FAQ

For Travelers

What is a Fora advisor? Is that the same as a travel agent?

Yep! Over the past few years, industry players have rebranded as travel advisors to reflect the level of personalization and care we put into planning each trip. Like a financial advisor - we’re real experts. We can create your trip from scratch or help book what you’ve already decided on, and everything in between.

What exactly do Fora advisors do?

We make travel awesome. Fora advisors take the time to learn your preferences and narrow down your destination and accommodation options to find the best fit for you, specifically. And we curate our community for true expertise. Our job is to make sure your next trip is precisely tailored to your taste, vacation style, and budget, of course.

Do Fora advisors book airfare?

We can - but specialize in the on-the-ground experience, accommodation and activities. Many customers choose to book their own airfare.

What are the perks of working with a Fora advisor?

Ooh, time for our favorite question! When booking your trip through a Fora advisor, you’ll benefit from the partnerships we have set up with over 1,400 hotels and travel providers around the world, including the Virtuoso consortia, Four Seasons and Rosewood.

Say hello to room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts, resort and spa credits, and, last but definitely not least, you’ll get all of this for the best available rate you’d find on the Internet. 

But traveling with Fora goes well beyond that. We put serious time and airline mileage into visiting these properties in person so we can give you the up-to-date intel on your destination. We also maintain close relationships with hotel management so you’re treated like the VIP you are from the moment you arrive.

How much do Fora advisors charge?

Fora advisors don’t charge anything for most travel bookings. Advisors receive commissions from the properties and travel providers, at no additional cost to you. In fact, we’ll always find the best available rate so you can be confident you’re getting a great deal.

Because airlines rarely offer that option, Fora advisors charge a ticketing fee of $50 for domestic or $100 for international flights when booking them for you.

For more complicated multi-stop itineraries, Fora advisors may choose to charge a planning fee. This will always be transparently presented.

For every trip Fora advisors book, we happily share recommendations for restaurants and activities that you can either book yourself, or with the help of the hotel concierge, at no cost to you. If you’d like your Fora advisor to arrange those, the cost of booking restaurant bookings and organizing activities varies, but usually starts at $300 per week of travel.

When am I charged?

It depends on the hotel or travel provider. Most hotels require a credit to hold a room, but some also charge a deposit upon making the reservation. Before we release your payment information, we’ll always let you know your chosen hotel’s deposit and cancellation policies so there are no surprises.

I’m planning a group trip. Can Fora advisors help?

Of course! The more the merrier. Whether you’re organizing a family reunion, a bachelorette extravaganza or a company-wide retreat, we’re happy to help. Just get in touch with your Fora advisor to begin the process.

Is there a best price guarantee?

Hotels are required to offer price parity, but occasionally you may see a different rate from an online travel agency than the one advertised on the hotel’s website. That happens very rarely but, when it does, we do our best (e.g. contact the property directly) to ensure the property honors the same price.

What’s the catch?

Like, the catch of the day? JK. We understand why you’d ask but we can assure you there is none. 

Here’s a peek behind the scenes: hotels pay a much smaller commission to a human travel advisor than they do to an online travel agency like Expedia or Booking.com. Hotels and other travel providers also love working with us because we put a lot of effort into recommending the right place for each traveler. That’s why they’d rather pay us the commission and add in perks such as spa credits for you, instead of having you booking online. It’s a total win-win.

What if I actually enjoy planning my travels?

Planning travel - if you have a lot of time - can be fun. It’s what we do!

But you’ll still benefit from using a Fora advisor. Tell us the hotels you’re interested in and we’ll book them for you so you get perks such as free breakfast, a room upgrade, early check-in or late check-out, at no extra cost to you.

Plus we’ll let you know if we have any intel on the property that may not be obvious online (like the fact that the room you requested looks onto a wall). It’s like having a best friend who works in travel, and can help you plan your dream trip.

And if you really love planning travel, have you thought about becoming an advisor with Fora? We’d love to have you onboard. You can learn more about becoming a Fora advisor (and getting paid to book travel) here.

What type of travel should I book with Fora?

All types. Resort vacations, safaris, city breaks, vacation home rentals, once-in-a-lifetime adventures, weekend escapes, we do it all. Send it our way - if we can’t book it we’ll let you know. Find the Fora advisor that suits your specific style.

How long does it take to plan a trip?

It depends. Some are extra easy and can be organized in an hour, while others include many different moving parts and might take weeks.

