How to Become a Travel Agent: Tips, Truths, and My Personal Experience
- Ellen ~ Valley View Travels
- Sep 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Nov 3
✈️ Have you ever wondered how to become a travel agent? When I first looked into it, I was excited about the possibilities but also overwhelmed. There were so many questions running through my mind: Do I need special training? How do I actually book travel? Can I really do this while raising a family? Honestly, I wasn’t even sure if it was legit. Over time, I learned that the process doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right guidance, tools, and support, anyone with a passion for travel can turn it into a flexible, rewarding business. In this post, I’m sharing the tips, truths, and personal experiences that helped me get started. This way, you can see what this career is really like and decide if it might be the right fit for you too.
💡 Tip 1: Know Why You Want to Do This
Before diving into how to become a travel agent, think about your “why.” For some, it’s the love of travel itself. For others, it’s the desire for more flexibility, a side income, or the chance to build something that fits around family life.
For me, it was a little bit of all of that. I wanted a way to contribute financially without sacrificing time with my kids. I also loved the idea of helping others experience the joy and memories that come from a great vacation. That “why” kept me motivated when I was brand-new and still figuring everything out. Honestly, it still keeps me motivated now.
If you’re considering becoming a travel agent, take a few minutes to think about your motivation. Knowing why you’re doing this will guide your decisions, help you stay focused, and remind you of your bigger goals when things feel overwhelming.
💡 Tip 2: Choosing the Right Path for You
One of the first decisions you’ll face when learning how to become a travel agent is whether to go independent or join a host agency. Here’s the difference in simple terms:
Independent Agents → You run everything on your own. You’ll need to set up supplier accounts, negotiate commissions, and figure out all the systems yourself. This gives you more control, but also comes with more upfront work and responsibility.
Host Agency Agents → You partner with an established agency that already has supplier relationships, commission structures, and training in place. In return, you share a portion of your earnings with them.
When I got started, I chose to go through a host agency because I wanted support, mentorship, and access to the tools I needed to book travel right away. Having someone guide me made the learning curve much less intimidating. It let me focus on building my business instead of stressing about where to even begin.
👉 If you’re considering this path, I’d love to chat with you about the host agency I partner with and how I help support new agents as they get started.
💡 Tip 3: Training and Support Matter
One of the biggest questions I had when I first started was: “Is this even legit?” I’ll be honest, when I heard about becoming a travel agent from home, setting my own hours, and earning commissions, it sounded almost too good to be true.
The reality is that being a travel agent from home is absolutely a legitimate business and career. The confusion comes from the fact that some companies make big promises without giving agents the right tools or training. That’s why finding proper support from the beginning is so important.
When I got started, I didn’t know everything about suppliers, booking systems, or commission structures. What made the difference was having a host agency that provided training, mentorship, and access to suppliers right away. Instead of figuring it all out alone, I had guidance every step of the way. This gave me the confidence to grow my business without second-guessing myself.
Now, I get to offer that same support to new agents who join my team. 💕 We walk you through each step, answer questions, and ensure you’re set up for success from day one. You’ll never feel like you’re doing this alone, because you aren’t.
So if you’re serious about becoming a travel agent, make sure you choose a path that gives you real support and education. It’s the difference between feeling stuck and feeling empowered.
💡 Tip 4: Find Your Focus (but Don’t Stress About It)
If you want to become a travel agent from home, many new agents think they need to pick a specialty right away, like cruises, honeymoons, or family travel. The truth is, you don’t have to have it all figured out on day one. Some people come in knowing exactly what kind of travel they want to sell. Others, like me, start broad and narrow it down as they go.
Over time, you’ll naturally discover what excites you most and where your clients’ interests take you. For me, I found myself drawn to planning family vacations and cruises because they combined what I love with what so many of my clients were asking for.
So yes, having a niche can help you stand out, but don’t let the pressure of picking one keep you from getting started. The best way to find your focus is simply by booking travel, learning as you go, and paying attention to what lights you up.
💡 Tip 5: Build Your Presence
Once you’ve decided to move forward, it’s time to let people know you’re a travel agent! This doesn’t mean you need a fancy website or a perfect social media strategy on day one. Start small and build as you go.
For me, I began by sharing my journey on Facebook. I posted about the trips I was planning, the deals I found, and how I could help others do the same. Over time, I added a website, a blog, and a more consistent posting schedule. None of it happened overnight, but every little step helped me grow my credibility and reach.
