Do You Need Travel Experience to Become a Travel Agent in the UK?

Let’s bust the biggest myth in the industry right off the bat: you do not need travel experience to become a travel agent in the UK. Not a single second of it.

You don’t need to have backpacked through Southeast Asia. You don’t need a degree in tourism. And you definitely don’t need to have worked in a traditional high street agency.

So, if you’re sitting there googling "can I be a travel agent with no experience?" - this guide is for you.

Because this job is about people, not passport stamps.

You don’t get paid for how many countries you’ve visited - you get paid for how well you can understand what your clients want and match them with the perfect trip.

Yes, destination knowledge helps. But you’ll learn all that. What you need first is:

• The confidence to start

• The curiosity to learn

• The support system that teaches you properly

And that’s where a good host agency comes in.

More and more people are starting successful travel businesses from home in the UK - many with zero previous experience in the industry.

Why? Because modern host agencies (like Medlife) provide:

• All the training you need

• A full booking system and website

• Ongoing support

• Supplier relationships

• Marketing tools

And you don’t need a licence, qualification or past travel job to begin.

You do need to learn the ropes - but that’s what proper training is for.

You don’t need a tourism degree. But these are the skills that matter:

✅ People Skills

Can you listen to someone and figure out what they really want (even if they’re not quite sure themselves)? That’s your superpower.

✅ Organisation

Planning holidays involves attention to detail - especially when it comes to documents, dates, and logistics. But if you love a to-do list, you’ll thrive.

✅ Communication

Whether it’s email, WhatsApp, or voice notes - staying in touch and keeping clients in the loop is key.

✅ Willingness to Learn

There’s a lot to learn in the first few months - but it’s all teachable. If you’re up for it, you’ll pick it up.

• Find the right host agency
  This is everything. Look for one that offers:

  • Real, practical training

  • A proper booking system (not just access to supplier sites)

  • Ongoing support

  • Marketing help

  • A commission structure that makes sense

• Join their homeworking programme
  At Medlife, our training is fully online and covers:

  • How the travel industry works

  • Legal requirements (like ATOL and TTA protection)

  • How to use your booking system

  • Quoting, invoicing and collecting payments

  • Marketing and branding yourself online

• Complete your training
  Most people take 2–3 weeks to complete ours, working flexibly. You’ll come out confident and ready to quote real clients.

• Start quoting and booking
  You don’t need to know everything - you just need to start. Most agents begin with holidays for friends or family.

• Grow your business at your own pace
  Whether you want a part-time side hustle or a full-time career, you’re in control.

Amy was a full-time teacher who felt burnt out. She joined Medlife with zero travel background. She made her first booking in week 2 and now books honeymoons and family holidays from her kitchen table.

Josh worked in retail and had never used a booking system before. He now runs his own travel Instagram and books luxury Europe breaks full-time.

Claire was a stay-at-home mum for 10 years. Now she’s planning weddings in Rhodes and group holidays for friends - all from home, with full support from the Medlife team.

No travel experience. Just drive, support and proper training.

Nope. There are no formal requirements or licences to become a travel agent in the UK - especially when working under a host agency like Medlife that holds all the protections (like ATOL and TTA/PTS).

We cover the legal side in your training, and your clients are 100% financially protected from day one.

We built Medlife specifically for people who are brand new to the industry - but want to do it properly.

• Modern, clear training (not boring PowerPoints)

• Fully bookable travel website (worth £5,000+)

• Ongoing support from real people

• Commission on extras like transfers, excursions & more

• Real-life marketing help (not just "post more on Facebook")

And we don’t upsell you into endless upgrades or courses.

If you love travel, you’re organised, and you care about getting things right for people - then this could be the start of something brilliant.

Experience isn’t the barrier. Confidence is. And that’s what we help you build - step by step.

• Download our info pack to see what’s included in the Medlife programme

• Join the waitlist for our next intake (we only open doors twice a year)

• Send us a message with any questions - we’re real people, and we’ll reply

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