Become a Travel Agent

Becoming a Vacation Navigator is a rewarding commitment that requires time, dedication, and a strong drive to succeed. This role is ideal for self-starters who are task-oriented, take initiative, and are eager to grow. Success comes with consistency, adaptability, and a willingness to learn. It’s not suited for hobbyists, as building your travel business demands significant effort, even if done part-time. Growth typically begins around the 6-month mark (after training), as travelers start seeking you out. Before that, it can feel like a grind, but those who stay committed and push through will find this to be an incredibly rewarding career.

This opportunity is both exciting and rewarding, offering the chance to build a full-time career in travel. While it requires dedication—like late nights, early mornings, and occasional emergencies—the rewards and fun make it all worthwhile. With time, training, and a strong support system, you can turn your passion into a successful career, creating unforgettable experiences for your travelers.

SBV has a $275 startup cost for Navigators, covering your onboarding expenses, email, comprehensive training, personalized bio page, and ongoing support to help you succeed in your role.

Additionally, there is a $50 cost for a Florida Seller of Travel License, which is paid directly to the state of Florida. This license is required to provide travel to, from, and through Florida, and we will assist you in setting it up. The California Seller of Travel License is included through your contract with SBV at no additional cost.

• You will receive dedicated support from your Navigator Mentors, who will guide you through every step of your training and beyond.

• You’ll also be part of a "House" of Navigators—a close-knit group designed to provide guidance, collaboration, and shared expertise across various specialties.

• To keep you up to date, we offer frequent vendor and team training sessions, ensuring you have the latest tools and knowledge to succeed.

• Additionally, our team stays connected through a real-time community chat platform, where Navigators can ask questions, offer support, and celebrate successes together.

• Familiarization trip opportunities (FAM)

• Discounted Travel & Free Tickets

• Personalized Bio Page

• Access to Community Chat Platform

• House System (Similar to Harry Potter)

• Full Training course and ongoing support

• Vendor and Team Training Sessions

• Coverage under the agency's E&O insurance & Travel Bond

• Coverage under the agency's California Seller of Travel License

• Opportunity to earn an Industry CLIA card for travel discounts

• No Minimum Booking Requirement

• Competitive Commission & Increased Commission From Preferred Suppliers

• Opportunities for Bonus Commission

• Monthly Commission Payouts for Vacations Traveled

SBV takes pride in welcoming new Navigators to the industry and equipping them for success with our engaging and comprehensive training program, which is included as part of your onboarding.

Yes, we do! SBV proudly welcomes international agents to our team. We currently have Navigators from around the world, including locations such as Malta, Australia, and Mexico. We value the unique perspectives and experiences that international agents bring to our team. No matter where you’re located, you’ll have access to our training, resources, and supportive community to help you succeed as a Vacation Navigator.

Absolutely! Many Navigators begin part-time, and with dedication and effective networking, it's realistic to transition to a full-time position within 1 to 2 years. Success in this field requires consistent effort, adaptability, and a commitment to learning. Building a client base and establishing yourself takes time, but with perseverance, you can achieve a fulfilling full-time career as a Navigator.

Finding and bringing in your own travelers (leads) is a key part of being a successful Navigator. Many Navigators grow their traveler base through social media, marketing campaigns, small groups, schools, clubs, and even connections made during their own travels.

Travelers who request a specific Navigator through our platform will be assigned directly to that Navigator. All other traveler requests are distributed fairly to ensure equal opportunities for all Navigators.

Additionally, there are opportunities to participate in exclusive programs designed to generate leads, which are available only to those actively participating in these initiatives.

What is a Lead? A lead is a potential traveler who shows interest in booking a vacation or planning a trip. Leads can come from various sources, such as personal connections, marketing efforts, or inquiries through our platform. Turning these leads into travelers requires engagement, communication, and showcasing your expertise as a Navigator.

SBV operates Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM EST, which we communicate to travelers as our standard support availability. While you are free to set your own working hours based on your needs and advertise them accordingly, we do ask that you commit to working on SBV for a minimum of 20 hours per week to build and grow your business.

We do not require specific hours, nor do we expect our Navigators to work weekends, holidays, or sacrifice family time—we believe setting boundaries and prioritizing your personal life is essential for maintaining health and balance.

The only exception is when you have travelers actively traveling. During these times, you must be available 24/7 to address any emergencies they may encounter. Travelers may also request conversations outside your normal operating hours, and if you are unavailable, our team will be there to assist.

No, SBV does not have a commission minimum at this time. However, we are committed to building a community of dedicated and engaged Navigators who are actively working to grow their travel businesses. Each year, we evaluate every Navigator’s performance and participation to ensure they are a good fit for our team and are finding success and fulfillment in their role.

