While the internet is full of travel websites and options for DIY travel booking services, there are still lots of reasons to use a travel agent. Using a travel agent not only can save you time and money, it can help you avoid mistakes and protect you in case of an emergency.
Here are the top five reasons I give for suggesting travelers use a travel agent when planning trips, weddings, and honeymoons.
Travel Agents are Free
The services of a travel agent are free. Vendors pay the travel agent when the agent makes a booking with them. So the cost of the agent’s services are included in the price you pay. If you chose not to use their services the vendor pockets the money that the agent would be paid. So in that sense, you are paying for the services of an agent whether you use them or not. If you, for example, book through an online website, that website gets the agent fee without giving you the benefit of an agent’s personal services. So why would anyone give up the services of a professional travel agent when there is no additional cost for using them?
Travel Agents Can Save You Money
Travel agents are familiar with the various properties and know which ones are worth the money and which are not. Additionally, they know what special prices are available and what sort of discounts are appropriate for your particular situation. Since travel pricing is uniform for all users, these special discounts which are not widely advertised by the vendors, are the best way to get the lowest prices and travel agents are the best resource to get those prices.
Travel Agents Can Help You Avoid Mistakes
Most travel agents who special in destination weddings and honeymoon visit the resorts frequently to keep abreast of changes and determine the type of guests who would most enjoy that particular experience. In addition, they get feedback from the people they send there. If you do this yourself you miss that wealth of knowledge. Pictures on the Internet can be very misleading as can online reviews since you don’t know for sure who is writing them. With such a large dollar amount at stake you want to make the very best choice for your particular needs.
Travel Agents Save You Time
You could spend hours of your time on the Internet and still emerge confused about all the choices offered. However this waste of time pales in comparison to the time lost if you should make the wrong choices and do not enjoy your vacation to the fullest extent. We believe that your most valuable asset is your free time and you should do everything possible to make sure that it is used as optimally as possible. A good travel agent can help make sure that that happens.
Travel Agents Provide Emergency Help When You Need It
What if you miss your flight or perhaps your flight is cancelled? What if a personal emergency or some external event such an expected tropical storm causes you to change your plans? Or maybe when you see your room it is not what you expected. These and other situations can best be handled by a good travel agent. They have contacts with the various vendors and know who to go to to solve your problem. Trying to do this on your own would probably be an exercise in futility and result in the stress you are trying to escape. Allowing a travel agent to handle these unexpected situations as well all the various details that go into planning your trip is the best way to insure a stress-free and successful vacation.
Before you hit the buy button on a travel website, remember in most cases, there is no one there to guide you in your selections or provide assistance should something go wrong. You can only have that personalized attention when you use a travel agent.
