Travel agents are available to answer questions that travelers have about their trips-and, boy, do travelers have questions!
We asked agents to share their answers to some of their customers' most common concerns.
What time should I be at the airport?
"As travel agents, we sometimes forget our clients are not nearly as familiar with travel as we are," said James Berglie of Be All Inclusive. "
My most common questions come from a result of being nervous about the logistics of flying: What time should I get to the airport? How do I check in? What can I bring and not bring? How do I go through customs and immigration?
I've managed to come up with some pretty routine travel tips that I include for all of my clients to each country, helping guide them through the entire process, which my clients find very helpful and comforting."
What about the food?
"Many travelers want to know about the food, wine and opportunities to sample authentic cuisine," said Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director Katarina Line.
"Enjoying authentic local cuisine is an integral part of the experience, and we are always diligent to ensure that our guests get great value by recommending the best places to eat and things to do within their budget."
How much do I tip?
"Since tipping is such an integral component of the services industry in the United States, our clients want to ensure they are tipping properly and not offending their local hosts by tipping too little, or even too much," said Scott Ludlum, president, Panama Travel Consultants and Travel Journeys of a Lifetime in Riverview, Florida.
"My response assures our clients that tipping is very subjective and that their local hosts appreciate any tips they are given, but tips are not expected and the level of excellent service certainly does not depend on the expectation of a good tip."
What shots do I need?
Ludlum also said that clients always ask about vaccinations and whether malarial medicine is needed for the destinations they will travel to:
"We educate our clients as to where in the country or region they will be traveling to and then direct them to consult with their personal physician and to visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website for current information about recommended and required vaccinations."
How does this trip meet my family's needs?
"With every client I work with, I have them fill out a Client Information Sheet (needed for booking their trip), which collects information about them as well as questions about certain aspects that help with the planning process," said Jennifer Turner, travel agent with MickeyTravels, LLC.
"Some of these questions are: 'What are the favorite Disney characters for everyone? Do you have any rides of interest? Are there any characters you want to dine with?' etc. This sheet is helpful to me when I send my personal Disney Dining and FastPass Recommendations to my clients."
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Can I ask some questions?
Brandon Shaw, an Italy Travel Expert and Head of Trip Planning at The Roman Guy, said that, like many agents, he gets hit with a few rounds of questions:
"The first round is: 'What time of year should we go? How much do four-star hotels cost? Where should we visit in Italy?'
Once that is settled, clients get more practical" 'How much money should I bring? Do they accept credit cards? How much should I tip?'"
Didn't you get displaced by the internet?
Okay, so this one isn't about the trip itself, but agents say they are asked this often. Travelers are actually surprised to find that travel agents still exist.
"My reply is, 'Are you kidding?'" said Susan Kelly, luxury adventure trips, an affiliate of Travel Experts.
"Look at how many travel companies, resorts and cruise lines are advertising on the internet? How do you know if they're telling the truth? How do you know which one is the right one for you? If you want to have confidence in what you're booking, collaborate with a travel agent who understands you and what type of traveler you are. Remember, the internet is for looking, call your travel agent for booking."
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