Why Work with a Trusted Travel Advisor? A Client Perspective

In an age of endless online travel options, sold-out destinations and shifting travel rules and requirements, smart travelers are rediscovering the value of having an expert in their corner. According to one 2025 consumer insights report, 44 percent of travelers say they’re more likely to use a travel advisor now than they were prior to the pandemic, and the percentage is even higher (76 percent) in the luxury and experiential travel space according to Virtuoso, a clear sign that when it comes to dream trips, milestone celebrations and bucket-list vacations, investing in destination knowledge and travel planning with a personal touch is indispensable.

“Great travel advisors don’t just plan trips, we elevate them,” says Ciao Bambino advisor Lynda Zuber. “We anticipate and solve problems before you feel them, unlock hotel perks you’d never secure on your own, and open minds and doors to one-of-a-kind experiences in destinations that transform average vacations into extraordinary moments for family and friends.”

When all goes well, a travel advisor might be a pre-departure memory, but it’s when things go awry that having a calm, capable and compassionate human on the other end of the phone makes the difference between getting everything back on track and a vacation going off the rails. Seasoned traveler Katie Gay from California has used various travel advisors, including Ciao Bambino, over the years to plan milestone trips and far-flung family adventures. And when a hotel booked for a recent trip turned out to be a disappointment, it underscored the importance of having a trusted advisor on her side.

She sat down with us to chat about the benefits, especially for milestone vacations.

Q&A: The Value of a Ciao Bambino Travel Advisor

Ciao Bambino: Where was your most recent trip?

Katie Gay: We went to Japan in October 2025.

CB: Can you share a specific moment when your travel advisor made a real difference in planning the trip, or saved it from going awry? 

KG: I have a friend who’d just started as a travel advisor (not with Ciao Bambino), and she booked three nights at a ryokan that looked OK from what she sent us, but we didn’t research that property to the extent we should have. Yikes! There was mold in our bathroom; the room didn’t look like the online photos; the food was inedible; the place was dated; and the sandals they gave us were peeling. The only good thing was the private outdoor onsen, which had a beautiful view, but we could only stay in it for 30 minutes. We left the next morning, and our travel advisor helped us get the hotel fees for our two remaining nights refunded. However, note to self: I probably would never have had this issue had we traveled with Ciao Bambino.

CB: Does having a travel advisor change how you feel during the trip? 

Definitely! It’s nice, especially for milestone trips, not to have to plan ourselves. Knowing we can show up and relax is a very nice perk. We have a few bucket-list trips in the coming years, and we hope Ciao Bambino can help us.

CB: What are some of your favorite trips Ciao Bambino has helped you plan?

KG: Ciao Bambino helped us plan a full itinerary to Costa Rica for a family trip, Italy for our 15th anniversary, Belize for our 20th anniversary, New Zealand for our 25th anniversary, and Greece for a family trip and friends’ trip. Everything was amazing, from the accommodations to the activities.

CB: What would you tell a friend who is on the fence about using a travel advisor? What advice would you give them?

We are well-traveled and capable of researching, planning and booking trips ourselves, but it’s important to know that it takes a lot of time and can be a bit stressful, especially if you are unfamiliar with the location. When we’ve used Ciao Bambino, the advisors have been knowledgeable and great to work with. I have recommended them to many of my friends.

Get Started

As Katie says, having a trusted travel expert in your corner ensures that your vacations live up to your dreams, whether you’re celebrating a milestone anniversary or checking off a bucket-list destination with teenagers. CB! advisors have visited all seven continents with kids and are well versed in every age and stage of family travel, from the baby and toddler years to trips with grandchildren. Reach out to be matched with an advisor who can share more about the planning process and help you make your next getaway a reality!

Relevant Links:

How Ciao Bambino’s family travel planning service works

Read rave reviews from CB! clients

The joy of shared connections: 2025 Ciao Bambino travel planning testimonials

One family, 20 trips: Priceless memories from two decades of vacation planning with Ciao Bambino

18 summer vacations to take before your kids grow up

Photos courtesy of Katie Gay. 

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.