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Planning a destination marathon? Discover the top 5 reasons runners should use a travel agent to simplify travel, reduce stress, and create a seamless race-day experience.
Key Takeaways
- Using a travel agent simplifies marathon travel by handling logistics and reducing stress.
- Travel agents offer customized services tailored for runners, ensuring accommodations and travel plans meet specific race needs.
- Booking with a travel agent provides access to exclusive perks, insider knowledge, and personalized support during race week.
- A travel agent can manage unexpected issues, allowing you to focus on your training and race day experience.
- Utilizing a travel agent transforms your marathon trip into an opportunity for enjoyment, exploring, and relaxation.
Planning for a marathon takes more than just logging miles. Between early mornings, meal prep, and maintaining your training schedule, you’ve got a lot on your plate. On top of that, if you’re planning for a destination marathon race, there’s an added level of stress to ensure all of your travel plans are in order.
Here’s my simple tip for ensuring the travel plans are all easily handled: I hire a travel advisor.
Trying to figure out hotels, packing lists, flights, and race logistics can feel overwhelming! When we considered delegating this task to someone who specializes in planning trips and vacations for our recent trip to London, it was a no-brainer.
This post about using a travel agent for marathon travel contains affiliate links. This post is not a sponsored collaboration with the Travel Byrds and I did not receive compensation for featuring them in this post.
Key Topics Included in this Post
The Differences Between a Travel Advisor and a Travel Agent
When I think of the term “travel agent,” it takes me back to the days before the internet (which is weird to even imagine). I picture an office with desks lined up in front of posters of international locations for people looking to book a cruise or a European getaway package.
The terms ‘travel agent’ and ‘travel advisor’ are often used interchangeably. Typically travel agents book pretty standard packages. Where travel advisors usually offer more personalized or high-touch services. In this post, I use both terms to describe professionals who help runners plan stress-free, customized trips.
Related Post: Get this guide for how to dress comfortably for your next trip!
Using a Travel Agent for My London Marathon Trip
When we were planning our trip to London, I reached out to my friend, Maggie, who’s a travel agent with the Travel Byrds. She launched her business around the same time I launched this blog and it was exciting to share our new ventures. I booked a portion of my trip with a package from a running travel company (our package included a guaranteed race entry for the London Marathon, hotel and a private shuttle to the start). Brian and I wanted to stay in London a few extra days and Maggie helped us plan the perfect trip!
Booking with A Travel Advisor vs Booking on Your Own
While it’s easier to book your own travel because there is access to more information through hundreds of online booking sites, sometimes it’s worth delegating the planning part and trusting you’ll have an incredible experience. Working with a travel agent (or travel advisor) can make your marathon travel experience seamless, stress-free, and completely tailored to you.
When we started working with Maggie, we kicked off the process with a quick phone call. She asked me what we like to do on vacation, if we had any must-haves on our list, budgets and if we were enrolled in any loyalty programs. Within a few days, she scheduled a Zoom call so she could walk us through the schedule she created based on our budget, requests and recommendations from her other clients.
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Travel Planning Timeline
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, you should plan 9-12 months in advance (if possible), especially for huge races, like World Majors, since they’re in popular locations. For a non-marathon trip, you can book anytime but typically anything less than a month can be challenging if you have specific reservations in mind. We booked within 6 months for our trip and it all worked out.
How Much Does a Travel Advisor Cost?
In the initial call with Maggie, she explained that some travel agents, there is a design fee for research to customize your package (depending on how complex your plans are). Typically travel agent services are paid in commission by the vendor for booking the trip on your behalf. While comparing prices for specific events we asked her to handle or look into, the pricing was in line with online booking sites we reviewed. For the record, we didn’t pay a design or booking fee for our London trip.
Related Post: Looking for other ways to save on destination races? Check out this post for great ideas!
Top Reasons to Use a Travel Agent for Marathon Travel
Whether you’re traveling across the country or flying overseas, a travel agent can help you make the most of your marathon travel without draining your time or energy. In fact, working with a pro might be the secret weapon you didn’t know you needed. As a busy runner myself, I am always looking for ways to delegate some of my responsibilities and this is a great one to let someone else handle the finer details.
I should also note, this isn’t a hack just for marathon travel. I’d recommend using a travel agent to handle non-running trips, as well. Whether you’re looking to plan a girls trip or a weekend getaway, it’s nice to have someone else handle the details if you have a lot of on your plate.
If you’re prepping for a big race, here are the top 5 reasons to use a travel agent, especially when you’re balancing training and life.
Related Post: Check out these tips for planning a girls getaway weekend!
1. Customized Travel Planning Services Designed for Runners
Running a marathon isn’t a typical vacation. There are specific logistics you’ll want to keep in mind when booking your hotel or events.
What to Consider When Booking Race Travel
Consider the following when booking travel for a destination race:
- How close is the hotel to the start line?
- What are the transportation options to the start line?
- How close is the hotel to the finish line?
- What food options are available before or after the race?
- What accommodations or facilities are available at the hotel?
Custom Race Travel Packages
A travel agent provides customized travel planning services that take your race needs into account. A travel agent can not only book a hotel based on your budget and they can also consider the following as part of your plan:
- A hotel within walking distance of the start line
- Early check-in so you’re not waiting around once you arrive
- They can book a hotel with close proximity to grocery stores or restaurants that cater to your pre-race meal preferences. They can also make reservations for you!
