The Spookiest Things Clients Do (and How Not to Terrify Your Travel Advisor)

Every October, we talk about haunted houses and ghost stories… but honestly? Nothing is scarier than a 5-city Europe trip request for Christmas week that comes in on October 15.

As travel advisors, we’re professional problem solvers. We want to make it work. But there are a few things that send a chill down even the most seasoned advisor’s spine. Consider this your Halloween-season PSA: the spooky thing and the better way to do it.

Please make sure your seatbelt is buckled, your tray table and seat are in the upright position.

1. The Ghosting Price Shopper

Spooky move: You ask your advisor to research, they spend hours curating options… and then you vanish because you “found it cheaper online.”
Why it’s scary: Good advisors don’t pull rates from thin air — they compare, protect you, and often add perks. Disappearing devalues the work.
How to make it less scary: Be upfront: “My budget is $X and I saw $Y online — can we get close?” or “I really want to book with you — tell me your fee.” Transparency is not scary.

2. The Last-Minute (Holiday!) Request

Spooky move: “We want Maldives / Aspen / Caribbean for Christmas. We can be flexible on room… but it has to be oceanfront, connecting, and under $5K.”
Why it’s scary: Peak dates sell 6–12 months out. Air goes first, then suites, then anything with a view.
How to make it less scary: Reach out early. Tell your advisor, “Here’s the date, here’s the destination, and here’s my true budget.” If you’re late, be flexible on destination or dates.

3. The DIY Disaster

Spooky move: You book flights/hotels/excursions all separately online, then send your advisor a frantic text: “This isn’t ticketed — can you fix it?”
Why it’s scary: Advisors can’t always take over 3rd-party bookings. And often those “deals” are nonrefundable or mis-ticketed.
How to make it less scary: Loop us in at the start. Even if you want to DIY flights, say: “I’m seeing this fare — does it look right?” We can sanity-check before you click.

4. The Mystery Traveler

Spooky move: “We’re thinking Europe in May.” No dates. No airports. No budget. No number of travelers.
Why it’s scary: It’s like planning a wedding without knowing if it’s for 2 or 200.
How to make it less scary: Give your advisor the 5 basics right away: who, when, where, budget, style. Even a range helps (“$12–15K for 4 people, 8 nights, Italy, slow travel.”)

5. The Budget Biter

Spooky move: “We want 5-star, private tours, business class… but we’d like to stay around $3,000 total.”
Why it’s scary: Luxury and value can absolutely coexist — but expectations and budgets must match.
How to make it less scary: Share your budget and your priority. “The hotel is most important.” “We’ll fly coach if we get the villa.” Advisors can then design a real trip, not a fantasy.

6. The Group That Won’t Die

Spooky move: You start with 14 people for a celebration trip. Then 3 couples drop, 2 want to change rooms, 1 adds kids, and no one pays on time.
Why it’s scary: Group logistics are a lot of work — rooming lists, transfers, payments, upgrades, dietary, activities.
How to make it less scary: Assign 1 group lead. Stick to payment deadlines. Agree to room categories early. And let your advisor set the rules.

7. The “I Didn’t Read That”

Spooky move: “Wait, I need a passport for that?” or “I didn’t know we needed to pay the balance.” (It was in the email. Twice.)
Why it’s scary: Missed deadlines = canceled space, fees, or lost perks.
How to make it less scary: Actually open the pre-departure email 🙃 Ask your advisor, “Can you bold the action items for me?” or “Text me for payments.” We’re happy to over-communicate.

8. The Unknown Credit Card Form

Spooky move: Sending a dark, blurry photo of a credit card at 10:47pm and saying “Can you just run it?”
Why it’s scary: Advisors have to follow PCI/compliance — we can’t just guess numbers from a screenshot.
How to make it less scary: Fill out the secure form the way it’s sent. If tech is tricky, tell us: “Can I read it to you?” We want to protect your money too.

9. The Supplier Switch

Spooky move: After we plan it, you go book direct because “they threw in breakfast.”
Why it’s scary: Now we can’t manage your trip, and the supplier has your booking — but we did the work.
How to make it less scary: Tell the hotel: “I’m working with my advisor — can you extend that offer to them?” Many will. Or ask us first — we often can match/stack benefits.

10. The Panic Text at Boarding

Spooky move: “My passport expires in 2 months, is that okay?” sent from the airport.
Why it’s scary: Some countries require 3–6 months validity — and airlines can deny boarding.
How to make it less scary: Send passport details when we ask. We’re not being nosy — we’re trying to avoid airport horror stories.

So… why does this matter?

Because the best advisor–client relationships are collaborative. When you share info early, respect planning time, and book through your advisor, we can:

• open doors (Virtuoso perks, upgrades, VIP notes)

• fix things when the airline gets… creative

• advocate for you with DMCs, hotels, and cruise lines

• design trips that actually feel like you

That’s not spooky. That’s magic. ✨

Ready to plan something not terrifying? Let’s start your 2026 bucket-list trip now.