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How to Get IATA Accreditation for Travel Business: Options, Steps, IATA Certification Cost

• 12 min read
• Business ,   Travel
• 27 Jul, 2023
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Every industry has its own regulator – an authority that sets standards and improves cooperation inside. The air travel industry is no exception.

IATA stands for International Air Transport Association . Its main goal is to regulate distribution-related activities for airlines and commercial aviation. These activities include fare calculations, revenue allocation, and baggage rules.

But how are IATA and travel agencies connected? Why do travel businesses that issue airline tickets have to be IATA-accredited? What are the options for businesses of different sizes and how is IATA-accreditation accomplished? Let’s explore the possibilities.

What is IATA? IATA numbers for travel agencies

Today, IATA decides who should distribute air travel products and how they should go about it. It supervises travel businesses by suggesting standards. For instance, IATA codes (numbers) are used everywhere traveling and aviation intersect. Think airline designator codes for reservations, ticketing, scheduling, and documentation; a prefix code to classify passengers and cargo; a baggage tag issuer code to simplify baggage handling; and a location code for easier package handling. These codes are even relevant to those airlines that haven’t signed an agreement with IATA.

Back in the 1920s when the mushrooming travel agencies started distributing flight tickets, they acted as clearinghouses or a middleman between travelers and airlines. In addition to spreading vouchers, travel agencies were responsible for smooth money transactions. When IATA emerged in 1945, it took over these processes and became a mediator between travel agencies and airlines.

That is how IATA accreditation (sometimes referred to as IATA certification) was introduced. It exists to safeguard airlines and monitor the revenue flow. So, in order to get access to airline inventories, a travel agency is supposed to undergo verification by IATA. In this case, an airline won’t have to check an agency over again every time an agent connects to the carrier’s reservation system. If a distributor is IATA-accredited, it’s a reliable partner.

On top of that, IATA processes all sales reports between an airline and an agency through its Billing and Settlement Plan ( BSP ) – a system created to streamline selling, reporting, and transferring operations for IATA-accredited agents.

If you want to do a deeper dive into IATA’s history and how it works today, watch our video.

What IATA certification can give travel businesses?

That said, let’s outline the main benefits that IATA gives its accredited agents.

Airline ticketing

Being IATA-certified, travel agencies can issue airline tickets on behalf of airlines. This is the main advantage that eliminates the need for other middlemen, simplifies booking processes, and cuts expenses for both agents and airlines. With access to IATA’s billing systems — the Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) and the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) — the accredited agents can complete the booking process by accepting payments and issuing tickets, which are basically contracts confirming payment settlement.

Industry recognition

IATA-certified agents must commit to industry ethics codes and meet general industry procedure standards. Working as an IATA agent also means including the IATA logo and branding on travel agents’ premises and websites. All these factors combined enhance travel businesses’ public image and give it a high-reliability score.

Credibility

As we mentioned, IATA thoroughly verifies a travel agency’s business activity, its revenues, and the annual flow of customers. Once in possession of that stamp of approval, a business is no longer examined by an airline or a hotel chain supplier. Hence, suppliers and agents can communicate directly. This significantly simplifies booking, confirmation, and payment processing procedures and eliminates extra effort for both sides.

Access to financial control

The access to almost 300 airlines opens up a gateway to a wide range of options to choose from. The Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) enables agents to see the air flight distribution in real-time. Above that, with a discount on each ticket sold, every IATA-accredited agent can handle their own markup, earn a reasonable commission, or sell tickets on special conditions, attracting even more customers.

Now let’s find out which accreditation options are available for travel agencies of different types and sizes, and even for self-employed agents.

The table shows the accreditation opportunities for travel agencies and solo operators

Full IATA accreditation

The full IATA accreditation package is for travel businesses worldwide that support airline ticket issuing on behalf of suppliers. Additionally, the IATA agent number introduces the travel business to other IATA airline members with a single Sales Agency Agreement and provides access to IATA’s BSP. As we touched on earlier, BSP is an invoicing and payment interface between the agent, airlines, and transportation suppliers.

The full accreditation also means that the agent follows standard ethics and behavior codes.

