26 Best Trip-Planning Hacks Straight From Travel Agents

If you’ve ever had to plan a vacation, you know the responsibility—and pressure—of the task. There’s browsing endlessly for affordable airfare (that seems to fluctuate every hour), finding a central hotel with all the amenities, and spending hours booking restaurant reservations. Thankfully, travel agents are here to help. Below, we’ve compiled their best trip-planning hacks, so your next getaway will be seamless.

For example, consider examining the hotel’s fine print.

Once you’ve found your dream hotel, be sure to read the fine print. From booking fees to daily hotel resort fees to cancellation fees, there are many hidden costs that can leave you paying more than you bargained for.

“These hidden hotel resort fees are designed to confuse consumers and distort the actual price,” says Erika Richter, spokeswoman for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). “Sometimes they’re called ‘facility fees;’ make sure you ask before you book.”

To read what Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAP Tickets, advises, click here