Journeys With Jani

By Jani Aylsworth-Gunter, Take Time To Travel

At Take Time To Travel, we are passionate about supporting local businesses. But here’s the thing—we believe that support should be mutual. When you choose to shop, dine, or book services locally, you’re investing in your community. And when local businesses reciprocate, the entire community benefits.

The Truth About Travel Bookings

Let’s talk about how the travel industry works. Did you know that when you book a vacation, hotel, rental car, or tour on your own, a commission is already built into the price? That’s right! You’re already paying a commission fee—but if you book directly online, that fee simply goes to a faceless corporation instead of a real person who could be helping you.

When you book with Take Time To Travel, that same commission is what allows us to provide expert guidance, personalized recommendations, and full-service support before, during, and after your trip. We take care of the details, troubleshoot any issues, and ensure your experience is seamless—all without adding extra cost in most cases.

What Do Travel Advisors Charge For?

While we don’t charge additional fees for most bookings, there are some cases where we do:

• Standalone airline tickets – Airlines no longer pay commissions to travel advisors, meaning we must charge a small fee to cover the time and expertise required to find the best flight options for you.

• Highly customized, multi-faceted trips – Some vacations require extensive planning and coordination, such as the Kentucky Bourbon Trail tour I’m currently designing. These types of trips take hours to organize, with multiple vendors and logistics to manage. The reality is that many components of these experiences don’t come with a commission, which means a small planning fee ensures we can devote the time needed to make it amazing.

The Bottom Line: Travel is Our Livelihood

Commission is how Take Time To Travel makes money—it’s how we pay our advisors and keep our business running. If we could afford to work for free, purely for the love of travel, we would. But let’s be honest… none of us have quite hit that independent wealth status yet! 🤣 And with the price of eggs these days, well… let’s just say we’re not giving up our day jobs anytime soon!

Why Booking Local Matters

When you choose to book your travel with a local agency like Take Time To Travel, you’re supporting a small business that, in turn, supports you. You’re choosing personal service over impersonal online transactions. You’re gaining an advocate who will be there for you from the moment you start planning until you return home.

So next time you think about booking a trip, remember this: You’re already paying for a service—why not actually get the service?

By supporting local businesses, we strengthen our communities. And when those businesses give back, everybody wins.

Let’s travel smarter, support each other, and create unforgettable experiences together.

#BuyLocal #SupportLocal #TakeTimeToTravel #YourTravelAdvocate

Jani, your go-to-gal at Take Time To Travel

Life is one big journey—and I’m sharing mine, one mile and one moment at a time. Subscribe to follow along.