Two Services Travel Advisors Can Add to Make Clients’ Travel Easier and Hassle-Free

As a travel advisor, the value you deliver goes far beyond booking your clients’ travel; it also lies in recommending services that enhance their overall vacation experience. Once clients have booked their perfect trip, there are still opportunities to make their holiday smoother and more enjoyable, even before they leave home. Below are two commissionable add-ons, tested firsthand by Travel Market Report, that do just that.

Let Ship&Play Take Care of Their Luggage

No one enjoys schlepping luggage on vacation, especially on longer trips that involve multiple bags or large traveling parties. Tagging luggage, airport bag-drop lines, time spent waiting at the arrival luggage carousel, and the risk of delayed or lost luggage can turn travel day into a tedious chore.

To make your clients’ experience hassle-free, recommend a luggage shipping service. Founded in 2011 as ShipSticks to help travelers transport golf clubs and other sports equipment, the company has since evolved into Ship&Play, offering luggage shipping to destinations and cruise ports worldwide using trackable couriers such as FedEx and UPS.

The booking process is straightforward. Simply enter the pick-up and drop-off information to view pricing and transit times. Once booked, a pickup date is assigned, and bar-coded shipping labels along with detailed instructions are couriered to the client’s home. After the luggage has been collected, the shipment can be tracked at every step, and clients receive an email once their bags have been delivered. Clients visiting multiple countries can also forward luggage to their next destination, and at the end of the trip, ship their luggage home.

We tested Ship&Play by sending our luggage from Canada to Civitavecchia Port for a cruise, and the service worked smoothly. FedEx picked up our bags, and within two days, they had arrived at the port agent’s secured storage facility. On sailing day, the bags were delivered straight to our cabin.

Because bags are shipped as unaccompanied luggage, a few restrictions apply. Due to safety and customs policies, shipments cannot contain pressurized containers, any liquids (including toiletries), batteries, medication, currency, tobacco, electronics, perishable goods, and jewelry. International shipping laws also require that baggage be left unlocked for possible examination. Each piece of luggage comes with $500 insurance, with the option to extend coverage. While we initially felt a little uneasy leaving our bags unlocked, we were assured that all shipments are stored in secure facilities throughout the journey, and our bags arrived untouched.

Ship&Play works with travel advisors, consortia, Host agencies, and pays commission. For more information, visit the company website or contact the partnership team at partners@shipplay.com.

Ship&Play also recently announced exclusive partnerships with Azamara Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, and Emerald Cruises, facilitating a seamless “door-to-stateroom” luggage transport.

Let Daytrip Take Care of Their Transfers

If your clients’ trip doesn’t come with transfers upon arrival, don’t leave them to navigate taxis, ride-shares, or public transit on their own. Daytrip provides private, door-to-door transfers in over 130 countries, offering comfort and convenience for travelers. The company’s roster of over 10,000 English-speaking drivers has been thoroughly vetted through background checks, many of whom are locals who can provide recommendations for local sights and experiences. Reservations can be modified via email or the Daytrip app up to 36 hours prior to the service start, and cancelations are free up to 24 hours prior.

Earlier in the year, we tried Daytrip’s services in Romania, Italy, and Turkey, and found it very efficient. The booking procedure is also simple: select the destination, enter the arrival date and time, and choose a vehicle from the available options. Once reserved, a confirmation email is sent immediately, followed by another email a few days before the trip with the driver’s name and contact information. Although not required, we contacted the driver in advance to confirm all arrangements and update flight details, although the driver monitors flights and adjusts for delays. Upon arrival, we found our driver easily, who was holding a sign displaying our name.

Emails to Daytrip are monitored 24/7, and when we had questions or needed to make changes, the customer service team was very responsive. Drivers were courteous, knowledgeable about their routes, including navigating through complex areas such as the Civitavecchia cruise port, and drove safely. Not all drivers were chatty, but they were always pleasant and professional. We did encounter a small hiccup during our transfer from the Istanbul cruise terminal, but our feedback was quickly acknowledged and addressed.

Daytrip transfers aren’t just limited to airports and hotels; custom routes can be requested to accommodate clients’ itineraries. Daytrip also offers private car day tours in select cities throughout Europe, North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the South Pacific. When booking clients, advisors can select either a commission or a discount from the price. Daytrip also partners with Host agencies to help maximize commissions, so check with your Host or consortia to see if they are preferred. For more information and to register as a travel advisor with Daytrip, visit the Daytrip Agent Portal.