Frequently Asked Questions
Every day, our Mom Approved Travel Advisors are asked a variety of questions, ranging from the cost of our services, to when is the best time to travel and cost effective ways to save money. Here are answers to a few of the most common questions our Travel Advisors are asked. If you can’t find the answer to one of your travel questions below, please reach out to one of our Travel Advisors today for more information.
About Mom Approved Travel
What kind of vacations does Mom APproved Travel book?
HOw long has Mom Approved travel been in business?
Mom Approved Travel has been operating for nearly a decade, since 2015 and thousands of families have trusted Mom Approved Travel Advisors with their precious vacation memories for Disney trips, Universal vacations, Cruises, exploring the Caribbean, Europe and many other locations all over the world.
Learn more: What is the story behind Mom Approved Travel?
HOw do I start Working with a Mom APproved Travel Advisor?
Working with one of our Mom Approved Advisors is easy! The very first step is to fill out our MAT quote form. If you already have a MAT Travel Advisor, or you know who you would like to use, fill out our quote request and choose their name from the dropdown menu.
If this is your first time working with us and you are not sure which MAT Travel Advisor you would like to work with, you can select “surprise me” on the form and based on the rest of the information you provide us, we will match you up with the Advisor we think fits you best!
Once you have your Mom Approved Travel Advisor, they will reach out to you for a quick complimentary phone consultation, most of our Advisors initial exploratory calls are 10-20 minutes long. We know you are really busy; but this is a very crucial step where we will be able to go a little deeper into to what your needs are, learn about your family and discuss what options may work best for you.
Is Mom APproved Travel a Certified Disney Travel Agent?
Funny thing, that “certified Disney Travel Agent” term gets tossed around quite a bit- but no such term legally exists. It may seem silly, but there are strict regulations set forth by Disney what Travel Advisors and Travel Agencies can call themselves. Believe us, you WANT a Professional Travel Advisor who understands terms & conditions well! Certified Disney Travel Agent is not one of them.
However, Mom Approved Travel is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. We EARNED this designation given to us by Disney. All of our Travel Advisors are Graduates of the Disney College of Knowledge. Our Advisors hold various certifications through travel industry associations with the highest professional standards. When you book with Mom Approved Travel, you are hiring a trustworthy Travel Professional who specializes in Disney destinations.
Learn more: What is an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner?
Booking with Mom Approved Travel
How much does it cost to have a Mom Approved Travel Advisor Plan my Vacation?
Booking your vacation package with a Mom Approved Travel Advisor is complimentary for most vacation packages. You will not be paying more for your vacation because you are using a Travel Advisor. We do not markup the price of vacation packages from our suppliers. You will be paying the same or less for your vacation if you booked direct, but you get the assurance of working with a MAT Travel professional who will make sure your hard earned vacation dollars are spent where they will matter most to your family.
WILL I Get a Discount on my vacation by not using A Travel Agent to Plan my Vacation?
Every hotel, cruise, and vacation you have ever taken has a customer service budget built into it. When you utilize a Travel Advisor, that budget goes to the Travel Agency in the form of a small commission. When you book direct, that budget goes to the company’s customer service department.
When you hire a Travel Advisor, they essentially become your dedicated customer service department. You do not have to explain yourself over and over each time you call into an 800 call center, because your Travel Advisor knows YOU and your family. Your Mom Approved Travel Advisor looks out for YOUR best interests and will advocate for you, instead of trying to do what is best for that supplier.
Can a Mom Approved Travel AGENT help me if I have already booked my Vacation?
If you have already booked some or all of your trip components, depending on the circumstances we MAY be able to transfer it to the agency to allow your Advisor to assist without a fee. If we are unable to transfer a vacation package or components, in many cases we are able to offer a concierge planning option based on your needs and the destination.
Your Mom Approved Travel planner can discuss and answer questions about your transfer options for your circumstances with you further.
Why SHOULD I Book with a Travel Agent instead of doing it myself?
Our clients are smart Moms, Dads, Grandparents and Young Adults.
Let us tell you why some of them hire Mom Approved Travel to plan their vacations instead of doing it themselves.
The Destination Veteran:
Many of these MAT families have been going to the destinations we plan such as, Walt Disney World for decades, so why do they use a Travel Agent like Mom Approved Travel to book their vacations? These families like having a trusted wingman to lean on when life gets busy, when they don’t want to mess with the details, have us keep them up to date on updates they may have missed and to allow us to monitor their reservations and apply any promotions that come out. Some of these families like doing some of the planning themselves, which is perfectly fine- your MAT Advisor can assist with as much, or as little as you like, and it is the same price (or less) in as booking on your own. Do it is a win-win situation for our destination veterans.
