If you’re running a travel website with WP Travel Engine, you’re probably leaving money on the table. I’m not being dramatic here. Most tour operators just list their trips and call it a day. But here’s the thing: your customers want to buy more stuff from you. They just need you to offer it.
That’s where the Extra Services addon comes in. It lets you add things like airport pickups, equipment rentals, meal upgrades, and basically anything else you can think of right on your booking page. And the numbers don’t lie. Travel businesses using this kind of upselling typically see their average order value jump by 15-40%. Some even hit 46% during peak season.
This guide is going to walk you through exactly how to set this thing up. No fluff, just the actual steps you need to take.
Why You Should Care About This
Before we get into the setup, let me give you some context. The travel industry figured this out a while ago. Airlines made $117.9 billion from extras in 2023. That’s 15% of their total revenue. They’re not selling you a seat anymore. They’re selling you a seat, plus a checked bag, plus priority boarding, plus extra legroom.
You can do the same thing with your tours.
When someone books a 5-day hiking trip, they probably also need hiking boots, a sleeping bag, maybe a camera rental, and definitely airport pickup. If they have to go find all that stuff separately, some of them just won’t do it. But if you put it right there during checkout? That’s easy money.
And here’s the best part. These extras usually have way better profit margins than your base trips. Your main tour package has fixed costs eating into your margins. But that $50 airport transfer or $30 equipment rental? Much better margins.
What You Need Before Starting
Here’s what you need:
- WordPress 5.0 or newer (you probably already have this)
- WP Travel Engine plugin version 5.0.0 or later (make sure it’s updated)
- The Extra Services addon purchase (obviously)
- Admin access to your WordPress site
That’s it. Nothing complicated.
Step 1: Getting the Plugin File
First, you need to download the actual plugin file. Here’s how:
Go to wptravelengine.com and log in to your account.
Head to the My Account page at wptravelengine.com/my-account/.
Then navigate to wptravelengine.com/plugins/extra-services/.
Once you’re logged in and on that page, you’ll see a “Download” button on the right side instead of the usual “View Pricing” button.
Click that and grab the “wp-travel-engine-extra-services.zip” file.
Save it somewhere you can find it. Your Downloads folder is fine.
Step 2: Installing the Addon
Now let’s get this thing on your site.
Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard. Go to Plugins, then click Add New. You’ll see an “Upload Plugin” button at the top of the page. Click that.
Click “Choose File” and find that zip file you just downloaded. Select it, then hit “Install Now.”
WordPress will do its thing. When it’s done, you’ll see an “Activate” button. Click it.
That’s it. The plugin is now installed and active on your site.
Step 3: Activating Your License
This part is important. Without activating your license, you won’t get updates or support. And trust me, you want those updates.
In your WordPress admin, go to WP Travel Engine, then Plugin License. You’ll see a field asking for your license key. This key should have been emailed to you when you bought the addon.
Paste the key in there and click “Save Changes.”
Now refresh the page. You should see an “Activate License” button. Click that.
If everything worked, you’ll see a success message. If not, double-check that you copied the whole key and that your internet connection is working.
Step 4: Setting Up Global Settings
Before you create any services, you need to set up some basic settings.
Go to WP Travel Engine, then Settings, then Extensions, then Extra Services.
You’ll see a field asking for a “Service Title.” This is what customers will see on your trip pages as the heading for all the extra stuff they can buy. Something like “Additional Services” or “Enhance Your Trip” works fine. Don’t overthink it.
Click “Save and Continue.”
Note: In newer versions of the addon, there’s a dedicated Extra Services menu right under WP Travel Engine. If you see that, use it instead. Same concept, just easier to find.
Step 5: Creating Your First Extra Service
Now we get to the good stuff. Let’s create an actual service people can buy.
Go to WP Travel Engine, then Extra Services. Click “Add New.”
You’ll see a form with several fields. Let’s break down what each one means.
Service Title
This is the name of your service. Make it clear and specific. “Airport Pickup Service” is better than just “Transportation.” “Professional Photography Package” is better than “Photos.”
Service Description
Write a few sentences explaining what this service includes. Answer the questions customers will have. What do they get? When does it happen? What’s included in the price?
For example: “A Professional driver meets you at the airport arrivals with a name sign. Comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle takes you directly to your hotel. Includes help with luggage and waiting time if your flight is delayed.”
That’s clear. That tells them exactly what they’re getting.
