah xx
Great Issue! Thanks for the mention, Henah! :)