Planning travel isn’t for everyone – in fact, it can sometimes represent the biggest challenge for some. They might not know where to start, or they might not necessarily have the time to figure it out.
That’s why, traditionally, they might go to a travel agency for someone to plan everything for them.
However, for many of us who love travelling, planning trips is part of the fun. The more we plan, the better at it we become.
Inevitably, word spreads amongst family and friends, and before we know it, we’ve become “unofficial” travel agents offering pro bono services for everything from giving out travel information to planning and booking.
In this article, I’d like to share some insight into the most common types of travel bookings, and how to go about booking travel for others in ways that you might be rewarded for your time and effort.
Why Book Travel for Others?
Most of us who book travel for others do so mainly to help friends and family. Other times, we may be travelling with a group, and it simply makes sense to have one person organize and book the trip for everyone, for the sake of efficiency.
If you happen to be a duly-licensed travel agent, then there’s also a monetary motivation, as you can earn commissions on travel bookings. Your travel agent credentials may also entitle you to incentives, discounts, and benefits for yourself and your clients alike.
However, even if you’re an “unofficial” travel agent, then you can still benefit from strategically booking travel for friends and family.
Some examples of this include cash back and rewards portals, earning elite nights towards status at hotels, and points earned through spending on your credit cards.
Hotel Bookings on Points
Frankly, it’s quite tricky to book hotels on points for others. However, there are a few strategies you may employ, such as:
- Gifting a rewards reservation directly
- Transfering points between members on a one-to-one basis
- Pooling points, which allows several members to contribute
With any of these strategies, you’ll have to abide by each hotel loyalty program’s own rules and restrictions. Below, you’ll find a quick summary of which programs participate in each method.
Gifting Reservations
IHG One Rewards, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy allow you to add a second guest to a reservation made with points. Marriott Bonvoy officially allows you to book a reward stay in…
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