There are three types of full IATA accreditation:

• GoLite — a more limited model for agents with no cash transaction (only using IATA EasyPay and cards), offering a simplified accreditation process with minimal financial requirements,
• GoStandard – a default type that gives access to all payment methods, and
• GoGlobal — a multi-country accreditation model for agencies present in several BSPs that requires such agencies to comply with a single international set of requirements and criteria and accredit all the locations under a single agreement.

Full IATA accreditation types

To get it, you must submit a stack of documents and jump through a few hoops. Let’s have a look.

• Learn about the basics. Read through the Travel Agent Handbook (TAH) . It’s a thoughtful guide for IATA members and applicants. Here you’ll discover general standards, rules, and regulations applicable worldwide. Also, examine the local criteria adjusted to each country individually.

To apply for an IATA number, prepare these documents in the following order :

• Proof of general business operations. If you’re a branch operator, the documents should include hours of dedicated services or a copy of the agreement to serve as such. For instance, you may attach records about offering a particular kind of tour. The same works for solo operators.
• Proof of your qualifications. Regardless of whether you have multiple agents or you are a solo operator, you must submit a business license or copies of any certifications, such as agent training courses. Here you must indicate that your agents meet the professional criteria, according to local business standards.
• Confirmation of prior travel agent experience. If you’ve previously collaborated with an IATA accredited agent or airline, then include this record in your documents. If possible, attach a recommendation letter from that company or documentation of employment. Documents indicating a basic knowledge of airline and ticketing operations may be also attached.
• Proof of financial viability. Attach copies of all of the travel-business-related bank transactions for the past year. Include loan or insurance documentation if you have any. All these records should be placed in chronological order. Detailed bank account records with deposits and withdrawals for the previous fiscal year are also required.

Please note that all documents should fall in line with local criteria for your country as stated in the TAH.

2. Be ready to obtain a bond. If your accounts show that your present assets are below your liabilities, you may be required to present a financial security/bank guarantee to insure your financial credibility (the amount varies for different countries). If you choose the GoLite model with no cash facilities, there are no risks related to cash operations, so you’ll only have to provide minimal financial security to cover credit card sales risk.

3. Register an EasyPay account (optional) . IATA Easy Pay is a voluntary payment method based on the pay-as-you-go e-wallet concept for faster, cheaper, and more secure transactions. Open an EasyPay account via the IATA customer portal and register your bank account.

4. Register at the Customer Support Portal. Use the registration page and proceed with the registration process. You must submit the personal contact information and set up a password.

5. Submit the IATA application form. Complete the application following the guidelines and submit it with other documents via the Customer Portal. Include the letters of recommendation, following the form instructions.

6. Pay the registration fee and wait.  Accreditation and registration fees depend on your accreditation type and will be 250 CHF (~$280) to 1500 CHF (~$1,700) and 2500 CHF (~$2,800). There’s also an annual fee that will be based on your gross annual sales through the BSP. Find the whole distribution of fees in Attachment B of Resolution 800 .

Travel industry designator services (TIDS) – booking without flight ticketing

This option is suggested to travel sales intermediaries such as travel meeting planners or travel agencies that don’t plan on doing airline ticketing. Travel Industry Designator Service (TIDS) is an individual code that enables reservations to be recognized by airlines, cruise lines, hotel chains, car-rental companies, railway suppliers, and other travel suppliers. TIDS accelerates reservation processing and makes your travel business visible via addition to all IATA Global Data Products. However, to complete the ticketing process, the TIDS-certified agency would have to partner with a mediator such as a consolidator or host agency . Read on to learn more about these alternative options or check our article dedicated to the booking and ticketing process for non-IATA agencies .

The appliance for TIDS also requires a set of documents and a series of steps.

• Prepare a government-issued license for travel agents (where relevant) or a copy of business registration.
• Provide evidence of a bank account in the name of the company.
• Present National Travel Agent Association proof of membership if you already have it.
• If you’re not a member of the National Travel Agent Association , submit one of the following recommendation records:
• a letter of recommendation from an IATA Airline or Global Distribution System (GDS) or
• two letters of recommendation from travel and tourism industry suppliers such as hotel chains, car rental companies, or other entertainment industry representatives.

The letters should be provided on the recommending party’s letterhead. If needed, refer to a recommendation letter sample . To check on whether you have all that is required, you can consult with application requirements.

5. Register at the customer support portal. Use the registration page to submit personal contact information and set up a password.