The Overwhelmed First-timer:
The internet allows a lot of information to be right our fingertips, so much so it can feel like “drinking from a firehose” and it is easy to become overwhelmed. This family wants to spend their money wisely and get the best vacation for their budget possible, the best value. This family will usually come to us after starting to research, gets fully overwhelmed after researching websites, listening to vloggers/influencers/bloggers etc, almost to the point of not wanting to go. Honestly, this is one of our favorite kind of families to plan trips for- we can HEAR the relief in our initial phone call as they begin working with us and it is one of our biggest passions and sources of pride to serve these families. Taking away the overwhelm of busy, smart Moms and Dads (and Grandparents) so they can actually enjoy their vacation, is one of our core MAT missions.
The Short-on-Timer:
This MAT client generally knows their stuff, and has their hands full with life things: kids, school, work, all the things. They’ve maybe even planned their own vacations in the past. This client knows how to find the right information, but is just too busy or doesn’t want to mess with the details. This kind of MAT client knows the value of having a trusted travel professional by their side who will listen to their wants, needs, preferences and budget and will give them a practically perfectly planned vacation. Some of these clients know exactly what they want, but just need someone to do the details, and some of these families want to hand over a card and want a turnkey trip. Relieving busy parents, Grandparents and Young Adults from all the details and allowing them to get back to focusing on the fun and business of life is another core mission for our MAT Advisors.
Use Mom Approved Travel to get the best value for your vacation.
We have a saying among travel experts… the internet is for looking, but travel agents are for booking.
Doing some homework online is a great place to start, but working with a travel professional is truly the best of both worlds. It will save you hours and hours
spent sorting through information online and will make sure that you are getting the best fit for your needs and the best value for your vacation dollars.
Use Mom Approved Travel to get accurate and professional expertise, not a mish mash of crowdsourced information.
When you tell someone you want to go on vacation, sometimes, you will get a LOT of unsolicited opinions and recommendations. Sometimes these recommendations vary from good, bad, okay, outdated, inaccurate or not the best fit for your situation. (Your Uncle’s sisters trip is not the same as your trip) There is nothing worse than to discover too late the information you relied on when researching and planning a trip on your own was outdated or simply wrong. Travel professionals keep up with all the changes, updates and filter through all the noise with accurate information.
My family has special needs, can a Mom Approved Travel Advisor Assist us?
Absolutely! Mom Approved Travel Agents are experienced understanding and setting up families with a wide range of special needs for success. Some of our Travel Advisors have backgrounds in special education, special needs in their own families, or hold certifications from IBCCES.
Whether it is dietary restrictions, physical handicap, neuro-divergent challenges, cognitive disabilities, hearing or visual disabilities, service animal travel or beyond, your MAT Advisor has the knowledge and expertise to make your trip as comfortable as possible, so everyone can enjoy the magic!
General Travel Questions
DO I Need a passport?
A passport is a requirement for international travel. We do strongly recommend passport BOOKS, not cards when traveling outside of the United States. The U.S. Department of State website is a great resource for information about passport requirements, how to apply or renew, and find the cost related to procuring a passport.
While some cruise lines will accept birth certificates for closed-loop cruises (refer to your cruise line for their specific requirements), we still strongly advocate and highly recommend getting passports for your entire family. Your experience will be easier, and they will be good for many years.
Please check your passport expiration date! Many destinations require 3-6 months of passport validity from the LAST day of your vacation for entry.
Please note, for domestic travel within the United States, a state-issued driver’s license or identification. Beginning May 7, 2025, any state-issued ID or license used as identification within the U.S. must be compliant with REAL ID. If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles or click here to view TSA’s REAL ID guidelines.
Visas for international travel are required for U.S. citizens by some countries for entry and will be advised at the time of booking, and you can check with the embassy of the country you plan to visit. If you are not a U.S. citizen, we advise you to speak with the consulate where you are a passport holder.
Can I bring ______ on the plane?
The TSA website is incredibly helpful when it comes to answering questions about bringing items on your flight.
We really love the TSA’s comprehensive A-Z guide on items, as it clearly states what can be brought and if it can be carried on, or if it needs to be checked.
One popular question MAT Advisors get is about Light Sabers on a plane.
Many of our Star Wars loving families want to know how they are going to get their lightsabers home and can lightsabers be taken on a plane?
Spoiler alert: The answer is YES, you may bring your lightsaber home either as a carry-on or in your checked bag.
We absolutely love the TSA explanation: “Sadly, the technology doesn’t currently exist to create a real lightsaber. However, you can pack a toy lightsaber in your carry-on or checked bag. May the force be with you.”
Do I need Travel Insurance?
No one likes to spend more money than they need to, but the truth is anything can happen when traveling. Sometimes it can feel like you don’t want it, until you NEED it. We have been doing this a long time, and we have seen so many situations where families were grateful they included Travel Protection.
Trip delays, interruptions, or even cancellations can cause unexpected headaches and expenses, but travel insurance can help make sure you are protected for adjustments you need to overcome these situations. Some plans contain cancellation benefits and if you have a covered reason you can be reimbursed for pre-paid non-refundable expenses, like a medical emergency or loss of employment before your trip even begins.
Supplier coverage varies, and there are third-party Travel Protection options available as well. We are an advocate for Travel Protection, so you can relax knowing your vacation investment is one less thing you have to worry about.
