TripMaker Help

Complete guide for travel agents

Back to TripMaker

Getting Started

Accessing TripMaker

  1. Log in to the administration portal
  2. Click on TripMaker in the main navigation menu
  3. You will see the TripMaker Dashboard - your central hub for managing all trip projects

Understanding the Dashboard

The dashboard displays all your trip projects as cards. Each card shows:

  • Destinations - Where the client is traveling
  • Travel Dates - Start and end dates of the trip
  • Travelers - Number of people on the trip
  • Holiday Type - Category of trip (Beach, Cultural, Adventure, etc.)
  • Itineraries - How many options you've created
  • Status - Current state of the project
  • Last Modified - When you last worked on it

Project Status Types

Status Meaning
Draft Work in progress - not yet sent to client
Active Currently being worked on
Quoted Quotation has been sent to the client
Closed Project is complete (booked or declined)

Creating a New Trip Project

Every trip starts with creating a project. A project holds all the information about your client's trip request.

1 Click "New Trip Project"

On the dashboard, click the button.

2 Enter Traveler Information
  • Set the Number of Travelers (1-20 people)
  • For each traveler, specify:
    • Age Range: Infant (0-2), Child (3-5), Child (6-12), Teen (13-17), Young Adult (18-25), Adult (26-59), Senior (60+)
    • Gender: Male or Female
Why this matters: Age ranges affect pricing for flights and activities. Some hotels and activities have age restrictions.
3 Select Holiday Type

Choose the type of holiday that best describes the trip:

  • Adventure - Active trips with outdoor activities
  • Leisure - Relaxation-focused vacations
  • Cultural - History, museums, local experiences
  • Luxury - High-end accommodations and services
  • Beach - Coastal destinations and water activities
  • Honeymoon - Romantic getaways for couples
  • Family - Kid-friendly destinations and activities
  • Business - Work trips with optional leisure time
4 Add Destinations
  1. Start typing a city name in the destination field
  2. Select from the autocomplete suggestions
  3. Click "Add" to add the destination
  4. Repeat for multiple destinations
Examples:
Single destination: "Bali, Indonesia"
Multi-city: "Paris, France" → "Rome, Italy" → "Barcelona, Spain"
5 Set Travel Dates
  • Select Start Date - when the trip begins
  • Select End Date - when the trip ends
  • The system calculates the number of nights automatically
6 Choose Date Flexibility

How flexible is your client with dates?

Fixed (±0 days)Must travel on exact dates
±1 dayCan shift by 1 day either direction
±3 daysCan shift by up to 3 days
±7 daysFlexible within a week
Tip: More flexibility often means better flight prices!
7 Click "Create Project"

You'll be taken to the Workspace where you'll build the itinerary.

Working with Itineraries

An itinerary is a complete trip plan. You can create multiple itineraries for the same project to give your client options.

Understanding the Workspace

The workspace has two main areas:

Left Sidebar
  • Project summary (destinations, dates, travelers)
  • Itinerary selector dropdown
  • Navigation menu (Flights, Accommodations, Activities, etc.)
  • Cost summary (always visible)
Main Content Area
  • Shows the section you're currently working on
  • Changes based on what you select in the navigation

Creating Multiple Itinerary Options

Want to offer your client a choice? Create multiple itineraries!

  1. In the sidebar, click
  2. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Budget Option", "Luxury Experience")
  3. Click "Create"

Switching Between Itineraries

Use the dropdown menu in the sidebar to switch between itinerary options. Each itinerary maintains its own flights, accommodations, activities, exclusions, and cost calculations.

Note: You cannot delete the last remaining itinerary. Every project needs at least one.

Adding Flights

Flights connect your client from their home to destinations and back.

Types of Flights

Type Description Example
Outbound Home to first destination New York → Paris
Internal Between destinations Paris → Rome
Return Last destination to home Rome → New York

Adding an Outbound Flight

  1. Navigate to the Flights section in the sidebar
  2. Select flight type: "Outbound"
  3. Enter Origin (client's departure city/airport)
  4. Enter Destination (first destination)
  5. Select Date (should match project start date)
  6. Select Cabin Class (Economy, Premium Economy, Business, or First Class)
  7. Click
  8. Review results and click "Add" on your preferred flight
  9. Add airport transport details (optional but recommended)

Airport Transport Options

Transport Type When to Use
Private Transfer Luxury service, direct to hotel
Shared Shuttle Budget-friendly, may have stops
Taxi Standard option, pay on arrival
None Client arranges their own
Tip: For multi-destination trips, remember to add internal flights between cities before adding the return flight.

Adding Accommodations

Hotels and accommodations are where your clients will stay each night.

Searching for Accommodations

  1. Navigate to the Accommodations section
  2. Click "Search Accommodations"
  3. Enter search criteria:
    • Destination City: Where they're staying
    • Check-in Date: Arrival date at this destination
    • Check-out Date: Departure date from this destination
    • Number of Guests: Usually matches traveler count
  4. Click
  5. Browse results and click "Add" on your preferred property
  6. Confirm room type and meal plan

Meal Plan Options

Plan Includes
Room OnlyNo meals included
Bed & Breakfast (B&B)Daily breakfast
Half Board (HB)Breakfast + Dinner
Full Board (FB)All three meals
All Inclusive (AI)Meals + Drinks + Some activities
Tip: For beach resorts, All Inclusive is often best value. For city hotels where clients will explore, B&B allows dining flexibility.