6. Submit the TIDS application form and wait. Complete the TIDS Application form and submit it with documents via the customer portal, including the letters of recommendation, following the instructions in the form. Since the TIDS is free of charge after September 2020, you don’t pay any fee and just have to wait for your TIDS Code.

You can also check the TIDS FAQ page for more details on the application process.

IATAN – full package for US-based travel businesses only

IATAN stands for International Airlines Travel Agent Network. Basically, it’s identical to what IATA provides, but it’s used for US-based travel businesses only. It enables any travel business or representative to issue flight tickets. The difference is only about the US-based location of the travel business and a predefined set of documents. IATAN works for any US travel business with over 2 years of experience.

To apply for an IATAN number, check the following documents and procedures:

• Provide ARC (Airline Reporting Corporation) Approval. In the USA, all payment transactions from ticketing are processed via ARC (check how to get the ARC accreditation here). Basically, its function is similar to IATA’s BSP.
• Provide proof of a Current Business License. It should show the legal name of the entity and say that the business is “active” or “in good standing” with the state, county, or city.
• Submit proof of Ownership and Legal Form of Business Corporation. Please note that different forms of ownership require different business licenses and agreements. For more detailed information, you may check the accreditation package (it’s a direct downloadable link).
• Include proof of Seller of Travel Registration for states of California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, and Washington.
• Provide Proof of two years of experience for QMP/QTA (Managerial Qualifier and Ticketing Qualifier). Here, the documented evidence of your travel activity experience is required. These may include letters of recommendation from your previous employers or partners, travel industry suppliers, or certifications indicating you are a travel industry expert.

To check out a complete list of valid documents and certifications, please refer to the IATAN requirements webpage or the Requirement Section of the Accreditation Kit.

6. Download the Application Kit. Visit the IATAN Accreditation Page and download a package of documents that you are required to fill in and submit.

7. Submit the documents. Once you’ve filled in and notarized all the documents and added them to business activities proofs, submit all of them directly to IATAN submission email.

8. Pay registration fees online and wait. Once all application documents are received and processed by IATAN, you will get instructions on registration fees by email. IATAN accreditation costs $247 for a head office or branch and $410 for a corporate travel department. Annual service fees are $103 and $184 respectively. The average period of application consideration is 30 days.

IATAN Non-ticketing accreditation

IATAN non-ticketing is the most suitable option for any US-based travel agency including home-based, storefront, meeting-planner entity, or corporate travel department. It requires over two years of experience in the industry. Basically, the opportunities are similar to what TIDS provides, meaning that you won’t be able to issue tickets on behalf of an airline but will still get access to their inventory.

To get an IATAN non-ticketing accreditation, the travel business must prepare the following documents.

• Show your financial benchmarks. Here the document kit varies by the type and size of business: for home-based and new business, for travel business or meeting planner entities, and for corporate travel departments. These may include a financial statement or expense report of the business, the previous year’s income tax return (for long-term businesses), sales reports from travel industry suppliers, or letters from travel industry suppliers indicating the volume of sales.

The most complete information is available in the same Application Kit in the corresponding Non-ticketing section.

2. Submit proof of Errors and Omissions or Professional Liability Insurance. Include a copy of a valid insurance policy or errors and omissions waiver with proof of two years’ experience for the owner or the legal representative.

Once you are ready, follow the steps mentioned in the IATAN full accreditation section that we described above. For more information, you can rely on the Accreditation Kit or IATAN FAQ section .

IATA accreditation challenges to watch out for

Like with many other industry regulations, IATA has its own drawbacks to be aware of.

Time- and resource-consuming

Applying, collecting documents, and waiting for approval usually takes months. And it requires a lot of paperwork. In addition to completing the application kit, a travel agency or an individual agent usually has to gather business licenses, insurance records, tax forms, bank statements, and even photos of the location. Beyond that, a travel agent or owner has to check their annual and monthly revenues to meet IATA financial standards. And then you have to be bonded for a minimum of $50,000 (for 2-years or less activity) or an amount of money calculated to cover the Amount at Risk as noted in the TAH. There are extra obstacles to get accredited by IATA.

Requires annual reviews

Even after an agent or an agency is accredited, IATA verification doesn’t stop. The thing is, IATA conducts interim annual financial reviews. This means that all agents must submit their audited accounts no later than 4 months after each financial year-end, or as required by legislation, during the first two years of accreditation to be evaluated according to financial criteria. By the way, IATA also elaborated on local evaluation criteria for each country. All agents must present a financial security document during the first two years as an agent. It must meet Section 4 of Resolution 800f. If IATA notices financial instability during the financial evaluation, it initiates a trial period to prove financial and business viability.

