travel counsellors homeworkers

Awards Season
Big Stories
Pop Culture
Video Games
Celebrities

How Much Is Travel Insurance?

Going on a dream vacation sounds like paradise, but sometimes, life happens and your plans just don’t work out. Purchasing travel insurance can give you some peace of mind and guard against the unexpected. Travel insurance plans work differently than other forms of insurance . They also have distinct, and often confusing, pricing models. Let’s clear the air about travel insurance policies before you take to the air.

What Does Travel Insurance Really Cover?

Travel insurance coverage varies from one carrier to the next. The most popular type of insurance that travelers purchase in North America is Cancellation & Interruption protection. This covers the non-refundable costs of your trip if you can’t travel due to unforeseen circumstances such as an illness or financial issues of your travel carrier. This plan also covers you if you (and your family, if applicable) would happen to fall ill during your trip and have to return home. You can purchase insurance to cover other aspects of your trip as well, such as protecting against potential flight issues and lost or damaged baggage.

What is the Average Cost for Travel Insurance?

The peace of mind afforded to travelers does come at a cost. The price is dependent on which insurance provider you choose for coverage and how much coverage you desire. If you choose a comprehensive policy, you will generally spend between four and eight percent of the total trip price. This means if your dream getaway costs $8,000, you can expect to pay between $320 and $640 to insure it.

Is Travel Insurance Worth Getting?

Many consumers are unaware that they may already have some hidden insurance benefits. Many credit cards offer coverage for lost luggage. Some even have insurance benefits for trip cancellation (up to a pre-determined limit). Check with your credit card issuer to see what benefits they have for travelers . Also, be sure to know what your health insurance already covers. If it provides you with benefits when traveling out of the country, there would be no need to double up and spend the money on additional coverage through a travel insurance policy.

Why Should You Purchase Travel Insurance?

Having peace of mind while traveling is worth the price for many commuters. Protecting your financial investment in your trip and that warding against unforeseen events are just a couple of the reasons why travelers choose to insure their trips. When the unexpected occurs, it’s better to be prepared with trip insurance.

How Can You Get Travel Insurance?

The best way to get the insurance you desire is to shop around. You may be offered insurance automatically when you book your flight online. Some companies, like Expedia, that offer vacation bundles, will also insure parts of your vacation or the whole package . This may not be the most cost-effective option for you, and it’s always wise to stop by or call a travel agent and see what he or she is able to offer you. There are also plenty of websites that offer free price quotes from several different insurers, all based on your customized needs.

If you can’t bear the thought of your best laid plans falling apart, you can always fly by the seat of your pants with some last minute travel .

Join our network of over 1,800 Travel Experts

We are the world's most loved travel company, with more than 1,800 Travel Counsellors globally

Speak to our recruitment team today

0808 231 2879

If you'd like to sell travel with the world’s best-loved travel company, here’s what we can offer you:

Be in control of when and how you work

Have more time for family and more time to yourself.

Potential to earn upwards of 100K per year

Your earning potential is uncapped

Be your own boss

Give yourself the work/life balance you deserve.

Join our network of over 1,500 Travel Counsellors

And get access to our 24 hour support team.

Joining Travel Counsellors can be a challenging and rewarding life changing decision.

GAYNOR BURGESS

Leisure Travel Counsellor

My real enjoyment, selling holidays, was a thing of the past and after 20 years, I’d reached a major crossroads in my career. I then joined Travel Counsellors, and I’ve got to say, it’s simply changed my life.

DONNA WADDINGTON

Business Travel Counsellor

Corporate clients don’t want to be dealing with a call center. They do want the exceptional service, and incredible back up that Travel Counsellors delivers. That’s why I’m the happiest I’ve been in my career.

Travel Academy Graduate

I didn’t believe I could change my career in my late 40s. Then I spoke to a Travel Counsellors Academy graduate, and I was sold. The trainers’ enthusiasm and knowledge is second to none.

Whether you’re new to the travel industry, a seasoned professional or looking for a way back in, we’ve got just the opportunity for you…

Call 0808 231 2879 to tell us a little about your experience

Download your free brochure.

A book written by our Travel Counsellors and head office staff. An insight into what makes our travel company so special.

Recruitment | Travel Homeworking | Travel Counsellors

The Best Homeworking Agency

Travel Counsellors

With more than 1,900 franchisees in six countries launching businesses with us since 1994, Travel Counsellors is the largest and longest-running travel franchise in the UK.

