Why do you Charge a Research & Planning Fee?

As a professional travel advisor, my goal is to deliver a seamless, personalized travel experience tailored to your unique needs and preferences. The research and planning fee reflects the time, care, and expertise that goes into designing a custom itinerary — from sourcing the best options to coordinating every last detail.

This fee ensures I can dedicate the necessary attention to your trip, provide unbiased recommendations, and serve as your advocate before, during, and after your travels. It also allows me to work with integrity, focusing solely on what’s best for you — not on commissions or sales quotas.

In short, it’s an investment in your peace of mind and a better travel experience from start to finish.

Are you qualified to be a travel advisor?

Yes! I have a Travel Agent Certification (TAC) from Travel Agent Campus as well as having logged countless training hours with specific travel partners (Norwegian, Carnival, Signature, Bahamas Tourism etc.) I am also a certified cruise specialist (CCS), as well as a certified Bahamas specialist. I am continuing my education on a daily and weekly basis.

As well as certifications, I am well-traveled. I’ve been traveling since I was 10 years old. Lived in 4 different countries and raised 7 kids all over the world.

Why use a travel advisor when I can just book it myself?

Some GREAT benefits would be:

• We keep up with travel requirements (aka. country requirements, visas, vaccine requirements etc.) to make sure you get to your destination safely and with minimal to no problems.

• We take care of the details. We don’t just book a vacation, we make sure you know all the details and restrictions. You deserve the best value for what you paid for not just a cheap, easy, non-refundable booking.

• We deal with travel all day. We have forums, facebook pages, conferences, webinars and so much information pouring in 24/7. We get more information about travel than you can ever sort through browsing the web yourself.

• We love travel as much (or even more) than you do. Despite what most people think, becoming a travel advisor is not something you can do over night. It takes time, training, and qualifications just like any other occupation. We do so much more than people realize and we don’t get paid for the overtime.

• More time for you! You get more “me time” and less “worry about all the travel details" time. Stress less, just let me take care of it.

What are Travel Culture by Ashil’s Terms and Conditions?

You can find my a full list of my terms and conditions by clicking here.