Planning a trip can take a lot of time and money. There's research that needs to be done, prices that need to be negotiated, itineraries that need to be organized, paperwork that needs to be completed and so much more. A fun time away can often start out as a major headache.
Here come the travel agent superheroes who are the remedy to your travel planning headaches.
Cut Through the Noise
"Hotels, resorts, travel suppliers and more are all crowding every corner of the internet screaming that they are 'the best' and have the lowest price," said Sara Locke of Book Better Travel. "A search engine is only made to spit out what you put into it and that can make it difficult to find something that meets your needs."
Just recently, Locke received a new client inquiry for a specific destination. "Within a 15-minute phone pow-wow, we came to the conclusion that the destination he was requesting would not meet his needs, but he had landed on it through Google," said Locke. "I provided him with alternate recommendations that more closely aligned with his expectations and he booked on the spot. That's the power of a person vs a search engine."
Make Trip Planning Easier
"Since I have personally been to and inspected so many resorts and cruise ships, I can easily help them narrow down their choices and plan a vacation that suits their needs and tastes," said Kim DalPonte, owner/consultant of Pixie Dust & Paradise Travel, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois. "I also create custom itineraries for each family, which seems to be a big hit."
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Tackle Things-to-Do
"The most important thing a travel agent can remedy for their clients is to ensure that they are fully prepared to enjoy their vacation, with the least amount of worry," said Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director, Katarina Line. "That means guiding them through any Visa requirements, what to pack, what kind of budget they should consider and where to call if they have problems. These are all the basic questions that are easy to answer, but can cause great discomfort to clients when they are in a strange place, far from home and their normal routines."
Handle Emergencies
"Our entire team is comprised of local experts who know the destinations better than anyone and since we've been doing this since 1999, you can trust that we've pretty much seen everything and are prepared to handle virtually any situation that arises," said Rafa Mayer, Founder and CEO of Say Hueque, a travel agency in South America.
Coordinate Large Parties
"If you are traveling with a larger party, you know that coordinating everyone's schedules can be a nightmare," said Kathryn Finkelstein, travel agent with MickeyTravels, LLC.
"Navigating group contracts and pitting resort lines against each other to price match can be a timely process," said James Berglie of Be All Inclusive. "Let a trusted experienced travel agent handle this as they do it all the time."
Bust Budgets
"Travel agents are up to date and have the knowledge of promotions and discounts that resorts or vacation destinations may be offering," said Finkelstein. "Not only can your travel agent save you time, they can possibly save you money."
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Schedule Excursions
"Narrowing destination choices and working out the details about how to get from here to there is probably one of the major planning headaches a travel agent can remedy," said Jeannette Candau, co-owner of European walking tour specialist, The Blue Walk. "There are so many places to travel. An experienced agent can work with a client to create short lists of travel experiences that will, hopefully, exceed client expectations. Also, agents are familiar with local air, bus and ferry systems and can provide well thought-out transfers at best local rates."
Sandy Nussbaum-Giercyk said that a good travel agent can even help with headaches you didn't even know you could have.
"Did you know you need six months remaining on your passport to travel?" she asked. "Did you consider a grocery delivery instead of paying for an extra bag with diapers and more? Did you realize arriving late at night, the free shared shuttle could add an extra hour to your travel? How about the little things."
"For example, yes, visiting Pearl Harbor is free but you did you know that you needed to get your tickets two months before your arrival? A seasoned agent with knowledge of the destination isn't going to let you get those headaches."
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