We can’t claim to have invented the ‘WFH’ model, but with our business built around the remote worker since day one, we’re proud to have pioneered the travel homeworking revolution.

Travel Counsellors are empowered to run their businesses in a way that suits them and their clients. Whether that’s working as a team with fellow TCs or employing staff, offering corporate and leisure services or pursuing their passions for a niche area, when we say ‘your business, your way’, we really mean it. And we offer complete flexibility so you can achieve that work-life balance you’ve always dreamed of.

When it comes to earnings, the potential is limitless. Our top 20 TCs have each taken home a whopping £397,000 on average in the last year. One-fifth of TCs have had their best-ever year in 2022 and the average TC earns well above the industry standard. Working on commission-only, your earnings are in your hands, but we’ll help you get to where you want to be.

The tools you need

Our in-house booking platform Phenix is the secret to Travel Counsellors’ success, pulling together every component needed to tailor-make a booking. The best bit is that Phenix enables you to act as a tour operator, meaning you retain full control of the booking, the customer experience and the selling price.

And don’t worry about going it alone, as the TC culture is one of camaraderie. Franchisees are always willing to help each other, some as part of our formalised TC mentor scheme, but always with a quick response via our TC World platform. We come together through regular face-to-face and virtual events, and our Manchester-based team supports franchisees and customers all day every day.

We’re proud to be consistently rated five stars on Trustpilot by our customers. As we emerge from the pandemic, we recognise the demand for a trusted travel expert has never been higher, meaning there has never been a better time to become a Travel Counsellor.

Jacobs Media Group is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more .

About Cookies on Travel Weekly

This website makes use of Cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide you with additional functionality. Learn more

Travel Counsellors

Company Overview

Travel Counsellors Reviews

Updated Feb 16, 2023

Found 87 of over 102 reviews

What are your colleagues talking about?

Top review highlights by sentiment.

Good place to start but do not stay longer then you have to

Salary... they do not pay well what so ever... please avoid this place

Recruitment Consultant

Great Team, lovely to work for.

I can't think of any.

Travel Counsellors Response

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts about TC ; I am pleased you enjoyed being part of our team. Warm regards, Victoria (Chief People Officer)

Caring for me.....not my waistline

I have worked for Travel Counsellors for a while now and it keeps blowing me away. The latest is free hot food every Wednesday throughout January. It is small gestures like this that remind you that the company has your back.

Healthy options are available but it is proving a challenge to the waistline...

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. It is great that you have a sense of belonging and are enjoying your time at TC. As part of our Colleague Promise we want to create an inclusive and caring community; one where we all feel happy and fulfilled. Remember there is always fresh fruit available :) Thanks again, Victoria (Chief People Officer)

Can be excellent

Great to pick own hours Sell what you want Great colleagues

Can be a “if your face fits” kind of place Stressful at times Lack of support at times

Thank you for your review. We note that you are a self-employed owner of a Travel Counsellor franchise. Our aim at Travel Counsellors is to support entrepreneurs to change their lives for the better within a supportive and caring Community of Travel professionals. Thank you for adding your expertise and camaraderie during your time as a TC. We invite and welcome feedback throughout the TC journey, allowing us to galvanise around further and continuous improvement whilst caring more than anyone else for colleagues, Travel Counsellors and customers alike. Please stay connected to the TC Community, and know your contribution is recognised and appreciated. Keep on enjoying the wonderful world of Travel… Jim (Global Sales Director)

Like no other

A culture that really lives is values

Fast pace and multiple priorities may not be for everyone

Thanks for taking a minute to share your thoughts on TC. It is really appreciated. We truly believe our culture and community is the 'secret sauce' of our business and us all living our values is integral to this. We are a fast paced, entrepreneurial business and we working hard to build the platforms that enable us all to work in an agile and collaborative way; helping us all to play a part in TC's continued growth. Thanks again, Victoria (Chief People Officer)

Poor senior management

Finally allowing working from home

Wouldn't like to say as statements would be problematic

Thank you for taking the time to leave your thoughts about your time with us. I am sorry that there were aspects of working at TC that you did not enjoy. I would welcome the opportunity to chat this through with you. You can reach me at [email protected] Thanks again, Victoria (Chief People Officer)

Great Culture

Worked at Travel Counsellors for 10 years. Had the opportunity to grow my career. A supportive work culture where I made life long friends both in Australia and globally.

