Want Stress-Free Travel? Book With a Travel Advisor

On Travel Agent Appreciation Day, it's the perfect time to remember why using a professional to book your vacation is so important to ensure travelers have a top-notch experience.

As the economy starts to reopen and people begin thinking of booking or rebooking their trips, there has never been a better time to turn to the experts.

Experts from Ensemble Travel Group share how travel agents can make vacations so much better.

As every traveler knows, there are many factors beyond anyone's control that can make a dream vacation go sour.

"That is one of the things that really distinguishes a travel professional from the internet," stated David Harris, CEO of Ensemble who was previously a second generation travel agency owner. "Whether it's a flight cancellation, problems at a hotel, unexpected illness, a travel professional can quickly jump in and assess the situation and then navigate all the roadblocks to find a solution. And, that has never been more apparent than during this current crisis. We have heard countless stories from our members and advisors everywhere who worked their magic to help get travelers home safely and are continuing to work with clients to navigate what has become an incredibly complicated and everchanging series of policies for refunds, cancellations or rebooking for future travel."

It takes a professional a fraction of that time to learn about a client's needs and interests.

"We also know seasonal trends, price fluctuations, popularity cycles, and are fully aware of the aggregated airfare data how many of the booking websites' algorithm models fare changes. More importantly, we also know when there are exceptions because we are human with practical experience and better decision-makers. I can make a judgment for a client and advise them of the ideal time to buy their ticket at the best fare, but without risking that it will go up even more. Managing risk is part of what we do. In short, a human with specific expertise is going to make a better judgment than a computer," said Avery Harris of Viking Travel.

"My best advice is to shop not just price, which is meaningless without value and all of the components that go into planning the trip. Just remember - the cheapest price is usually not the best deal. It's just the cheapest price and you may end up actually spending a lot more to get what you want. We know where to get the best value for your travel dollar and most clients tell us how surprised they were to have saved money when using a professional travel advisor," said Stephanie Turner of Brentwood Travel.

"One thing a travel advisor can offer that you don't really have the ability to do yourself is in their relationship with locally-based experts who are knowledgeable about the hottest new restaurants, off the beaten path sites, and unique cultural opportunities. This could even translate to having a local, private guide for part of your trip (or the whole thing!)," said Lauren Doyle, The Travel Mechanic.

"We know the right people who can do amazing things for you at a hotel. Because we have longstanding relationships with hotels around the world, we can often arrange for a free breakfast, upgrade or at least ensuring you are in one of the best rooms in the category you paid for." Said Stephanie Turner of Brentwood Travel.

Advisors have relationships with partners that include pre-negotiated rates that are not only better than what you would get from booking on your own or through an online travel agency, but they also include amenities such as complimentary breakfast, upgrades when available, and early check-in/late check-out.

Above all else, that they got expert, objective advice and service from someone with experience, professionalism, and willingness reply to any message or question immediately," said Scott Kertes, president of Vacations by Design.

Many people think if they book it on-line it will be cheaper that is the biggest myth about using a travel advisor so it would be nice if they were surprised to find it is not more expensive and they can get some amenities using a travel advisor that they cannot get on their own," said Beth Lariviere, TICO certified travel counselor and TICO certified manager, EA Travel and Tours.

There are travel agents specializing in just about every type of travel from adventure to cruise to luxury and more. Find one that is just right for you. Here's everything you need to know to find a trusted travel advisor.