Frequently Asked Questions About Working With a Travel Advisor

What are the benefits of booking through a travel advisor?

The Departure operates as an affiliate of Departure Lounge, an agency affiliated with Virtuoso. By partnering with us, you gain access to our extensive network of global industry relationships with hotels, vendors, and tour providers. This translates to enhanced hotel and tour recommendations, optimal room placements, exclusive rates, VIP privileges, and unique extras that aren’t accessible to the general public. Our team comprises experienced and discerning travelers, offering you expert guidance. With insider insights about worldwide hotels and a few off-the-grid gems, we provide you with information that goes beyond online listings.

-Your time is precious. Collaborating with an advisor guarantees value for your investment and assists you in navigating the clutter of potentially misleading online reviews, while also highlighting any hidden factors before you finalize your booking.

-We handle all the research and logistics, allowing you to truly relish your journey. Our suggestions align with your travel preferences, presenting you with personalized choices meticulously tailored to your needs—without the need for hours of research.

-We ensure you stay on top of upcoming payments, consolidate all your confirmation details, transfer information, tour specifics, and essential documents into a user-friendly app or a printable PDF, as per your preference.

What does being a full-service travel advisor entail?

Being full-service signifies that we go beyond merely arranging hotels and flights (although we’re more than happy to handle those aspects). We also specialize in booking VIP car services, dining reservations, exclusive private tours, offering insider experiences, and organizing the special moments you envision to pleasantly surprise your travel companion.

What if I’m looking for a simple hotel booking only?

We can absolutely book luxury hotel stays!

Through our robust partnerships we can offer perks such as complimentary breakfast, welcome beverages, spa credits, and additional benefits. Furthermore, you’re given priority for potential upgrades whenever they’re on offer.

What makes The Departure an expert in travel planning?

Apart from dedicating time to ongoing industry education like Virtuoso Travel Week or Departure Lounge Exchange our travel expertise primarily derives from hands-on experience.

Our travel journeys have been extensive – spanning 25 countries and continuing to grow. Learning through experience is unparalleled, and today, our travels are entirely focused on crafting extraordinary experiences for you. Our journey involves a continual exploration of top-tier hotels, skilled tour guides, and concealed treasures that we’re confident our clients will treasure.

However, we acknowledge that there’s always more to learn. This is where our network comes into play. We maintain constant communication with over 150 other luxury travel advisors who are situated all around the world and share similar travel lifestyles. If we haven’t explored a destination you’re interested in yet, we can confidently say that one of them likely has.

How is a travel advisor paid?

A Travel Advisor typically earn a modest commission directly from the hotels we reserve for our clients. This arrangement doesn’t incur any charges for you, and the rates we provide are on par with or even superior to public offerings.

To ensure the value of our time and due to our involvement in arranging non-commissionable bookings and experiences, there’s an initial upfront fee for new clients seeking a tailored trip design. This fee varies based on the trip’s duration and nature.

Ready to start planning your next getaway? Let’s get you booked!