Turn over of senior management in the Australian business

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about your time with us at Travel Counsellors. When people are with us, we want to provide a strong and supportive platform for them to build and shape their careers. We are proud that we can help people grow and excel, and when it is time to leave, our hope is that they go with long term advocacy and commitment to our Travel Counsellor brand. Victoria Wilson, Chief People Officer

Great Company

Great company to work for! If you work hard you will do very well.

Would be nice to interact with other staff more

Thank you for your review. We note that you are a self-employed owner of a Travel Counsellor franchise. We are delighted to be able to give all our community a truly personal experience at Travel Counsellors. We are always on the look-out for new talent, and new ways to support your journey with us. It’s great validation to hear that, in your first year, you recognise that there are plenty of opportunities to achieve your personal best! Our main annual conference is about to kick-off on 11-13 November 2022 in ACC Liverpool, where over 1,500 members of the TC Community will congregate, to celebrate & get motivated by a mix of internal and external speakers, celebrities, our franchisees (TCs) and colleagues. We hope to see you there too… Jim Eastwood - Global Sales Director

Outstanding Company to work for

Award winning company 3 x Queens Award Winner of 2022 Best Homeworking Company (TTG Award)

No cons to report here

Thank you for sharing your thoughts on life here at Travel Counsellors. We work hard to build an inclusive and caring culture for all our community. We are proud to be officially recognised as the Best place to work in Travel at the 2022 Travel Industry Awards by TTG. I am pleased that you feel we are an outstanding company to work for and thanks to you for helping us to grow our business and make it a success! Victoria, Chief People Officer

15 years and still going strong

The usual - working from home, own boss, limited supervision, freedom to make own decisions, freedom to set work priorities, great WhatsApp community, the support from the Duty Office.

Sometimes the technology is frustrating. After having to lose people to survive during the pandemic, some did not return and the new staff do not always understand that 'with us, it really is personal' and that we, the Travel Counsellors are their clients. Without us, they would not have jobs.

Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback. We note that you are a self-employed owner of a Travel Counsellor franchise. Firstly, a huge congratulations on your 15 years with the company - it’s great to hear that you are enjoying the support, freedom and flexibility that comes with being part of our special community. The issues you have raised are also really important to us, as we are passionate about ensuring our people feel engaged and supported, and we are always striving for continuous improvement in all we do. As such, we’d like to understand more about your personal experience so we can ensure you feel fully supported as you continue to grow your business as a valued member of the community. Please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected] Jim Eastwood - Global Sales Director

Travel Counsellors Reviews FAQs

Travel Counsellors has an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5, based on over 102 reviews left anonymously by employees. 85% of employees would recommend working at Travel Counsellors to a friend and 73% have a positive outlook for the business. This rating has improved by 5% over the last 12 months.

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Travel Counsellors employees rate their compensation and benefits as 4.2 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Travel Counsellors. This rating has improved by 20% over the last 12 months.

85% of Travel Counsellors employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Travel Counsellors 4.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 4.4 for culture and values and 3.8 for career opportunities.

According to reviews on Glassdoor , employees commonly mention the pros of working at Travel Counsellors to be career development , benefits , culture and the cons to be senior leadership , compensation , management .

Popular Careers with Travel Counsellors Job Seekers

Work at travel counsellors share your experiences.

Reviews by Job Title

Travel Counsellors Photos

Travel Counsellors photo of: Our Manchester Support Office

Expert Career Advice

Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career

Getting a Job Is Tough; This Guide Makes it Easier

Climb the Ladder With These Proven Promotion Tips

A Guide to Negotiating the Salary You Deserve

Write a Resume Recruiters Can't Resist

Travel Counsellors Job Seekers Also Viewed

Glassdoor has 102 Travel Counsellors reviews submitted anonymously by Travel Counsellors employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Travel Counsellors is right for you.

New to TTG?

Access to award-winning news and analysis, daily news straight to your inbox, business building advice and events to help you sell more, smarter, better, fairer travel

Could you be a Celebrity Cruises Champion?

