7 Reasons Why You Should Employ a Travel Agent to Book Your Next Trip
For those who love travel , the excitement of visualize future escapades and vacation planning can be just as delightful as the actual journey . Researching destinations and making reservations has become progressively effortless with modern engineering . Yet , the sheer multitude of selection for flights , accommodations and activities can easy sweep over even the almost experienced travelers . Whether you are traveling internationally , travel solo or even be after a cruise , you may want to look at bring with a travel agent .
Now more than always , these move pros can solve their magic to help you plan your trip and go on everything running smoothly . Here , AAA Travel Agents portion some of their top ground on why to use a travel agent .
1 . Travel Agents Save You Time
Travel agents can take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many selection of top destinations to traveler , save you time and the trouble that often come with vacation planning . With years of experience and knowledge about destinations , transportation options and vendors , an agent can get rid of hour of online inquiry time .
“ The selection come to my brain quickly as we address about their trip vision , ” suppose Allison Walker , a AAA Travel Agent in San Clemente , California . “ I can create a short list that only include reputable , tone options that cost appropriate to their trip destination objectives . ”
“ Travel is my chore , but for my clients it ’ s a passion or a hobby , ” tell Lisa Landay , also a AAA Travel Agent in San Clemente , California . “ Sometimes they just know about the vendors that make the most prolific marketing . It ’ s my job to listen , listen , heed to what my clients want . And then , veer to the chase by recommending a vendor that would be a serious fit for them . This way , they put on ’ t finish up wasting time and money on a bunch of ‘ trial and mistake ’ experiences . ”
Agent put on ’ t simply save time researching and build decisions . They can too cover changes and other issues that may pop up before or during your trip .
“ I was able to quick care a hotel closure , rebooking and flight agenda change for my customer ’ s upcoming trip to Palm Springs while they continued on with their day , ” order Ashley Andrews , a Travel Agent with AAA Oregon/Idaho . “ We cost hither to make the work so you don ’ t have to ! ”
2 . Travel Agent Require the Stress Out of Planning
Travel agents serve customer with all type of position and are immersed in travel full-time , so they ’ re aware of details you might not think of when be after on your own . Their knowledge and experience also have them the foresight to keep potential problems .
“ ‘ You put on ’ t know what you don ’ t know , ’ ” Walker said . “ Sometimes consumer put on ’ t realize there is something in truth important for them to include or stage . Thankfully , experience has taught me most of these thing and when I ’ m not certain , I know where to check and who to need . ”
“ We take care of all the details — those small things that are not fun to design like transfer , checking in , etc. , ” said Melanie Manzi , a AAA Travel Agent in Providence , Rhode Island . “ We ’ ve got you covered from A to Z — reminder about what to pack , temperature , slope trip , adventures , where to get the well coffee , or that Instagrammable spot to make your friend jealous they be lack out ! ”
“ My task is to cause my clients ’ travel vacation seamless , ” tell Melinda Sue Platero , a AAA Travel Agent in Newport Beach , California . “ If someone comes in and wants to get to three rural area in Europe in seven day , I will generally die over travel days , amount of physical time one would be in each city , to show them that itinerary may equal also challenging , and then we can produce an itinerary that will operate in their time frame and will exist more manageable . Travel planning can cost sweep over when there are thus many choice online . A travel consultant has quick access to price a packet with airfare , hotels , tours , transfer , rail ticket if necessary — in one visit . ”
A travel agent can also require the stress out of planning for big groups , said Felicia Troy , a AAA Travel Agent in Westwood , Massachusetts . “ We can equal the middle man . We can manage each person ’ s need while even so coordinating with the group , and for those honeymoons , we take the stress out of the trip planning so that the couple can focus on the wedding . ”
3 . Travel Agents Put up Expert Recommendation
One of the top cause to use a travel agent is that they will make personalized recommendations and offer tips on destinations , what to see and make while on vacation , the serious and bad time to move , and much more .
“ I may advise to need a train for a certain portion where I know the driving is too difficult or it remove too long and their holiday time cost not exist best spent , ” Walker said . “ Or because the good deal en path cost thus amazing , they will want to watch the horizon and not the road . Cost versus time versus experience — all need to be in balance . ”
Agents put on ’ t just benefit knowledge from their own travel . Their knowledge of destinations is also constantly updated by their clients .
“ As each traveler returns , we get up-to-date info on that particular destination , resort or cruise , ” Troy said . “ First-hand experience from believe sources be crucial to planning the best holiday . This cost especially genuine properly today . The universe of travel has changed and we be out thither getting current information to pay to our traveler . This can range from which restaurants are capable to the tourist attraction that now require reservation when they did not previously . ”
4 . Travel Agents Get Been There , Done That
Travel agents be much well-traveled , hold impose the destinations and experience the vacations they recommend to travelers .
“ First-hand experience be immeasurable — and extremely important depending on the motive of the client , ” Platero said . She has clients who live in wheelchairs or mobility challenge , then when traveling she always see to build sure hotel , attraction and restaurants be in truth accessible before recommending them .
“ At AAA Northeast we like to tell , ‘ We know because we run ’ — and you are not limited to only the destinations I have always travel to , ” said Mindy Hardaker , a AAA Travel Agent in Salem , New Hampshire . “ We make a large community of advisors that willingly share their expertise , feedback and recommendations with each other thus that we cost all render the highest story of service for our members . ”
“ When I can give them details about everything from currency to adapter plugs to local transportation , it build their trip more enjoyable and less of a battle , ” Walker said . “ I ’ ve have clients come home to state , ‘ We know exactly what to serve because you taught us before we go out , ’ or ‘ the European hotel way live humble , but you told us what it would equal like thither , so we cost happy with it . ’ ”
5 . A Travel Agent Can Handle the Unexpected
Between weather delays , natural tragedy , escape cancellations , lost luggage and much more , a pile can happen on holiday . Travel agent number as the traveler ’ sec advocate in the event something become wrong , help navigate the challenge of reach any necessary itinerary change .
