Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
You may be wondering whether booking your next vacation with a travel advisor is worth it in today’s digital world with many travel sites right at your finger tips. This is a complicated question and ultimately depends on you and your own interest in spending time planning travel.
What is a Travel Advisor (or agent)
A travel advisor is a professional who specializes in helping people plan and book their travel experiences. They offer expert guidance on destinations, accommodations, and activities, tailoring each trip to meet individual preferences and needs. Their goal is to make travel planning seamless and enjoyable, ensuring a memorable and stress-free experience for their clients. You can often use a travel advisors advice or have them book the entire trip. At Chasing ADVTNR Travel we also offer travel consulting and coaching to help meet you travel planning needs exactly where you are in the travel planning process. Learn more about the travel services at Chasing ADVNTR Travel.
Pros of a Travel Agent
Expert Advice: Travel agents have in-depth knowledge and experience, offering personalized recommendations tailored to your interests and preferences. You want to find a travel agent that aligns with your destination or interest and will listen to what YOU WANT.
Time Savings: They handle all the research, planning, and booking, saving you hours of time and reducing stress. Planning a trip can easily take over 10 hours and often times much more. Using a travel agent can help steamline this process and save you time!
Access to Exclusive Deals: Travel agents often have access to special rates, packages, and amenities not available to the general public. Travel agents often have established relationships with local vendors, providing insider tips and recommendations for a more authentic experience.
Customized Itineraries: They can create a unique travel experience based on your specific needs and desires, ensuring your trip is tailored just for you.
Problem Solving: If issues arise during your trip, your travel agent may be able to handle them on your behalf, offering support and solutions to ensure a smooth experience. While travel agents are not available 24 hours are day, they are often able to help in an emergency.
Travel Insurance Assistance: They can help you navigate travel insurance options, ensuring you’re covered in case of unexpected events.
Peace of Mind: Knowing you have a dedicated professional managing your travel arrangements provides reassurance and confidence in your plans.
Stress Reduction: From handling cancellations to managing changes, a travel agent can help minimize travel-related stress and ensure everything goes smoothly. Sometimes it’s just nice to have someone helping out and answering questions so you can make the most of your vacation.
Why You May Not Want to Use a Travel Agent
There are definintely better times to use a travel agent and not every trip (or every traveler) will benefit from a travel agent. Below are some situations where you may not want to use a travel agent:
- Cost: Booking with a travel agent can save you money, but not always. If your only goal is to save money, you may be better off booking your own travel. You can find our favorite resources to book our own travel on our resources page.
- Less Direct Control: Booking through an agent means you may have less direct control over the booking process, including managing reservations and making changes. This is especially true with airlines. There are some instances where it’s best to book directly. A good advisor will offer recommendations on this and won’t simply push travelers to certain places.
- Varied Quality: The quality of service can vary significantly between agents, so it’s important to choose one with a strong reputation and expertise in your desired travel area. You want to find an advisor that meets your needs and listens to you!
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