No guarantee for sales boost

All that said and done, being IATA-accredited doesn’t ensure skyrocketing sales and revenue growth. Although it gives you the freedom to play around with your margin, the revenues don’t directly depend on your accreditation. Unfortunately, all the financial requirements and application-related costs may exceed your revenues.

If not IATA Accreditation, then what?

As you see, accreditation by IATA is very time- and effort-consuming with many pitfalls.

The fact is that not each and every travel business has the resources to submit to the accreditation process. So, how can you avoid this procedure but still sell flights? There are several ways.

Connect to a consolidator

Consolidators are third-party technology providers that have you covered. Providing services by individual negotiation, fixed price, or through an affiliate program, such solutions offer technical integrations on a turnkey basis. In addition to IATA accreditation, these usually include services such as connections to three main GDSs , travel APIs , separate integration of rail APIs , and many more.

This option usually suits those agencies that have sufficient funds but lack the time and interest to dive deep into accreditation details.

Choose a hosting agency

A hosting agency is a thriving travel business with stable revenues and ongoing customer flow. Usually, these are mature operators with worldwide coverage.

Due to their well-established and long-term presence on the market, big travel agencies have already obtained all required travel agency accreditation , including IATA, ARC (for the USA), and CLIA (for cruises). And smaller agencies can use the host agency accreditation number.

When sharing the IATA number, both sides usually sign a contract on mutually agreed terms. Splitting the commission from ticket sales is the most common practice.

This opportunity is most reasonable for small travel agencies or self-employed agents who have only started their path and lack the capacity, experience, and resources to take on the full accreditation procedure.

Consider other niches

Sometimes chasing big volumes of travel sales with flight tickets is not feasible. If a travel business is not yet well-established, or the market is saturated with offers like yours, think of moving to specific segments.

For instance, you may sell only tours to specific destinations. Or sell trips without issuing airline tickets. Here, a business owner has to examine their market, find a particular niche, and thoroughly plan further marketing activities . Thoughtfully planned execution should provide revenue from different distribution channels.

Tourism Remaining relevant to travel agents

Modern Airline Retailing is an active and important initiative for airlines around the world. But though control of the Offer and Order environment is an essential component in a fiercely competitive industry, IATA is aware that not all airlines have the same set of requirements and distribution strategies.

“This is why the Agency Program is still so important,” says Muhammad Albakri, IATA’s SVP for Financial Settlement and Distribution Services. “IATA accredited agents are trusted distribution partners, and our Agency Program allows airlines and agents to come together to solve challenges and ensure this vital channel remains strong.”

Moreover, the Agency Program fits perfectly with the overall objective of giving customers greater choice. The travel agent is still a vital part of the offer to the customer and has become a hub for consolidating the travel experience. Travel agents are also playing an important role in Modern Airline Retailing as IATA continues to see an increase in NDC transactions in the BSP.     “Really, they are travel consultancies now,” says Albakri. “They provide an end-to-end service and are now much more than ticket providers.”

In 2023, the travel and tourism sector contributed 9.1% to global GDP and created 27 million new jobs, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Airlines are critical to making that happen. And so are travel agents.

In fact, travel agents are still the industry’s strongest distribution channel. The aim, therefore, is to ensure these agents are robust, reliable partners and the process of engagement—whether it is payment or fulfilling passenger requests—is as seamless and cost-effective as possible.

Keeping the program relevant

The most important step was the development of New Generation IATA Settlement Systems (NewGen ISS) approximately five years ago. This introduced different levels of accreditation:

• Go Global is for large multinational agents and simplifies BSP participation by having a single agreement and a consolidated financial security and Remittance Holding Capacity.
• Go Standard agents are allowed to sell in cash and other forms of payment.
• Go Lite agents benefit from not having to furnish financial securities to participate in BSP and are allowed to sell with IATA EasyPay and Credit Cards.

Airlines in turn gained from enhanced risk management and other tools that made the distribution of tickets through travel agents even safer.

“It is not one-size-fits-all anymore,” says Albakri. “Agents can join at an appropriate level of accreditation for their business but still gain from the trust and reach that being accredited brings.”

