From Bucket List to Booked: How Travel Advisors Are Turning Dream Vacations Into Budget-Friendly Realities
For many travelers, a safari in Kenya, a trek to Machu Picchu, or a cultural deep dive in Japan sits high on their bucket list. Although dream trips can be expensive, more travelers across income levels are now finding ways to make their once-in-a-lifetime journeys a reality. By traveling in the shoulder season, embracing curated tours that bundle value, and working with skilled travel advisors who know how to maximize budgets, bucket list travel is becoming more attainable.
For advisors, this trend presents an opportunity to position themselves as travel dream makers—crafting best-value journeys that show it’s the experience, not the price tag, that defines a trip of a lifetime.
The Why
Are bucket list trips really on the rise? Undeniably yes. And here’s why.
“There’s definitely been a noticeable increase in clients asking for bucket list travel experiences,” says Terry Declare, ACC, MCC, ECC, travel advisor, TravelOnly with Terry Declare, “and I think it is due in part to three main factors. With the post-pandemic mindset, many people have adopted a ‘now or never’ attitude. They’re prioritizing meaningful, once-in-a-lifetime experiences over quick getaways or material purchases.
“I also believe the different platforms like Instagram and Tik Tok have made bucket list destinations feel more within reach. When people see others ticking off their dream trips, it sparks inspiration and a sense of urgency. And lastly, clients today seem to be more focused on cultural immersion, adventure, and connection. Bucket list travel delivers that in a big way.”
With all of these elements in play, destinations that were once considered aspirational and out of reach are now more achievable for more people.
The How
Travel advisors can employ various strategies to help clients savor bucket list vacations on any budget, thanks to changing travel trends, smarter planning, and curated packages.
“I love using strategies like shoulder-season travel, packaged tours, and bundled itineraries to help make dream destinations more budget-friendly and accessible,” explains Declare. “Traveling during the shoulder season—right before or after peak times—means clients can enjoy great weather and fewer crowds, often at lower prices.
“I also recommend bundled tours or packaged itineraries because they offer great value by combining accommodations, activities, and sometimes meals or transportation, all at a discounted rate compared to booking everything separately. Plus, it takes the stress out of planning! These options make luxury or bucket-list experiences more attainable without compromising on quality.”
Sudad AlMutar, travel expert, Sudad Vacations LLC, an independent agency in the Avoya Travel Network takes a similar approach: “We leverage off-season deals to promote overseas destinations with guided and bundled tours that include flights, accommodations, transfers, and excursions—a complete A-to-Z package that ensures stress-free travel and dedicated support throughout the trip.”
And Sherry Hodge, travel advisor, Trevello, describes how she focuses on groups to bring dream trips within reach for clients: “There is a growing number of affordable options available through various tour groups. These options allow people to tick off their bucket list destinations at reasonable price points.”
She continues with: “I recommend promoting group tours, which are often more affordable, especially during shoulder seasons versus the all-inclusive vacation. For example, April and November can be cooler in Canada with fewer activities available, but Europe still offers favorable travel weather during those months. Additionally, I’ve noticed a shift where more clients are moving away from all-inclusive options and opting for more immersive travel experiences.”
The Tiered Approach
Another way travel advisors can democratize dream travel is to emphasize how curated, all-in-one travel experiences deliver high-value itineraries at different pricing tiers.
Various options for the same destination can be presented as tiered travel experiences, offering choices from high-end to budget-conscious, including differing hotel types, tour levels, meal inclusions, and attractions. Travelers can choose based on their preferences and budget…and still relish the must-do experiences.
“We provide clients with two to three package options—Luxury (5-star average), Premium (4-star average), and Budget-Friendly (3-star average)—allowing them to choose based on their budget and expectations,” says AlMutar.
This demonstrates that affordable options do exist, and they do not sacrifice quality.
Examples Please
As the scope of bucket list trips expands through new offerings and varying price points, so do the opportunities for advisors to curate the perfect vacation for each client.
Hodge gives an example of one of her client success stories: “One of the most memorable cases was when I helped a client achieve their dream trip to South Africa. I am going to use my dream vacation, growing up watching Walt Disney’s Wild Kingdom. Like many, I thought it would be a $20,000 trip, but by researching tour companies and booking a tour package that included flights, accommodations, safaris, and meals, they were able to make it happen for much less. Sharing my experience, I’ve since booked the same destination for clients eight times in the past year, proving that this dream is more accessible than most people think.”
AlMutar offers another instance showing how a client thought their dream trip was out of reach, but he helped make it possible within their budget: “I had a client who was recently laid off and hesitant to travel due to budget concerns. He wanted to make the most of his free time without overspending. After an intensive search and adjusting dates, we were able to secure him a very budget-friendly trip within his means. Spain was his dream destination, as he is a soccer fan and he loves the Real Madrid soccer team, so attending the soccer field was a dream come true.”
Where to Send Them
These days, travelers seeking bucket list adventures are increasingly drawn to destinations that offer both natural wonder and cultural depth. Among the destinations most in demand are South Africa, Egypt, Peru, Patagonia, Iceland, Bhutan, Antarctica, and Japan. European favorites like Italy, Spain, and Greece also continue to hold strong appeal with travelers.
Parting Advice
Declare offers this advice to other advisors who want to leverage this niche: “Find supplier partners that you really want to work with and get to know your BDMs. They are there to support you, to help you reach your goals!”
Trusting in such partners that offer inclusive, well-researched itineraries removes a good portion of the stress and time of extensive planning.
In communicating with clients, Declare also says, “I always encourage clients to chase their travel dreams while they’re healthy and able—you never know what the future holds, and there’s no better time than now.”
As more travelers look to turn their bucket-list aspirations into reality, travel advisors have a unique chance to guide the process, showing that with the right planning, flexibility, and expertise, even the most coveted destinations can be within reach. They are proving that dream trips aren’t defined by cost or extravagance, but by the lifelong memories they create. For those who position themselves as travel dream makers and storytellers, the reward is stronger client loyalty and the satisfaction of making “someday” happen for their clients today.
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