10 questions to ask your travel agent to save you money on your vacation

Booking your summer vacation through a travel agent can get you exclusive discounts on flights, activities, and accommodation that you wouldn't be able to score when booking yourself.

Flexibility and communication are key factors in saving money when working with a travel agent.

The amount of money depends on the traveler, but agents say these questions can potentially save you hundreds.

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Right now, countless Americans are packing their suitcases with straw hats and swimsuits in preparation for long-awaited summer vacations.

Many of them will come home having spent far more than actually necessary simply because they didn't ask the right questions.

Hiring a travel agent to help plan your annual family outing has a slew of benefits, like special rates, expert recommendations, and the luxury of not spending innumerable hours sifting through booking sites yourself. Thanks to their industry ins, you don't have to devote an entire month's worth of earnings to a two-week trip (which, according to Forbes, most Americans do).

“A good advisor will always keep the client's needs in mind, including how much they want to spend,” Cheryl Bunker, vice president of global member partnerships at Virtuoso, told Business Insider.

When it comes to saving money, Bunker says communication is key. The secret to saving hundreds on vacation is being flexible, yes, but also being transparent about your priorities. Many people are happy to fly economy if it means getting upgraded to a suite.

“Travelers can save hundreds of dollars by simply following the same cost saving steps they'd normally take for themselves,” Mel Dohmen, senior brand manager at Orbitz, told Business Insider.

Here are 10 questions to ask your travel agent that could save you money on your next trip.