Supporting the recovery of the industry

After COVID, IATA focused on revamping the accreditation process and streamlining the requirements. The Go Standard agents do not have to go through a financial assessment for the first two years of operation, for example. All told, the changes have resulted in a 50% reduction in accreditation times and a customer satisfaction of 90%.

“We did all this without compromising the risk management criteria,” says Albakri. “In fact, we have enhanced it by adding different compliance reviews, such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), as a requirement for agencies selling in credit cards, and more robust real-time monitoring of agency sales. But we can improve further both on continuing to strengthen the risk environment and on improving IATA’s service to travel agents by reducing our processing times.”

The improvements in the accreditation process together with the resilience shown by the Agency Program during the pandemic has led to strong demand and growth in accreditation numbers.

“We have also been more present in events and different meetings where travel agents approached us to know more about the benefits of the program and the requirements to become IATA accredited,” says Albakri. “In addition, IATA has historically entered into promotional agreements with different parties to increase the number of Participants and we are fully committed to continuing with this best practice.”

As a result, the number of travel agent codes in the BSP has increased from 54,341 in 2022 to 58,923 codes in April 2024.

For Albakri, this proves that as long as there continues to be a commercial relationship between airlines and travel agents, the program will continue to be extremely valuable. “Agents will be even more relevant in the future than they were in the past,” he believes. “The Agency program is at the heart of industry resilience because it is a strong, trusted system for distributing and selling tickets and collecting monies. There is also a very low cost of transaction and IATA will continue to improve the service we provide.”

Credit | dragana991_iStock-1207753513  

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Should I Use a Travel Agent? Our Travel Expert Says It Makes All the Difference.

The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path adventures, and get you out of any jam. Especially if you know who to use.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me?

Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could?

A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many travel specialists, and I consider them magicians. My big aha moment happened two winters ago on a trip to Iceland . A massive storm shut down internal flights for a day, causing me to miss my return flight to the U.S. Normally, I would have spent frustrating hours on hold with the airline. But because I’d paid $65 to have Ana Gloria Garcia, an air-support specialist at the travel agency EmbarkBeyond, find and book the most affordable and convenient flight option for me, she handled the rebookings while I soaked in the Blue Lagoon.

During the pandemic, agents became advocates helping travelers get refunds on canceled flights and trips. As travel has come roaring back, an agent’s superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president of sales and partnerships for Virtuoso , a global network of travel agencies.

And they’re attracting a young clientele. According to a recent industry survey , 38 percent of millennials and Gen Zers are opting to use travel agents as opposed to booking on their own trips. That number is far greater than Gen Xers and baby boomers, of whom only 12 and 2 percent respectively use agents.

What Do I Gain from Using a Travel Agent?

I recently had a friend tell me she spent close to 40 hours researching a family trip online. She probably could have gleaned the same intel from an hourlong conversation with a travel adviser. Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks for things you might not have considered, says Erika Richter, a spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Their firsthand knowledge, vast network, and on-the-ground connections all combine to provide a unique perspective for crafting the perfect itinerary for you.

Most travel advisers specialize in certain regions and countries and travel to them frequently, so they have up-to-date intel on not only the best safari camps but the perfect tent to book for the most incredible views and the best local restaurants you won’t find on Tripadvisor. They want their client’s trips to go well to keep them coming back, so it’s in their interest to have sussed out hotels and itineraries before they send you out into the world.

Nicole Forster, 29, considers herself a savvy traveler. She’s been to 20-plus countries and enjoys destination research. But when it came to planning her honeymoon in Africa, she felt overwhelmed, so she reached out to Danielle Meyer at Coastline Travel Advisors , which specializes in bespoke itineraries. “Originally, I wanted to go to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Madagascar,” Forster recalls. “Danielle convinced me that if we wanted to relax, we should stay in South Africa and save the other countries for separate trips.”

Over five phone conversations and multiple emails, they crafted a 15-night itinerary that included Cape Town, the winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and a safari at the Thornybush Game Reserve. Forster established her budget early in the process, and Meyer sent her a variety of lodge options to choose from.

“I initially wanted to start with the safari, but she pointed out that we’d be jet-lagged and would need to wake at sunrise for game drives,” says Forster. “The safari was our highlight, so it was a perfect way to end the trip.”