Win a place on a fam trip with Celestyal Cruises

Win a bottle of New Riff bourbon courtesy of the Cincy Region

Text For Champagne! With Virgin Voyages

Ttg+ events, ttg tracker talk - 9 march, ttg agenda 2023: spring breakfast, ttg tracker talk - 6 april, upcoming events, ttg aussie fest, ttg luxury travel awards 2023, the travel industry awards 2023 by ttg, ttg top 50 travel agencies 2023.

TTG Luxury Travel Awards 2023 winners

Join the ttg whatsapp community.

Get the top travel trade news to your mobile

Apply or recruit for travel jobs

TTG+ Annual members get 5 free job ads monthly

Apply or recruit for travel Jobs

Hi there reader ttg news is free to access if you are registered please click here to log in ., secrets of the top-performing travel counsellors.

Success as a travel agent can be measured by customer feedback, referrals and turnover. This group of homeworkers has all three down to a fine art and here they tell us how

Personal service by word-of-mouth recommendations is typical of Travel Counsellors’ ethos, but some of its agents particularly excel. The homeworking company’s recent conference recognised the best of the best across various key performance indicators and softer skills, as well as financial success. Here, these award winners share their secrets.

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

Michelle Wilson won a sports car at last November’s conference for being the leisure agent with the top customer satisfaction score. Besides routinely checking clients in for flights online, Wilson helped them over the pandemic by ordering PCR tests and completing arrival forms.

Recently she went above and beyond by spending 10 hours on a multi-part rebooking for customers stranded by snow and by driving a client from Cambridge to Heathrow to ease them into a special family Christmas in New Zealand.

She believes most TCs give similarly high levels of service, but adds: “I’m very, very lucky they all fill in their questionnaires. I do make sure I say they’re going to get one.”

Managing expectations is important, Wilson advises. “I try to always speak to new customers so they understand how we work; we’re not necessarily always the cheapest, I’ll do the best price I can, but they’ll be really looked after.”

She adds: “If somewhere is not nice, I’ll say so, even if I’ll earn less from a different hotel.” Client feedback from her post-holiday follow-up calls proves invaluable for informing such recommendations.

Many new clients discover Wilson through their friends’ responses to her Facebook posts. “Make sure you’re posting on your Facebook page every day… more people will see the comments satisfied customers have written,” she advises.

Naturally, she posted her car win, with a big “thank you” to those who rated her so highly. She says: “When you get recognised like that, you want to do better, and I think that’s something Travel Counsellors are very good at. I’m not one of their huge top sellers, so it’s nice to have an award for something else, though my sales are good, I’ve done £1.7 million this year.”

MOST RECOMMENDED

Cruise specialist Emma Otter calls it “such a compliment” to be named the Model TC, thanks in part to receiving the most referrals. Travel Counsellors can track where their referrals come from through the Phenix booking platform. It also notifies them about dormant clients and booking patterns.

Making notes in Phenix of anniversaries, grandchildren and niche interests has also helped Otter make the personal holiday recommendations that help her earn referrals. “Phenix is really clever, there’s such a lot of information and it’s improving all the time,” she says.

Many of Otter’s referrals happen organically. A couple delayed on a cruise when the pandemic began were put in touch by fellow passengers and became regular clients. Another newbie asked to join Otter’s mailing list following an in-flight conversation with one of her fans.

Travel Counsellors’ email signatures point out their business is based on referrals and Otter shares electronic business cards via WhatsApp. The homeworker also proactively asks for referrals, having got into the habit through attending BNI (Business Networking International) meetings. As she confirms bookings she typically asks: “Is there anyone else you think might need my help?”

Last year she sent miniature Christmas trees to those who gave her the most recommendations. Occasionally she’ll incentivise larger referrals with Travel Counsellors vouchers, and she discounted the cabin of a cruise blogger client who gave her 15 referred cabin sales. “She trusts that I will look after those customers and it reflects well on her,” Otter points out.

The TC now employs an admin assistant to help free her to “focus on the fluffy stuff”, like leaving ‘Happy cruise day!’ voicemail messages. She says: “As the volumes get bigger, I don’t want those nice touches to go. You don’t want people to say, ‘she was so good before she got so busy’.”

TURNOVER TRIUMPH

Among a personal hat-trick of awards, Chris D’Arcy was named Top Performing Global TC. The corporate agent had become a Gold TC just seven months after joining in 2018, but booked nothing for 16 months over the pandemic. He turned things around by teaming up with another top performer, Gary Fitzgibbon.