While we provide extensive training, tools, and support, your success ultimately depends on your commitment and effort. We expect all Navigators to invest time and energy into growing their traveler base, staying active in our community, and checking in with the team weekly. This role is most rewarding for those who remain connected, put in the work, and are committed to achieving their goals.

SBV pays out commission monthly via direct deposit after a traveler completes their vacation. While we aim to process all commissions as quickly as possible, some vendors may take up to 90+ days to release funds. Once received, we promptly pay out your commission to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

Your commission tier is determined by the total bookings you’ve made over the past 12 months. As your bookings increase or decrease, your tier will adjust accordingly. If bookings drop, you’ll have a 3-month grace period to bring them back up before your commission tier is adjusted.

At SBV, we love rewarding your hard work and providing plenty of opportunities to boost your earnings through our exciting bonus programs!

• Holidays All Year:

  Earn an extra 5% commission on any vacation that includes a major holiday.

• Top Performers:

  Each month, we recognize and reward our top-performing Navigators with special bonuses and incentives.

• House Challenges:

  Participate in fun team-based challenges within your House to earn extra rewards while fostering collaboration and camaraderie.

• And Many More!

These programs are designed to celebrate your achievements, encourage friendly competition, and ensure your success is both rewarding and enjoyable!

SBV has an annual fee structure designed to support your ongoing success:

• For Navigators with 6 or more bookings in the past year:

  The annual fee is $150. This reduced fee reflects how your booking progression can help cover your costs and recognizes your dedication to growing your travel business.

• For Navigators with fewer than 6 bookings:

  The annual fee is $275, ensuring access to the same comprehensive resources, training, and tools to support your continued growth.

We work hard to provide the tools and guidance needed to help all Navigators achieve well over 6 bookings per year. However, success ultimately depends on the effort you are willing to put into growing your business and bringing in leads. This structure encourages commitment while ensuring you have the resources to thrive as part of the SBV family.

While there’s no minimum number of Navigators accepted at any given time, we intentionally keep onboarding groups small to ensure every new Navigator receives personalized support throughout training.

To foster collaboration and connection, we prioritize building strong, supportive "Houses" (think Harry Potter) of 25 Navigators. Following your Navigator University training, these close-knit teams provide guidance, teamwork, and a sense of community as you grow in your role.

Our long-term goal is to grow into a vibrant community of approximately 500 Navigators. This larger network will unlock more opportunities for everyone, including greater access to low-cost Familiarization (FAM) trips, enhanced training programs, and significant growth across the entire team.

SBV is committed to setting every Navigator up for success. That’s why we begin all new team members as Navigators in Training. After completing Navigators University, you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience as a Junior Navigator, working on real-world travel planning alongside our experienced team. Once you’ve completed this phase, you’ll graduate fully prepared and confident to create unforgettable vacations for both familiar faces and new travelers.

Absolutely! At SBV, we support a wide range of vendors, including theme parks, cruise lines, all-inclusive resorts, and international destinations. While you may have a preferred area of expertise, our training ensures you’re equipped to plan and book all types of vacations, offering travelers endless possibilities.

SBV Navigators offer complimentary vacation planning services because vendors, like Universal, include commission in their pricing. Whether a traveler books through a Navigator or directly with the vendor, they are paying for that service. By booking with us, travelers receive expert planning at no extra cost.

SBV provides each Navigator with a personalized bio page on our website, offering many of the tools and features you need to establish your online presence without the cost and effort of maintaining your own site.

However, if you’d like to create a personal website, we do allow it. We simply ask that your site includes a header identifying you as a Navigator for Somewhere Beyond Vacations and provides a link back to the SBV website. Additional branding guidelines will be provided when you join the team to ensure a consistent and professional look.

Our dedicated tech team continuously works to enhance our platform and is always open to suggestions for improvement, ensuring you have the best tools to succeed.

We truly want to get to know you, and our application process is designed to do just that!

The application, located above on this page, focuses on understanding your commitment, availability, and readiness to succeed in this role. It also includes questions to help us learn more about your current knowledge and the unique perspective you bring. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the right answers yet—our training program is here to help you grow and thrive.

Individuals who align well with our community will be invited to either join a conference video call with our leadership team or receive a detailed email. This step provides more insight into SBV, what it’s like to be a Vacation Navigator and the exciting opportunities we offer.

Those who align with our culture and commitment to the role will be welcomed into the SBV family and begin their onboarding and comprehensive training to prepare for success.

Everyone will receive an email response from us, so please save our email support@somewherebeyondvacations.com in your contacts to ensure you don’t miss it. If you haven’t heard from us within 48 business hours, don’t hesitate to reach out.

We’re excited to help you take the next step toward this exciting opportunity!