How do I choose an advisor?

We have many different advisors who all have their own travel style and expertise. We suggest browsing their profiles to find your perfect match. Sounds like a dating app, doesn’t it? Except we know we have the one for you ;-)

Who is actually booking my trip?

Your Fora advisor is a live human (with feelings and everything!). We use technology to communicate, organize information and manage the sales process but, when it comes to organizing the best possible trip for each traveler, we believe that you can’t replace a real connection with a travel expert. Robots don’t get you like we do.

How do I make the most of my experience when planning a trip with Fora?

Tell us everything. Let us know if you love golf, must have access to a kids’ club, or can’t stand the feeling of sand through your toes (no beach for you!). Serious allergies or dietary restrictions are also very helpful information to have. That way we’ll only show you options that fit your wants and needs. It’s also great to hear about hotels and trips you’ve loved in the past, because that clues us in to your travel style.

Who do I contact if something goes wrong or if I have questions about my booking?

Your dedicated Fora advisor is your main point of contact. They’ll be there when you need them so feel free to reach out to them directly.

FOR Advisors

What does a Fora advisor do?

A Fora advisor sells travel services and generally curates the trip experience. This can range from simply booking a hotel room to planning a multi-country journey that includes flights, transfers, tours, restaurant reservations, and unique experiences. And everything in between. 

How does an advisor earn money?

Hotels and other travel providers pay advisors a commission on anything they book, at no additional cost to the traveler. 

Who can become a Fora advisor?

Anyone with a passion for travel, deep knowledge of specific destinations, and a problem-solving attitude. If you have spare time and love planning trips, you can get paid to do that by joining the Fora community.

How do I become a Fora advisor?

The first step is to sign up for our waitlist here. We’ll be in touch soon with next steps, including having you complete a more detailed survey. If you meet our criteria, we’ll get you onboarded, help you set up your profile, and teach you the ropes so you can start booking travel in a flash.

I’m already a travel professional advisor. How do I join Fora?

We are always excited to welcome advisors who share our vision into our community. Submit your details here we’ll be in touch with next steps..

Why should I work with Fora instead of another company?

We are building a diverse community in the travel space to help advisors create their own business or to work as independent contractors. We believe that the travel community has suffered from inadequate technology, antiquated business practices and has been undeserved as a whole. We’re seeking to upgrade our industry by helping you look super professional, flex your deep knowledge, and take advantage of modern consumer technology to build your own travel business.

What happens when I first join as an advisor?

We’ll help create your profile page to make it more personal. Your page will also feature at least three travel guides or itineraries you have curated. These will show your areas and levels of expertise to prospecting clients. You’ll soon be able to add more quickly to showcase your diverse travel experiences.

We’ll also invite you to join our community app where you can begin to interact with other advisors and ask any questions you might have, as well as access training and other resources.
 
Lastly we’ll introduce you to our travel operations team who can walk hand-hold you through your early bookings until you get the hang of it.

Can you tell me about the Fora community?

You’ll be joining a team of passionate travel experts who hail from different parts of the globe and have diverse areas of knowledge. The common factor: we’re all dedicated to sharing our passion for the travel industry, to create a smooth experience for our clients and to send them off on amazing trips they’ll never forget.

How do I create content for my profile page?

As soon as you’ve been approved to join our community, you’ll receive a link to a profile creation survey. Once this is filed out, we’ll code your profile page and send it to you once it’s live on our site. 

Check out some of our travel advisors’ profiles.

Do I have to be a full-time advisor or can I work part-time?

It’s up to you! It can be a side hustle to bring in some extra earnings, but you might also decide to transition from your current job into a travel career. Maybe you already work in the travel industry and are looking to expand. Whatever you prefer, the Fora team is here to support you.

How and when do I get paid?

We handle all payments. You’ll receive your commission upon the completion of your client’s trip.

How do I get clients as an advisor?

Having your own network is always helpful, and we suspect your first clients will come through friends and family.

Through our travel content tools, you can also create as many travel itineraries or guides as you’d like. These will surface on our destination pages on our site, and we’re investing in SEO to ensure that high quality content also appears in Google search results.

About Fora

What is Fora?

Learn more About Us.

Who is behind Fora?

We are a team of entrepreneurs, technologists, travel industry veterans, and people passionate about travel, backed by an amazing group of investors. Our team is here.

Is Fora hiring?

Glad you asked! We are indeed growing our corporate team. See our open roles here.