Fitzgibbon began by cooperating with Travel Counsellors’ business development managers who source work for the corporate side. He gained a sports marketing client in Surrey then, through referrals, similar clients in the Middle Eastern and later Florida, often handling golf events.

“I was working too many hours and I come from a background of working with small teams, so I approached D’Arcy to buddy up with me,” Fitzgibbon explains. “We got a lot of business off the back of establishing unusual hours, especially as guys out in Saudi like to WhatsApp you 24/7.”

The pair now have four other TCs regularly supporting them on a project basis and two others more occasionally.

Shared systems and no need for payroll or National Insurance are big advantages. The team liaises through WhatsApp and follows a guide to ensure consistency with email style, ticket presentation and response times.

D’Arcy says: “To the client, it makes us look bigger than we actually are. [Our US client] thought we were a huge team because we were always responsive.”

Fitzgibbon adds: “The scale of our business now is within the tens of millions of pounds turnover so it’s as big as most TMCs could handle, that’s why we’re now scaling further. I don’t think there’s any barrier for TCs to say, ‘we can handle your business,’ because we can scale quickly, we’ve got the tech to do it, there’s access to an online tool if you want it.”

D’Arcy concludes: “It’s been a phenomenal year for us. It’s nice also to get that recognition from head office.”

Recommended For You

Cruise app developer urges sector to target younger guests

How to help your colleagues – and clients – through the menopause

Hays chief urges IG members to cut out rounding discounts

Making clients feel special every time key to retention, agents told

Etihad Airways launches wellness programme for traveller safety, hygiene and confidence SPONSORED ARTICLE

TTG discovers Malaysia Airlines’ new hygiene protocols SPONSORED ARTICLE

Etihad Airways' journey towards zero emissions SPONSORED ARTICLE

7 top tips for luxury travel marketing SPONSORED ARTICLE

Competitions, our next events.

IMAGES

Travel Counsellors
Travel Counsellors
Travel Counsellors Reports Positive Start to Year with Record Sales
TTG
Travel Counsellors Reviews
Careers

COMMENTS

Why Is Homework Good?
Homework is good because it gives students a chance to practice and internalize information presented during classroom lessons. It also encourages parents to get involved in the student’s education.
What Is Business Tourism?
Business tourism is the use of travel services, hotel facilities and other amenities by people who are traveling on business. Business people travel and stay in hotels when attending conferences, meetings and training programs.
How Much Is Travel Insurance?
Going on a dream vacation sounds like paradise, but sometimes, life happens and your plans just don’t work out. Purchasing travel insurance can give you some peace of mind and guard against the unexpected. Travel insurance plans work differ...
Travel Counsellors: Recruitment
My real enjoyment, selling holidays, was a thing of the past and after 20 years, I'd reached a major crossroads in my career. I then joined Travel Counsellors
Career Opportunities
Our ethos is to be the world's most caring travel homeworking company; 1,900+ Travel Counsellors across six countries; Founded in 1994
The Best Homeworking Agency
Such wonderful news! I'm delighted to say that Travel Counsellors has won the award in the best homeworking agency category at the Travel
Homeworking Directory
Travel Counsellors With more than 1900 franchisees in six countries launching businesses with us since 1994, Travel Counsellors is the largest and
Travel Counsellors Reviews: What Is It Like to Work At ...
The usual - working from home, own boss, limited supervision, freedom to make own decisions, freedom to set work priorities, great WhatsApp
Travel Counsellors star in homeworking giant's peaks campaign
Homeworking brand Travel Counsellors is focusing on “real customer experiences” as part of its new peaks marketing campaign.
Secrets of the top-performing Travel Counsellors
Success as an agent can be measured by customer feedback, referrals and turnover – these homeworkers have all three down to a fine art.
Working at TRAVEL COUNSELLORS: Employee Reviews
There are considerable benefits to working at Travel Counsellors including Flexi Working or Working from home (although some consistency is required on this as
Michelle Wilson
After having my children I returned as a sales consultant and worked for them for over 26 years. This gave me a huge amount of experience in dealing with all
from Travel Counsellors
homeworking, so you really couldn't be in safer hands.
Wendy Linehan
I am delighted to announce that Travel Counsellors has won Best Homeworking Agency of the Year at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards 2018!