What Your Holiday Is Really Costing You

In the world of high-end travel, there is a word that gets thrown around far too often: "Free." You’ve seen the promise before—"Expert planning at no cost to you." But here is the industry secret that nobody wants to put on the brochure: if you aren't paying for the service, you aren't the client—you're the product.

When a traditional travel agent offers to plan your trip for "free," they are actually working on a commission structure that is quietly baked into your final bill. Behind the scenes, they are often incentivised to steer you toward the hotels and tour operators that offer the highest kickbacks—sometimes as much as 20% to 30% of your total spend. You end up with a "pre-packaged" itinerary designed for their margins, rather than your memories.

While the financial transparency is clear, the real cost of a 'pre-packaged' holiday often isn't measured in pounds—it’s measured in missed moments. When an agent prioritises their commission, you might find yourself in the 'standard' wing of a hotel that looks great on a brochure but sits right next to a noisy construction site, or on a tour that feels more like a tourist trap than an authentic discovery. By removing the markup, I also remove the bias.

Which is why, I decided to do things differently. At Plan My Trip, I’ve traded the hidden commissions for total transparency. By charging a single, flat fee for my 15 years of global expertise, I am free to give you the one thing a traditional agent can’t: unbiased advice.

I would like to stress that not all travel agents work this way and if using a travel agent works for you and your travel needs you should absolutely use one.