Your online booking engines can't replace your neighborhood travel agent when it comes to friendliness, familiarity and the most important of all, the ability to troubleshoot. You want someone who keeps updated on all of the travel industry's trends as well as its travails.
Many of us might consider this industry old-fashioned and out-of-date but research shows that travelers, millennials, particularly, are once again turning to these specialists.
Here are The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly when using travel agents:
Pros
Travel agents are passionate about their jobs. Every single client is different. They can create itineraries to share the world with you. Simply provide the details and get on with your life. Travel agents are both time-saving and extremely convenient.
If something goes wrong, a call to your travel agent will help remedy the situation so you can be on your way to enjoying your vacation. They sort out travel-related hiccups. You won't get an automated telephone line where you must press a million buttons before you're connected but a real live person.
Your travel agent saves you from spending hours on the computer searching for good deals, meeting your needs and budget.
Every single day, a travel agent's inbox is brimming with exclusive offers from travel industry partners. Therefore, you can save money. Hotels and hospitality chains are happy to extend discounts to agents. They have access to promotions from resorts, cruise lines and other travel providers.
Also, in hopes of creating a personal relationship with properties and destination, familiarization trips are offered to travel agents.
Booking through an online travel site not be able to get that level of personalized attention as that with a travel agent.
Many travel agents are able to make recommendations because they specialize in a particular type of travel, such as cruises, Disney or Europe.
You may become showered with little things. A travel agent provides all the extras, such as a bottle of champagne or strawberries.
Cons
The cheapest option isn't always presented by travel agents. And there is a chance your expectations may not be met, with them unable to make things happen.
It can be cheaper to plan your own trip if you're willing to do all the work, especially if not a lot of details are involved. You may find the process simpler than you think.
An agent may persuade you to a hotel or resort that offers the agent the best commission.
Your itinerary may be less flexible with an agent, especially if you suddenly fall in love with a place.
So many options are available now to find low-cost airfare, like Scott's Cheap Flights, Google Flights, and Skyscanner.
At the end of the day, a travel agent is not you. They offer suggestions for activities, restaurants, and more. You run the risk of working with someone who doesn't get your personal preference.
Availability 24/7 of travel agents are also hard to come by. They stop working for you once the invoice is paid.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