Not only did Meyer book all of the flights, hotels, and transfers, but she created a detailed, day-by-day trip app for the couple that included useful information like check-in times at hotels and how much to tip guides .

Agents also act as advocates. If something goes wrong during your travels, they’re on call 24/7 to handle it. When Forster left the battery and charger for her camera at a hotel, Meyer arranged for an on-the-ground contact to go to a camera store and buy new ones that would be delivered to her hotel the next day.

The cost for the honeymoon planning: $150 per person. “I wouldn’t use a planner for a trip to Hawaii ,” Forster says, “but if I ever took a big trip like this again, I’d 100 percent work with an expert.”  

When to Consider Using a Travel Agent

For savvy trip planners, the best time to use a travel agent is for complicated international travel. It can save you hours of planning and peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in your chosen far-flung destination, there’s someone a What’sApp message away to handle it.

Domestically, I’d consider using a travel agent when planning a multi-week national park trip or multi-island trip in Hawaii. They will save you time, guarantee you get the best guides, and help you land reservations at always-booked lodges and hotels.

Dream Trips Delivered

Jessica Cook and her husband both work in the travel industry. Decision fatigued, they handed their honeymoon logistics over to the team at Askari Travel , an agency that specializes in South Africa. Their original plan was also an African safari, but just as they were about to put a deposit down, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus made headlines. Worried about getting stuck abroad, they reached out to Askari’s founder, Muriel Truter, who is from Zimbabwe, and upon her advice, changed their focus to South America.

Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks of things you might not even have considered.

Truter suggested they stick to Colombia rather than country-hop. Cook supplied a budget and a wish list: 12 days, no more than three destinations, a barefoot-luxe feel, and adventures like horseback riding and mountain biking. The rest was a surprise that Askari pretty much nailed, with the exception of one hotel.

“Everything felt so authentic, but this one hotel on Barú island felt really fabricated and was full of American tourists,” recalls Cook. She immediately messaged the Askari team, saying, “Hey, this place really isn’t our vibe,” and within an hour they were on a water taxi headed to Blue Apple, a B Corp hotel—and an Outside pick for tropical adventures —on Tierra Bomba island. “It was honestly the best trip we’ve ever taken,” she says.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

It depends. Cost varies. Some travel agencies won’t charge any fee, as they receive a commission from the bookings, while some high-end agencies will charge pricey annual membership fees for their services. Still others charge nominal “professional” fees starting at $150. Fees often fluctuate based on the length and intricacy of a trip and how far out you do the planning (6 to 12 months is recommended). You may occasionally come across agents who charge a percentage of the total trip price or hourly rates.

Basic travel enquiries are generally free. In 2016, Leah Smith, founder of Tafari Travel , opened an old-school brick-and-mortar location in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood so her services would feel less intimidating to first-time users. “With our retail-office location, we’ve become part of the community, and both clients and non-clients are welcome to pop in and ask whatever questions they may have, no charge,” she says.

Matt Lindsay, founder of the surf-guiding and travel company LuxSurf Travel , builds relationships with resorts and property owners to get discounted rates that he can then pass on to guests.

Dominic Allan, the founder of Real Latin America , specializes in travel to Belize and Nicaragua and caters to independent travelers who are happy to book their own flights and hotels but are seeking his local intel. Allan’s three-tier pricing structure starts at $300 for up to three hours of phone calls, during which he might weigh in on where to eat (or not to), the best room to request in a certain lodge, or whether you really need a guide to hike.

Value Versus Savings

If you’re just looking for deals and steals, you might not be ready to work with a travel adviser, says Richter of the ASTA. “Anything you invest in with a travel adviser comes back to you in the form of amenities, customer service, peace of mind, better access to unique experiences, and handcrafted itineraries,” she says. “You could save money by cutting your own hair, too, but most people go to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Agents work with preferred partners who can guarantee perks for clients, such as free upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and resort credits. Those add-ons often translate into savings, says Justin Huxter, cofounder of the UK-based Cartology Travel . “We had a client go to Maui for a week, and because of our partnership with the resort, breakfast was included,” he says. When breakfast costs $120 for two, that’s a savings of $840.”

Some of the Best Travel Agents in the Adventure World

Some of my go-to resources for finding a person to work with include travel expert Wendy Perrin’s annual Wow List of tried and trusted agents, the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s adviser network , and the ASTA’s advisor directory .