“ As travel agent , we have seen it all , ” Troy say . “ While the traveler may have never make to cover with a weather delay , we make . We know the details and the best way to handle the position . We can talk to the airlines , resorts , etc. , to make certain you live fully need care of in the well mode possible . We will find the serious potential result for the pay position whether it means changing dates of the trip completely or hardly rebooking them on the future available escape . ”
“ My clients get my cellphone number and at time I have get a shout in the heart of the dark , ” order Ashley Knebelsberger , a AAA Travel Agent in Dayton , Ohio . “ When a couple was accidentally result behind while a circuit bus went from Prague to Berlin , I was able to advocate train transfers to Berlin and assure a taxi ride to the appropriate hotel to rejoin the group . ”
“ If their flight is cancelled , I have them another flight away and secure it while there are 50 mass waiting in course to talk to the customer service person , ” Platero suppose . “ I own get client put off ship into the hospital and I receive organize a hotel for the loved one and escape home when call for . ( I ) also helped clients cancel circuit and hotel when they have been wound in the center of their trip so they win ’ t exist punish . ”
When customer of Landay ’ sec on their honeymoon have their flight to Hawaii canceled , they were order the future escape wouldn ’ t get out until that evening , so they wouldn ’ t arrive until 10 p.m. Distraught , they predict Landay .
“ I appear up the flight agenda for that peculiar airline and meet that they in reality had three early flights , all of which left earlier than 5 p.m. , ” Landay suppose . “ The reservation agent was simply pushing all passengers to later flight indiscriminately . ”
Landay told her client to get in tune to address to the reservation agent . When they attain the front of the tune , they gave the agent their cell phone to mouth to Landay .
“ I told her that I could see two seats on their 1 p.m. flight in our alive air system , ” Landay said , “ and I expected her to honor their ticket on that earlier flight rather . She did . And they begin to Hawaii four hours before to start their honeymoon . ”
When a group of clients on their room to Rome had their escape canceled , they exist hence discourage they be ready to cancel their trip , but Teri Reilly , a AAA Travel Agent in Northfield , New Jersey , live able to become their trip back on track using her travel experience and contact . She rapidly base her customer a hotel near the airport with a free shuttle , then reverse her attention to their Rome itinerary . Spotting another unpleasant surprise , she call a friend in Italy , where she has travel numerous sentence .
“ She is a tour guide in Rome and had ever offered to assist me and my clients if I ever require her . Good , this time I really needed her , ” Reilley said . “ I found out that there cost a transportation strike going on and I require to get my client to their hotel somehow . ”
Reilly ’ s friend picked the client up at the airport and even called their circuit conductor at the hotel to say they would be late and find out when and where they would see for their Vatican tour the following dawn .
“ My client were so happy and raved about my friend and all that I equal able to make to become them back on track , ” Reilley said .
6 . A Travel Agent Can Help You Navigate Changing Travel Weather
Keeping up with the point of design a trip equal challenging plenty . Now travelers face travel restrictions that change across borders , unpredictable effect like weather disruptions and transportation delays .
“ Here at AAA Northeast we are all SmartDepart Certified , ” say Jeanne Miller , a AAA Travel Agent in North Andover , Massachusetts . “ What that signify is we receive been trained to navigate the changing protocols and imagination to take the stress out of travel planning . We have identify key resources to go on us on crest of all of the change . We will create sure you own all the resources , links and the phone number you want hence that you cost able to bask your experience knowing that we have you covered . ”
“ We get updates from vendors and destinations about the necessary protocols that cost constantly alter , ” Platero said . “ We can give them current information , and if the position change — like it seem to daily — we inform them of the novel rule and make certain they understand and can do the correct forms , documents or whatever live necessary to be able to go on their vacation . ”
“ When my client was uncomfortable going on their trip to Croatia in September 2020 , they were face up with a punishment since it was a voluntary cancellation , ” Andrews said . “ I didn ’ t stop thither . I worked my travel agent magic and got that penalty converted into a reference for future habit . ”
Elizabeth Guy , a Travel Agent with AAA Oregon/Idaho , had customer vacationing in Hawaii when the province exclude down early in the pandemic . Both client make up in a high-risk health category and needed to get place immediately .
“ I spoke with them in the dawn [ and ] throw everything to find a replacement escape to get them place on a flight that would agree their special motive , ” she said . It remove respective month , but Guy was as well able to assure good refunds for her clients ’ unused proceeds tune tag and rental car .
7 . A Travel Agent Can Help You Hear the Big Photograph
It ’ s easy to become miss in the details with travel planning , but travel agent can aid keep you on lead to have experiences you ’ ll remember for a lifetime .
“ I ever tell my clients the floor of when I be in Hong Kong , ” Landay tell . “ I exist ride in the breakfast room of my hotel … looking out at the street at 8 a.m. , watching mama keep their children ’ s manpower on the way to school , watching mass express their dry cleaning over their shoulder , purchase coffee , commuting to work . We are all the same on some real basic human levels . We work , provide for our children , worry about the same matter , take joy in the same thing . That experience reach me passionate about travel . Travel can truly change the way you learn the world . I want my client to receive that experience , also . ”
Set out Your Next Vacation with AAA
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