Do travel advisors charge fees?

Many do. Most of an advisor's income comes from commissions paid by the hotels and other travel companies they book, and many also charge clients a service fee. Ask how yours is paid before you start.

How do travel advisors get hotel perks?

Through partnerships. Luxury hotels add perks such as daily breakfast for two and a property credit to bookings that arrive through partners they trust, including advisor networks and the hotel brands' own programs for advisors.

Is a travel advisor worth it for a single hotel stay?

Often not, if you know the hotel and your dates. You can get similar perks booking yourself, through a hotel membership such as SKYLARK or a premium card's hotel program.

Do SKYLARK members get travel advisors?

Yes. SKYLARK members book online themselves or with SKYLARK's advisors, who also plan involved trips through Plan a Trip, from $550 a trip for two ($250 off the first trip's fee when you join).

Guide

Is a luxury travel advisor worth it?

Often, when the trip is complicated. Advisors are paid mostly by the hotels and other travel companies they book, through commissions, and many also charge a service fee. What you get is someone who knows the hotels, can add perks such as daily breakfast and a property credit at the ones in their network, and handles the changes for you. For a stay at a hotel you already know, booking it yourself is usually enough.

Updated October 22, 2026. Published by SKYLARK, which sells the membership this guide mentions.

The details

How do travel advisors get paid?

Mostly by the companies they book. Travel advisors make most of their income from commissions paid by hotels and other travel companies, usually once the trip is over. Many also charge their clients service fees: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that earnings for many travel agents depend on commissions and service fees.

So ask before you start: is there a fee, is it per trip or flat, and is any of it credited against what you book?

How does an advisor get you hotel perks?

Luxury hotels set aside perks for bookings that arrive through partners they trust: the advisor networks that agencies belong to, and the hotel brands' own programs for advisors. At a partner hotel, an advisor's booking typically comes with daily breakfast for two, a property credit, and an upgrade or early check-in when the hotel has room. The perks come from the hotel, so you get them only at hotels in your advisor's network.

When is an advisor worth it?

Several stops, or several countries. One person holds the whole itinerary, from the transfers to the hotel in each city.
Safaris, villas and private guides, where availability and logistics rarely show up on a booking site.
A big occasion, when it helps to have someone ask the hotel for the details.
You'd rather not handle changes yourself, from a cancellation to a problem in the middle of the trip.

When can you book it yourself?

You know the hotel and your dates, and the rate you want is online.
The perks are what you're after. A hotel membership or a premium card's hotel program gets you similar ones without an advisor; see how they compare.
You want to compare many hotels at once. The Members' List sorts SKYLARK's hotels by what membership is worth at each.

What should you ask an advisor?

How are you paid: commission, a fee, or both?
At which hotels can you add perks, and which perks?
Will the booking still earn my hotel loyalty points?
Who do I call if something goes wrong during the trip?
Can I see the total price, taxes and fees included, before I commit?

Where does SKYLARK fit?

SKYLARK works both ways. Members book online themselves: SKYLARK Friend costs $250 a year and gets perks such as daily breakfast for two and a property credit at more than 3,000 hotels. For involved trips (Japan, a safari, multi-stop Italy), SKYLARK's advisors plan with partners on the ground, and most hotels book with the member's rates and perks.

Plan a Trip is where those trips start. Planning starts from $550 a trip for two, and joining SKYLARK takes $250 off the first trip's fee.

Questions

Do travel advisors charge fees?: Many do. Most of an advisor's income comes from commissions paid by the hotels and other travel companies they book, and many also charge clients a service fee. Ask how yours is paid before you start.
How do travel advisors get hotel perks?: Through partnerships. Luxury hotels add perks such as daily breakfast for two and a property credit to bookings that arrive through partners they trust, including advisor networks and the hotel brands' own programs for advisors.
Is a travel advisor worth it for a single hotel stay?: Often not, if you know the hotel and your dates. You can get similar perks booking yourself, through a hotel membership such as SKYLARK or a premium card's hotel program.
Do SKYLARK members get travel advisors?: Yes. SKYLARK members book online themselves or with SKYLARK's advisors, who also plan involved trips through Plan a Trip, from $550 a trip for two ($250 off the first trip's fee when you join).

Sources

Checked October 22, 2026. Advisors set their own fees, so confirm yours before you book.

See it for yourself

Plan a Trip SKYLARK membership