Understanding Service Types
Here’s where it gets interesting. The addon gives you two ways to set up services: Default and Advanced.
Default Service Type
This is for simple services with one price. Airport transfers, travel insurance, and equipment rental for a specific item. Things where there’s no variation.
When you choose Default, you set:
Service Cost: The price for this service.
Service Unit: How the price works
You get two options here:
- Per Unit: The price stays the same, no matter how many people book
- Per Traveler: The price multiplies by the number of travelers
Let’s say you’re offering an airport pickup. If you set it to “Per Unit” at $50, a solo traveler pays $50, and a family of four also pays $50 (assuming they fit in one vehicle).
But if you set it to “Per Traveler” at $50, that solo traveler pays $50, but the family of four pays $200. This doesn’t make sense for an airport pickup, but it would make sense for something like travel insurance.
Advanced Service Type
This is for services with multiple options at different prices. Vehicle rentals, accommodation upgrades, and meal plans. Anything where customers choose between different versions.
With Advanced, you set up:
Field Type: How customers select options
- Single Selection: They can pick one option (like choosing between Economy Car, SUV, or Luxury Car)
- Multiple Selection: They can pick several options (like choosing multiple pieces of equipment)
Pricing Options: How you handle the prices
- Same Price: All options cost the same (like different pickup locations that all cost $50)
- Different Prices: Each option has its own price (like Economy Car $40, SUV $60, Luxury Car $90)
Setting Up Advanced Service Options
When you’re using the Advanced type, you need to add the actual options customers can choose from.
You’ll see a section where you can add “Service Options.” For each option, you provide:
- Service Option Name (like “Economy Car”)
- Service Cost (if using different prices)
- Service Description (specific details about this option)
Then click “Add Service Option” to add more choices.
Let me show you a real example:
Service Title: Vehicle Rental
Description: Choose from our fleet of well-maintained vehicles for the duration of your trip
Field Type: Single Selection
Pricing: Different Prices
Options:
- Economy Car, $40/day, “Fuel-efficient compact car, perfect for city driving and couples”
- SUV, $65/day, “Spacious vehicle with room for 5 passengers and luggage, ideal for families”
- Luxury Sedan, $95/day, “Premium vehicle with leather seats and advanced features”
That gives customers clear choices with transparent pricing.
Making Services Required
Sometimes you want to make certain services mandatory. Maybe you’re doing an adventure tour in a remote area and everyone needs to rent safety equipment. Or perhaps you’re going international and travel insurance is required.
When editing a service, you’ll see a toggle for “Required.” Turn that on, and the service automatically gets added to every booking. Customers can’t uncheck it.
Use this sparingly. Most services should be optional. But for true essentials, it makes sense.
Publishing Your Services
Once you’ve filled in all the details, click “Publish.” The service is now created but not yet visible on any trips. We’ll handle that next.
Take a minute to create a few more services. Set up 3-5 different extras that make sense for your trips. Mix in some Default services (simple, one-price items) and some Advanced services (multiple options).
Adding Services to Your Trips
Creating the services is only half the job. Now you need to assign them to specific trips.
Go to Trips, then All Trips. Find a trip you want to add extras to and click Edit.
Scroll down until you see the “Extra Services” section. Click “Choose Global Extra Services.”
You’ll see a list of all the services you created. Check the boxes for the ones that make sense for this trip.
Here’s the thing. Don’t just add every service to every trip. Be strategic. A beach vacation doesn’t need snow gear rentals. A city tour doesn’t need camping equipment. Match the services to the trip.
Click “Save and Continue,” then “Update” at the top of the page.
Now go to your website and look at that trip page. You should see your extra services listed, ready for customers to add to their booking.
What Customers See
Let’s talk about the customer experience because that’s what actually matters.
When someone books a trip, they go through the normal process. Choose their dates, select the number of travelers, all that. Then, during checkout, they see an “Extra Services” section.
All the services you added to that trip show up there. Each one has:
- The title you wrote
- A help icon that they can click for more details
- The price is clearly displayed
- A way to select or deselect it
If you set up an Advanced service with multiple options, they see all the options with their individual prices. They pick the one they want.
The total price updates automatically as they add or remove services. Everything is transparent. No surprises at payment.
And here’s what makes this work. It’s all on one page. They don’t have to go to another website to book a rental car. They don’t have to email you separately about airport pickup. It’s right there, easy to add, easy to pay for.
