Planning a vacation can be overwhelming. With so many different options and reviews available online, it can take you hours to sketch out a rough itinerary, and even longer to chose flights and accommodation.
Here are three reasons why you should consider using a travel agent to help you plan your next vacation:
Convenience
Picture this: you’ve got two weeks free over summer and know you’d like to go overseas, but you have no idea where. Simply tell your travel agent what you’re looking for, and they can do the research for you.
Travel agents are usually well traveled themselves, and if they haven’t been to the destination, you can bet someone else in their office has. They’ll also often offer you great options that you may not have thought of yourself.
Using an online travel agent is an excellent way to compare flights from multiple airlines, which means you don’t need to search one by one through each airlines website.
However you should always try to have a face-to-face meeting with your local travel agent. While online booking systems can give you different prices, they can’t ‘t give you the personalized service of an agent, who will use their wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your trip and take care of all of the details.
Safety
Without a travel agent you’re on your own. This means that if something happens while you’re traveling (as it often does), you’ll be left negotiating with airlines, trying to get in touch with your insurance company, or arguing with your hotel.
In 2010 over 95,000 flights were canceled due to the volcano eruption in Iceland, and while many people were left stranded, those who booked through an agent were arguably much better off. If you miss a flight, or the hotel can’t find your reservation, a simply call to the agent that booked your trip can get you on the next flight out, or in a hotel quickly.
Price
Many people have the misguided belief that using a travel agent is more expensive than booking their vacation independently, but you’d be surprised at how much cheaper using an agent can be.
Travel agents are constantly updated with the latest sales on flights and accommodation, and have access to deals and packages that you probably won’t find.
While they will sometimes make a small commission, travel agents are also on a reasonable base salary, and do the job because they’re passionate about travel, and helping others explore the world.
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