- Late checkout so you can shower and rest post-race
- Provide guidance for visa and global entry for your return home
You shouldn’t have to compromise your race day experience because of limited time for vacation planning. By using a travel advisor who understands what you need as a runner, you don’t have to.
2. Save Time and Reduce Stress With Custom Travel Planning Assistance
Let’s be honest: race week is not the time to be triple-checking confirmation numbers or tracking down airport transfer info. You’ve already got your plate full managing your training plan, taper, and nerves.
That’s where travel planning assistance comes in. A good agent will:
- Make recommendations based on flight options (especially for European destinations where transportation between cities is heavily available)
- Find accommodations that suit your needs and budget
- Coordinate airport transfers and dining reservations
- Provide one clean itinerary so you’re not chasing multiple apps and email threads (Maggie had everything loaded in an app!)
Agents also use the best travel agent tools to uncover deals and perks you won’t find on DIY booking sites. It’s not just about convenience, it’s about making the whole trip feel seamless.
Related Post: Check out this list for 10 essential items you’ll want for your carry-on bag!
3. Unlock Insider Marathon Travel Perks and Resources
There’s a whole world of travel planning resources that runners don’t always have access to but travel agents do. From exclusive hotel blocks for race weekends to race entries for sold-out races, travel advisors can help with travel logistics.
Running an international race? A travel agent can help you:
- Navigate travel planning to international cities or a destination new to you
- Understand specific visas or travel requirements
- Purchase travel insurance for an extra layer of protection
- Coordinate tours and excursions post-race so you can celebrate and enjoy the sights in a new city
- Offer guidance for local social norms, like tipping policies, in your destination city
You’re not just booking a trip, you’re booking an experience. Let an expert curate it for you!
Related Post: Need luggage options for your next trip? Shop for any variety of travel bag with this shopping guide.
4. Travel Support During Race Week
No one wants to deal with a delayed flight, a lost hotel reservation, or a last-minute change the week of a race. But when things go wrong, having someone in your corner makes all the difference. We laugh about it now, but I realized two days before I left for London I booked Brian at a different hotel than I was staying at for the marathon portion of the trip. I immediately texted Maggie and she was able to confirm if we could move his reservation or not.
A travel agent acts as your emergency contact for anything that goes sideways. Instead of spending your taper week on hold with an airline, you can text your agent and keep focusing on your race day!
Pro-tip: Remember to pack your race kit in your carry-on bag!
5. Turn Your Race Into a Running Tour Experience
You’ve trained for months, so why not turn your marathon planning into a full-blown celebration? Travel agents can help you extend your trip and enjoy your trip.
You can use a travel agent to help with booking events such as:
- Guided tour through the city (check out boat options if your marathon city is near water)
- Scenic post-race hike or yoga class
- Spa day for a post-race massage or food tour (we highly recommend the Borough Market tour in London)
- A weekend getaway to explore a nearby region
- Hiring a vacation photographer
- Booking dinner reservations
Whether you call it a runcation or just a smart way to recover, your travel agent can build it into your travel plan from the start so you aren’t scrambling closer to the race. We loved Maggie had so many great suggestions for our plans, including a trip to Stonehenge!
Pro-tip: Check out my favorite travel must-haves here on Amazon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Honestly, I didn’t fully appreciate travel agents until I started running destination races. When you’re coordinating flights, hotels, race registration, and pre-race logistics in a city you’ve never visited, having someone in your corner is everything. A good travel agent brings personalized expertise, saves you hours of research, and often scores perks you’d never get on your own, think room upgrades or resort credits. And if something goes sideways? They’re already on the phone fixing it while you’re focused on your race.
Sometimes yes, sometimes it’s more about value than price. Agents often have access to industry-only rates and bundled packages that can run 50–80% off what you’d find online. But even when the price is similar, you’re often getting more — free upgrades, complimentary meals, spa credits. For a race trip, those little extras can make a big difference in how rested and ready you feel on race morning.
Booking online feels simple until it isn’t. A travel agent brings something no algorithm can: relationships, experience, and someone who actually picks up the phone when your flight gets cancelled the night before your race. They know the hotels close to the start line, the ones with early breakfast options, and the quirks of race weekend logistics in cities you’ve never run. For a destination race, that expertise is worth so much more than saving a few clicks.
For a simple trip, maybe. But for a race weekend where every detail matters, I’d think twice. Booking directly can have its perks, like easier loyalty point access and sometimes better customer service for changes. That said, a travel agent who specializes in runners understands the stakes. They know you can’t just swap your flight to a day earlier if it means missing the expo or arriving exhausted. That context is hard to put a price on.
The honest answer? It matters less than most people think. Recent data points to Fridays as a sweet spot, potentially saving up to 14% on domestic flights compared to booking on a Sunday. Historically, Tuesday and Wednesday were the go-to days when airlines dropped their weekly sales. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of booking race travel: booking early almost always beats booking on the “right” day. The sooner you commit to your race, the sooner you should lock in your flights.
Why Booking With a Travel Agent Is the Running Hack You Need
Training for a marathon already requires dedication, discipline, and energy. You shouldn’t have to pour that same level of intensity into planning your trip.
Using a travel agent for marathon travel gives you the support, resources, and flexibility to focus on what matters: running your best race and enjoying every step of the journey.
Have a marathon travel tip to share? Drop it below in the comments!
Want to book a trip with Maggie? Contact her here or email her at: Maggie@travelbyrds.com
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