In addition to the agents mentioned throughout this story, others I highly recommend for adventurous travelers include:

• Dan Achber of Trufflepig , for Africa and the Middle East
• Miguel Cunant of Sri Lanka in Style
• Javier Echecopar of Journey Costa Rica
• Daniel Fraser of Smiling Albino , for Southeast Asia
• Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys , for Africa
• Kleon Howe of the Art of Travel , for French Polynesia
• Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel , for Hawaii and California
• Antonello Losito of Southern Visions Travel , for Puglia, Italy
• Rabia Malik of Fora Travel , for general worldwide travel
• Robyn Mark of Mayamaya Travel , for Africa, the Alps, Patagonia, and Japan
• Marisol Mosquera of Aracari , for Peru and Bolivia
• Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico
• Raluca Spiac of Beyond Dracula , for Romania

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy is now a believer in using a travel agent. Thanks to their expertise and connections, she’s avoided dozens of trip catastrophes. 

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Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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Gagarin Cup Preview: Atlant vs. Salavat Yulaev

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Gagarin cup (khl) finals:  atlant moscow oblast vs. salavat yulaev ufa.

Much like the Elitserien Finals, we have a bit of an offense vs. defense match-up in this league Final.  While Ufa let their star top line of Alexander Radulov, Patrick Thoresen and Igor Grigorenko loose on the KHL's Western Conference, Mytischi played a more conservative style, relying on veterans such as former NHLers Jan Bulis, Oleg Petrov, and Jaroslav Obsut.  Just reaching the Finals is a testament to Atlant's disciplined style of play, as they had to knock off much more high profile teams from Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg to do so.  But while they did finish 8th in the league in points, they haven't seen the likes of Ufa, who finished 2nd. 

This series will be a challenge for the underdog, because unlike some of the other KHL teams, Ufa's top players are generally younger and in their prime.  Only Proshkin amongst regular blueliners is over 30, with the work being shared by Kirill Koltsov (28), Andrei Kuteikin (26), Miroslav Blatak (28), Maxim Kondratiev (28) and Dmitri Kalinin (30).  Oleg Tverdovsky hasn't played a lot in the playoffs to date.  Up front, while led by a fairly young top line (24-27), Ufa does have a lot of veterans in support roles:  Vyacheslav Kozlov , Viktor Kozlov , Vladimir Antipov, Sergei Zinovyev and Petr Schastlivy are all over 30.  In fact, the names of all their forwards are familiar to international and NHL fans:  Robert Nilsson , Alexander Svitov, Oleg Saprykin and Jakub Klepis round out the group, all former NHL players.

For Atlant, their veteran roster, with only one of their top six D under the age of 30 (and no top forwards under 30, either), this might be their one shot at a championship.  The team has never won either a Russian Superleague title or the Gagarin Cup, and for players like former NHLer Oleg Petrov, this is probably the last shot at the KHL's top prize.  The team got three extra days rest by winning their Conference Final in six games, and they probably needed to use it.  Atlant does have younger regulars on their roster, but they generally only play a few shifts per game, if that. 

The low event style of game for Atlant probably suits them well, but I don't know how they can manage to keep up against Ufa's speed, skill, and depth.  There is no advantage to be seen in goal, with Erik Ersberg and Konstantin Barulin posting almost identical numbers, and even in terms of recent playoff experience Ufa has them beat.  Luckily for Atlant, Ufa isn't that far away from the Moscow region, so travel shouldn't play a major role. 

I'm predicting that Ufa, winners of the last Superleague title back in 2008, will become the second team to win the Gagarin Cup, and will prevail in five games.  They have a seriously well built team that would honestly compete in the NHL.  They represent the potential of the league, while Atlant represents closer to the reality, as a team full of players who played themselves out of the NHL. 

• Atlant @ Ufa, Friday Apr 8 (3:00 PM CET/10:00 PM EST)
• Atlant @ Ufa, Sunday Apr 10 (1:00 PM CET/8:00 AM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Tuesday Apr 12 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)
• Ufa @ Atlant, Thursday Apr 14 (5:30 PM CET/12:30 PM EST)

Games 5-7 are as yet unscheduled, but every second day is the KHL standard, so expect Game 5 to be on Saturday, like an early start. 

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