The Internet has made it much easier for the potential traveler to research vacation destinations, itineraries, and accommodations on their own. In theory, a traveler could plan their entire vacation themselves, independently. However, for a number of reasons, it’s still best to attain the services of a travel agent when booking your vacation. Here are some of the most important reasons why.
1. Knowledge
A good travel agent will have a strong base of knowledge, built up from not only from their education on the subject, but from years of personal experience traveling and using the agencies and services they recommend. You can research the matter as much as possible, but in the end, you’re relying on your best judgment while having never been there and forming an opinion through hearsay. Someone who plans vacations for a living will know what they’re doing. It’s a lot easier to have someone you can trust.
2. Accountability
If you plan your vacation independently, and things go wrong, or the accommodations you make aren’t as promised or planned, you may not have much recourse. You don’t have any personal assurance of the reliability or reputation of the companies you’ll be arranging a vacation with. A travel agent not only gives you someone to go to when you have questions or problems, their complaints to a service provider will carry more weight than an individual customer’s, because the providers rely on the agents to supply them with steady business– business that will dry up quickly with too many dissatisfied customers.
Unbeatable Experiences, Unbeatable Price
It works the same for the travel agents themselves: they have their own motivations to provide you with quality service, as they have a reputation and business to maintain. A travel agent whose vacations go poorly and don’t deliver as promised won’t be a travel agent for long.
3. Itineraries and Cost Savings
Often, travel agents (or their agencies) will have partnerships and deals with reliable providers of vacation services such as transportation, accommodations, or local tours and tour guides. By planning with a travel agent, you can have these services included in your deal. The partnerships travel agents have usually means you’ll get a great deal on all of these services. Often, you’ll be able to take VIP tours and have other unique experiences that aren’t generally well-known or available to the public. This is especially true if you want to have a culturally immersive experience, like a family dinner with a local host.
If you’re less interested in having so much of your trip planned, travel agents can offer you their personal advice on what to do and where to go to have a great time and to save money.
While planning a vacation by yourself may seem like the best way to save money, in the long term, it can often end up costing you more. You’ll miss out on discounts, unique experiences, and you may not have much recourse if something goes wrong. At AffordableTours.com, our travel professionals will put their years of experience and understanding of the travel industry to work for you. Visit our website or call 1-800-935-2620 when you’re ready to start planning your next vacation.