Travel agents cost$420 - $6,175

National average fixed price

Most common low price:$420
Most common high price:$6,175

How much does a travel agent cost?

By Thumbtack Staff

Last updated Wed, Oct 15

The national average cost to hire a travel agent ranges from around $420-$6,175, and most people pay around $1,611, according to Thumbtack data. The total cost depends on how complex your itinerary is.

Travel agents cost:

National average cost	$1,611
Low-end average cost	$420
High-end average cost	$6,175

Take the trouble out of travel planning with the help of a professional travel agent. Instead of adding expense, travel agents save you money thanks to their professional discounts and insider connections. "We act as brokers who shop on behalf of our clients for the best value and price," explain Sam and Jeanette Burke-Ramos of Ebony World Tours in Miami Beach, Florida.

If you’re ready to turn over travel planning stress to a professional travel agent, here are the costs and savings you can expect.

Travel agents cost:
Travel agent fees and discounts
Travel itineraries
Planning a trip
Popular trip requests

Travel agent fees and discounts

Many travel agents do not charge a fee to their clients for planning standard vacations; they earn money from commissions paid to them through partner vendors. "I am paid on the back end through vendors, so I do not charge a fee unless the arrangements are for excursions only or flights only," explains Megan Wallander of TravelWithLife, Marshfield, Massachusetts. “If the client is looking for a custom itinerary (anything above and beyond one location), then I hold a planning deposit, which is refunded back to the client once we finish booking.” Jason Russell of Grand Sunsations Travel in Reisterstown, Maryland, agrees. “The only time there may be a fee is if I am booking direct airfare only,” he explains. “Those fees range per agent from approximately $25 to $75 per ticket.”

The other advantage of using a travel agent? They are able to provide discounted or free amenities or adventures for the trip.

Travel itineraries

Travel agents may charge additional fees when extensive itineraries are being created or you are only requesting assistance with flights. Other travel agents may require deposits, to prevent clients from booking elsewhere after the agent has done all the research.

"The planning deposit is a flat amount of $100, regardless of the trip parameters," explains Wallander with TravelWithLife. “If you're planning flights only, the fee is $50 per domestic ticket and $100 per international ticket. If you are planning excursions only, the fee is $100 and up, depending on how many excursions you're looking for and where they are."

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Planning a trip

Travel agents book your family vacations, honeymoons, post-graduation adventures, once-in-a-lifetime trips and those times you just want to escape for a bit. Here are some examples of trips planned by travel agents and the cost — if any — to the client:

Popular trip requests

Travel agents have been making adventure dreams come true for ages. Here are some favorite destinations for the clients of top-rated travel agents.

Vacations to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, as well as cruises and all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, rank high for clients of Abramson at North Mississippi Travel Consultants.
All-inclusive vacations, cruises, and honeymoon and wedding travel top the charts for clients of Grand Sunsations Travel.
Honeymoons are one of those things that couples don't have time for when they’re planning a wedding, says Wallander with TravelWithLife.
Vacation planning is No. 1, followed by flights throughout the Caribbean, Europe, South America, North America and Asia, say Sam and Jeanette Burke-Ramos of Ebony World Tours.

How do we know these prices?

Millions of people ask Thumbtack for help with their projects every year. We track the estimates they get from local professionals, conduct our own research and then we share those prices with you. The prices reflected in the article above are for informational purposes only and are subject to change at any time. Contact a professional near you to receive a personalized cost estimate for your project.

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