Finding the cheapest flights, finding the best accommodation, booking excursions and activities... Preparing for a trip is a chore for some.
But others take so much pleasure in it that they organize stays for their loved ones, even exploiting the vein by becoming
a travel planner
.
This activity freely inspired by
wedding planners
(wedding organizers) is back in fashion with the end of travel restrictions linked to Covid-19.
The principle ?
Future travelers define their project via an online form (or by telephone), specifying their budget, dates, destinations or types of accommodation desired.
Then, the trip planner draws up a road book taking these criteria into account.
“
The idea is to save time by saving several hours or days of research.
I offer a detailed turnkey itinerary and the customer, in the end, only has to follow the instructions to make the reservations himself
", summarizes Élise Régnier, 33 years old Dunkirk who started some months.
On her Deviens Baroudeur website, this road trip enthusiast promises to organize everything from A to Z through packages ranging from €110 for a 3-day stay to €350 for a 10-day stay.
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The promise of a stay without hidden costs...
Hiking, well-being or eco-responsible stays... These individuals who operate under the status of autoentrepreneur specialize according to their affinities and the destinations they know best.
Charlotte Burgoyne was inspired by her "
double experience as a journalist and mother of 4 children
" to create in 2016 Little Voyageurs, a publishing house of city guides designed for families.
In 2022, this former war reporter, now based in the United States, is expanding her activity by creating tailor-made itineraries.
For between €200 and €350 depending on the length of the stay, she produces a complete travel diary of 50 to 100 carefully decorated pages within ten days, full of advice and kid friendly
addresses
.
But why go through independent travel creators rather than a tour operator?
“
I have no preferred partner, no hotel or activity to highlight over another.
I draw inspiration from my own experiences and addresses that I have tested myself
,” emphasizes Charlotte Burgoyne.
Others also highlight the savings made by their customers on their flight, hotel and activity bookings.
“
By going through travel agents, each intermediary takes a commission, which inflates the final score
,” summarize the
travel planners
we interviewed.
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We are witnessing the same conflict as between taxis and Uber.
Mr. and Mrs. Everyone cannot improvise themselves as tourism professionals.
Jean-Charles Franchomme, President of the Collective for the Defense of Travel Trades (CDMV)
... but without the guarantees of a travel agency
Suffice to say that these new players annoy most tourism professionals.
“
These individuals are not registered in the register of Atout France
[l’Agence de développement tourisme de la France, NDLR]
and therefore cannot claim to be ‘travel operators’.
They do not benefit either from a guarantee fund which ensures the protection of the sums committed by the customer, nor from professional civil liability insurance
", recalls Jean-Charles Franchomme, president of the Collective for the defense of travel trades (CDMV ).
In other words, in the event of a problem during a stay (cancelled flight, for example), the customer who has booked via a tour operator benefits from
“
We are witnessing the same conflict as between taxis and Uber or between hotels and Airbnb: many Mr. and Mrs. Everybody want to embark on an activity that is nevertheless rigorously supervised
, regrets Jean-Charles Franchomme.
Having traveled around the world or organized stays for loved ones does not make you a travel expert!
The client often pays hundreds of euros for a PDF document with no guarantee of results, while professional agents provide quotes free of charge and without obligation.
»
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A response to the new needs of travellers?
Despite this absence of guarantees, customers of
travel planners
find their account.
Usually, Pauline Van de Vyver organizes her holidays herself or books through an agency.
But to organize her circuit “
in a short time
” at the start of 2023, this mother of three children let herself be seduced by the services of Little Voyageurs, which she had been following for a long time on Instagram: “It was
a bet.
I didn't know about the
travel planner business
and didn't know what to expect.
Finally, I was pleasantly surprised.
For around €300, she gets her guide for a five-week tour of Thailand and Vietnam.
"
For the budget I had set myself, the agency I had contacted beforehand offered me a stay of only two weeks for five people
,” she observes.
“A
time-consuming and not necessarily profitable activity
”
If the activity of
travel planner
escapes any legal framework, “
some independents fall into line by associating with a real travel agency
”, recalls Jean-Charles Franchomme.
This is the case of Estelle Malois.
In 2018, this Francilienne offers her “travel coach” services on her Instant de Liberté site, “
a time-consuming and not necessarily profitable activity
”.
A year later, it teamed up with two tour operators, which enabled it to obtain the approval of Atout France and thus offer the same guarantees as a professional.
Like an agent, the entrepreneur draws up quotes for free and is now paid in the form of retrocommission, once the contract is signed.
A hybrid formula that allows it to "
focus fully on the travel experience without worrying about the commercial aspect.
»