Here’s what matters most: showing up consistently. Whether it’s posting on social media, sending out emails, or simply telling your friends and family, the more you share what you do, the more people will think of you when they’re ready to book a trip.
Don’t worry about being perfect; just be real, be helpful, and let your passion for travel shine through. That’s what builds trust and gets people excited to work with you.
💡 Tip 6: Start Booking and Learning
At some point, you just have to dive in. The best way to learn how to become a travel agent is by actually booking travel. Start with friends, family, or even your own trips (which you get great discounts for). It’s the perfect way to get comfortable with the process while having a safety net.
I’ll never forget the first booking I made. I was excited, nervous, and double-checking everything a hundred times. But once it was confirmed and my clients were happy, I felt this huge sense of accomplishment. That moment gave me the confidence to keep going.
Every booking you make is a chance to learn something new. You’ll get familiar with supplier systems, understand commission structures better, and figure out how to handle the little hiccups that come with travel planning. Don’t worry about knowing everything right away; you’ll build your knowledge one trip at a time.
Remember: progress matters more than perfection. The more you book, the more confident you’ll become.
💡 Tip 7: Keep Growing
One truth about how to become a travel agent is that growth never really stops. You'll always be learning and improving. The travel industry is always changing. New destinations trend, cruise ships launch, resorts open, and policies shift. The best travel agents are the ones who keep learning, stay curious, and adapt along the way.
When I first started, I had no idea how much training and education would be available to me. From supplier webinars to industry conferences, there are endless opportunities to learn. Just as important as the training is the community.
We have an incredible network of agents connected through Facebook groups, team chats, and ongoing mentorship. Whether you’re celebrating your first booking, troubleshooting a tricky situation, or just needing encouragement, there’s always someone ready to help. Even though I work from home, I never feel like I’m building this business alone, and neither will you.
The truth is, you’ll never “arrive” at knowing it all, and that’s a good thing. Growth is part of the journey. Every trip you book and every training you attend adds to your expertise and makes you a better resource for your clients.
Thinking About Becoming a Travel Agent Too?
If you’ve read this far and something inside you is saying, “I could do this,” listen to that little nudge. That’s exactly how I felt before I started my journey, and it completely changed my life.
Working from home, helping families plan their dream vacations, and building a business that fits around my life has been the most rewarding decision I’ve ever made. If you’ve ever wanted more freedom, flexibility, or a way to earn extra income doing something you love, this could be for you too.
What Are the Costs of Becoming a Travel Agent, and What Do They Cover?
Getting started with InteleTravel is simple. There’s a $179.95 one-time enrollment that sets up your business and gives you your booking website, back office, and onboarding training.
After your first 30 days, there’s a $39.95 monthly support fee that covers all of your ongoing tools and resources:
✨ Continuous vendor trainings and webinars
✨ Access to commissionable travel partners
✨ Customer support and IT help
✨ Legal, compliance, and accounting teams
✨ And your professional Errors & Omissions insurance
Everything you need to start and grow your business is included, no hidden costs, no surprises.
There’s also an optional opportunity through PlanNet Marketing if you’d like to build a team and earn extra income, but it’s completely optional and separate from booking travel.
How to Get Started
Click here ➡️ plannetmarketing.com/valleyviewtravels
Select Your Product and click Learn More under InteleTravel
Click Purchase Now and fill out your information
Submit your enrollment and watch for your welcome email, you’ll be set up within minutes!
Once you’re registered, send me a quick message or use my contact form so I can send you my Welcome Packet and get you plugged in. It includes your first-week checklist, training links, and access to our team community so you never feel alone while building your business.
You don’t have to have travel experience, just a passion for helping people make memories and a willingness to learn. I’ll walk with you every step of the way. 🌴
✨ Final Thoughts
Becoming a travel agent isn’t just about loving travel; it’s about finding the right support, training, and community so you can turn that passion into a real business. I’ve been where you are, curious, a little unsure, and wondering if I could really do this. And I can tell you: you can.
This business has given me so much more than I ever expected, the freedom to work from home, the joy of helping families create memories, and the confidence that comes from building something of my own. You don’t need experience to start, just a willingness to learn and a love for helping others explore the world.
If this sounds like something you’ve been searching for, I’d love to help you get started. Click the button below or go HERE and I’ll guide you through each step and make sure you have everything you need to succeed.
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