Here Are the Most Frustrating Things About Being a Travel Advisor

Raise your hand if you’re a travel advisor who has heard this line before: “You travel so much, your job is so glamorous!”

But hard working travel advisors know that exploring new destinations and hotels is only part of the job. Along with all of the fun and glamour, can be frustrating moments as well - much like any profession, really.

With that reality in mind, TravelPulse recently asked advisors, via the social media platform Facebook, to share the most common frustrations associated with their job. Here's a snapshot of the top responses we received.

Ghosting

It’s not unusual for consumers to shop around in order to find the advisor who best compliments one’s travel style, budget and destination goals.

But on the flip side of that coin, it’s important to remember that when you make contact with travel advisors as part of such research and request a professional's expertise on your prospective trip - or perhaps even request a draft itinerary - the advisor is investing their time doing work for you.

And more than a few travel advisors say it’s not unusual for a client to go totally dark after making some form of initial contact or request.

“Ghosting you after all of the time, effort and energy put forth in creating a quote per a client’s request,” advisor Monica W wrote about her biggest frustrations of the job.

OTA competition

Online travel agencies (otherwise known as OTAs) have proliferated over the past several years. For some travelers, these web-based marketplaces, which allow individuals to research and book travel products and services, have been a helpful development.

But organizing travel through OTAs can have its pros and cons. And some travel advisors are not at all happy with their arrival on the scene.

“Competing with online agencies and big box stores that can offer lower prices, onboard credit, big box store (Costco) gift cards for hundreds of dollars, etc,” says travel advisor Scott L. Then people buy their cruise and go on to hundreds of Facebook groups asking for the so-called “hidden gems!”

Travel advisor helping plan a trip. (Photo Credit: sebra/Adobe Stock)

Expecting too much…often for too little

Everyone wants to travel like a rock star. But if that’s the type of trip you ask your advisor to plan, then it’s important to have the budget to pay the tab. Rather than expecting your advisor to work miracles on a shoestring, say advisors.

“Clients with champagne taste and beer money, we are suppose to be magicians,” travel advisor Lisa M, said is her top frustration. And her comment was supported by more than a few fellow advisors.

“Clients with unrealistic expectations of how much the vacation they want costs,” added Ellicia M.

Similarly, Jessica K, from Cruise Planners said: “People with unrealistic expectations and an inability to accept the truth when it is presented to them.”

And SeetheWorld365 added: “Trying to explain to clients that their ridiculous budget does not meet today’s current market prices.”

Travel advisor and happy clients. (Photo Credit: Dragana Gordic/Adobe Stock)

Not reading all of the information provided

Life is hectic, we’re all busy. And skimming through communications - whether it’s emails or a full-on travel itinerary - has become all too common.

This growing habit inevitably includes skimming the information provided by a travel advisor.

All of which leads to the most commonly expressed frustration among advisors who responded to TravelPulse’s social media survey: Clients not thoroughly reading and reviewing all of the information an advisor supplies.

“Read the email and itinerary. The whole thing. Reading what your travel advisor sends you will save you from many, many issues,” wrote one advisor from Adventures Taken LLC, expressing a common frustration among travel advisors.

“I just wish my clients would take the time and read what I supply,” chimed Arlene G.

“Spending time curating an email with all the instructions, travel tips and information my clients need for their trip and not having them read it. Call or email me with a question that has already been answered,” wrote SeetheWorld365 Travel.

“Please people, read!! Read the WHOLE email,” added advisor Julie C.

No frustrations at all….

But for some advisors, there’s nothing at all to complain about — no matter what curveballs may come their way.

“I honestly can’t come up with one, after almost 15 years in,” wrote advisor Jackie L.

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