Multi-Destination Accommodations

For trips with multiple cities, add a hotel for each location:

Example: Paris-Rome-Barcelona Trip (10 nights)

ParisJune 15-194 nights
RomeJune 19-234 nights
BarcelonaJune 23-252 nights

Adding Activities

Activities make the trip memorable - tours, excursions, experiences, and adventures.

Two Ways to Add Activities

Search Activities
Find activities through the system's database (integrated with Amadeus Tours & Activities API)
Custom Activity
Manually enter any activity with custom details and pricing

Adding a Custom Activity

  1. Navigate to Activities section
  2. Click
  3. Select "Add Custom Activity"
  4. Fill in the details:
    • Activity Name: What the activity is
    • Description: Details for the client
    • Date: When it takes place
    • Time Period: Morning, Afternoon, Evening, or Full Day
    • Duration: How long it lasts
    • Transport/Guide Included: Yes/No
    • Cost per Person: Price
  5. Click "Save"

Time Periods

Period Typical Hours Good For
Morning8 AM - 12 PMMuseums, tours before crowds
Afternoon12 PM - 6 PMOutdoor activities, excursions
Evening6 PM - 10 PMDinner cruises, shows, nightlife
Full Day8 AM - 6 PMDay trips, comprehensive tours
Example: Day in Paris

Morning: Louvre Museum Tour (3 hours)
Afternoon: Seine River Cruise (2 hours)
Evening: Eiffel Tower Dinner (3 hours)

Managing Exclusions

Exclusions clarify what is NOT included in your quotation. This prevents misunderstandings and protects both you and your client.

Why Exclusions Matter

  • Set proper client expectations
  • Avoid disputes about what was promised
  • Maintain professional transparency
  • Comply with travel industry standards

Common Exclusions

Recommended Exclusion Set
  1. International travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  2. Visa fees, passport costs, and travel documentation
  3. Meals not specified in the itinerary
  4. Personal expenses including minibar, laundry, and telephone
  5. Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
  6. Optional activities and excursions not listed
  7. Any items of a personal nature
  8. Travel vaccinations and medical expenses

Adding an Exclusion

  1. Navigate to the Exclusions section
  2. Click
  3. Enter the exclusion text
  4. Click "Save"
Tip: Be specific! Instead of "extras," write "Minibar consumption, in-room movies, and telephone charges"

Cost Management and Pricing

This is where you review all costs and set your selling prices.

Understanding the Cost Breakdown

Navigate to Cost Review to see a complete breakdown of all components:

Term Meaning
Base Cost What you pay the supplier
Margin Your markup percentage
Final Price What the client pays
Formula: Final Price = Base Cost × (1 + Margin%)

Applying Margins

  1. In the cost table, find the component
  2. Click on the Margin % field
  3. Enter your margin (e.g., 15)
  4. Tab or click away to apply
  5. Final price updates automatically

Suggested Margins

Component Typical Margin Notes
Flights 10-15% Lower margin, high volume
Hotels 15-25% Standard industry margins
Activities 15-20% Good markup opportunity
Luxury items 20-30% Higher value perception

Manual Price Override

Sometimes you need to set a specific price:

  • You negotiated a better rate with supplier
  • You want to round to a clean number
  • You're offering a special discount

Click the icon next to the final price to enter a manual override.

Generating Quotations

The quotation is the professional document you send to your client.

Before Generating - Checklist

Generating a PDF

  1. Review your itinerary one final time
  2. Click
  3. Wait for generation (usually a few seconds)
  4. Preview or download the PDF

What's in the PDF?

  • Company name/logo
  • Quote reference number
  • Destinations with dates
  • Number of travelers
  • Detailed itinerary (flights, hotels, activities)
  • Pricing summary
  • Exclusions list
  • Terms & Conditions

Emailing to Client

  1. Click
  2. Enter recipient's email address
  3. Add a personal message
  4. Click "Send"

Tips & Best Practices

Workflow Efficiency

Start with the Skeleton
  1. Create project with basic info
  2. Add all flights first (establishes dates in each city)
  3. Add accommodations (match to flight dates)
  4. Fill in activities
  5. Add exclusions
  6. Review costs last

Creating Compelling Itineraries

Balance the Schedule
  • Don't over-pack with activities
  • Leave free time for exploration
  • Consider jet lag on arrival day
  • Light schedule on departure day
Mix Activity Types
  • Day 1: Arrival + Light tour
  • Day 2: Full day excursion
  • Day 3: Morning activity + Free time
  • Day 4: Cultural + Beach

Pricing Strategy

  • Round final numbers: $5,995 looks better than $6,012.47
  • Bundle value: Emphasize what's included, not just the price
  • Track what works: Note which margins work for your market

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake Solution
Forgetting internal flights Check multi-city trips have connecting flights
Date gaps in accommodations Ensure hotel dates connect without gaps
Missing return transfer Always add transport for return flight
Generic exclusions Be specific to avoid disputes
No margin on some items Review cost breakdown before quoting
Sending without review Always preview PDF before sending

Auto-Save Feature

The system saves automatically every 2 minutes. Look for the "Saved" indicator in the sidebar. No need to manually save constantly!

Quick Reference

Cost Formula
Final Price = Base Cost × (1 + Margin ÷ 100)

Example: $1,000 base × (1 + 20/100) = $1,000 × 1.20 = $1,200
Status Workflow
DRAFT ACTIVE QUOTED CLOSED

TripMaker User Guide v1.0

For support, contact your system administrator