Comments on: $1000/mo Helping People Plan Trips: Inside the Travel Advising Side Hustle

By: Angelo Yason

Angelo Yason — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:39:52 +0000

I found the tips on getting started particularly useful. The advice to join a host agency to access accreditation and vendor relationships simplifies the process for newcomers. Additionally, the marketing strategies, like offering referral incentives and specializing in a niche, are practical steps to build a client base.

One aspect that stood out to me is the importance of handling travel logistics, such as visas, which can be daunting for clients. This is where services like GovAssist (https://govassist.com/) become invaluable. They specialize in streamlining the visa application process, ensuring all paperwork is correctly completed and submitted, which allows travel advisors to focus on crafting memorable experiences for their clients. By partnering with GovAssist, advisors can offer comprehensive services, enhancing client satisfaction and trust.

By: Nick Loper

Nick Loper — Mon, 05 May 2025 16:45:24 +0000

In reply to Allison Amini. That's great you're able to do it full-time, Allison! And thanks for the additional context around liability insurance. Agreed — not something to take lightly when we're talking big budget trips!

By: Allison Amini

Allison Amini — Thu, 01 May 2025 17:58:35 +0000

As someone who is a full-time travel advisor with a reputable host agency, I find the framing of travel advising as a “side hustle” deeply problematic and damaging to the industry as a whole. You can certainly do it part-time, but to be trustworthy and skilled at your job requires hours of investment in terms of training and networking (because that’s how those relationships are built) – not to mention, being on call to support your clients while they’re traveling in case something goes wrong.

Furthermore, the legal intricacies of booking travel for others is significant – in certain states like Florida and California, selling travel is highly regulated. Additionally, if you make a mistake, you’re on the hook for it, which means E&O insurance (outside of what your host agency provides) and properly drafted Terms & Conditions (because even if you have a host agency, you’re an independent contractor) are a necessity. So I wouldn’t categorize travel advising as a “low overhead” job, by any means.

Being a travel advisor comes with significant responsibility. You’re handling hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of your clients’ hard-earned dollars. You’re planning bucket-list trips they’ve dreamed about forever. This “side hustle” is serious business.