Smart Strategy for Picking Services
Okay, you know how to set this up technically. But what services should you actually offer? Here’s what works:
Think About Pain Points
What do your customers worry about? First-time international travelers stress about airport pickups. Families with kids need flexible meal options. Adventure seekers want to pack light and rent gear.
Solve those problems with your services.
Consider Your Trip Type
Adventure tours: Equipment rentals, photography packages, meal upgrades, gear transport
Cultural tours: Audio guides, private guide upgrades, cooking classes, craft workshops, boutique hotel upgrades
Beach vacations: Water sports equipment, spa packages, romantic dinner options, excursions
Business travel: Executive transportation, late checkout, mobile wifi, presentation equipment
Price It Right
Your extras should feel reasonable compared to the base trip cost. If someone’s booking a $500 trip, a $300 rental car feels too expensive. But a $50 airport pickup and a $75 equipment package? That feels right.
Also, don’t undercharge. If your service has real value, price it accordingly. Cheap services make people question the quality.
Bundle Related Services
Instead of listing 20 individual items, group them. Create an “Adventure Package” with hiking boots, backpack, and sleeping bag for $80 instead of three separate $30 items. People like simplicity.
Testing Everything
Before you start promoting these services, test the whole flow yourself.
Go to your site (maybe in an incognito window so you see what customers see).
Pick a trip, go through the booking process, add some extra services, and complete a test booking.
Make sure:
- All services show up correctly
- Prices calculate properly
- The descriptions make sense
- The checkout process works smoothly
- You receive the booking with all the extras included
If something’s broken, fix it now. Not after a customer has a bad experience.
Tracking What Works
Once this is live, pay attention to what people actually buy.
Check your bookings and see:
- Which services get added most often
- Which trips have the highest extra service uptake
- What percentage of customers add anything at all
- How much extra revenue are you generating
If nobody’s buying a particular service, maybe the price is wrong, or the description isn’t clear, or people just don’t want it. Try adjusting it or replacing it with something else.
If one service is super popular, consider creating similar options or raising the price slightly.
Common Problems and Fixes
Services Not Showing Up
If you created services but they’re not appearing on your trip pages, check three things:
- Did you publish the service? (Not just save as draft)
- Did you assign it to the specific trip?
- Did you update the trip after assigning the service?
Usually, it’s number three people forget.
License Won’t Activate
If your license key isn’t working:
- Make sure you copied the entire key with no extra spaces
- Verify you’re using it on the right domain (licenses are domain-specific)
- Check your internet connection
- Try refreshing the page after saving the key
Prices are Not Calculating correctly
If the total isn’t adding up correctly:
- Double-check your Per Unit vs. Per Traveler settings
- Make sure you set prices for all Advanced service options
- Verify your payment gateway is updated and compatible
Keeping Everything Updated
Once you’ve got this running, don’t forget about it. The addon gets updates that add features and fix bugs.
Go to Plugins in your WordPress admin every few weeks and check for updates. If there’s an update for Extra Services, install it.
Also, back up your site regularly. If something breaks, you want to be able to restore it. Most hosting companies offer automatic backups, but double-check yours does.
Making This Work for Your Business
Here’s the truth. This addon is just a tool. It won’t magically make you more money. You have to use it strategically.
Start with 3-5 solid services that you know customers want. Get those working perfectly. Then add more over time as you learn what people respond to.
Write good descriptions. Most people skim, so make the key information obvious. “Includes hotel pickup, professional guide, all equipment, and lunch” is better than a paragraph of fluff.
Price things to make sense. You want to increase your average order value, but you don’t want to scare people away with prices that feel unreasonable.
And here’s something most people miss. Promote these services. Don’t just stick them on your booking page and hope people notice. Mention them in your trip descriptions. Talk about them in your confirmation emails. Show examples on social media.
“Sarah added our photography package to her Himalayan trek and got these amazing shots” is great marketing for that service.
The Bottom Line
The Extra Services addon takes maybe an hour to set up properly. And then it just works. It sits there on your booking pages, quietly making you extra money on every sale.
Is it going to transform your business overnight?
No. But it’s going to increase your average order value by 15-30% if you do it right. For most tour operators, that’s a significant chunk of additional revenue with almost no extra work.
The key is getting started. Pick one trip, add three services to it, test it, and see what happens. Then expand from there.
And remember, every booking where someone adds extras is a win. That’s more money in your pocket and a better experience for your customer. They get everything they need in one place, and you get higher revenue. Everyone’s happy.
So go set this thing up. It’s worth your time.
