Why Should You Use a Travel Agent?
In the technology age of find it quick and easy on-line, you may
be thinking, why should I use a travel agent? So to help you answer
that question here are our favorite reasons:
1. Who Ya
Gonna Call?
What would you do if the hotel has lost your reservation? What would
you do if the car rental agency has run out of cars? Specifically,
who are you going to call? Who's going to help you? The hotel? The
car rental company? They
don't care. You're just one person. Losing you as a
guest or a customer is no big deal. Basically, you're on your own.
About all you can do is hit the streets and hope that something
comes up...
If you book through a
travel agent, all
you have to do is make one simple phone call. And everything will be
taken care of. Will the hotel assist your agent? Will the car rental
company assist your agent? Of course they will, because
now they're dealing
with someone who has the potential to send either
hundreds of guests,
or no guests at all. From a purely business perspective, a travel
agency can send thousands of dollars (or even
tens of thousands of
dollars), or no dollars at all...
2. It is
not just about price
You look to travel agents to provide the best overall solution to
your individual travel needs. By asking tons of questions up
front, an agent can provide a relevant needs assessment. This can
include dates, quality or location of accommodation or stateroom,
cancellation policy, recreational amenities, the ease of doing
business, etc. No two customers are alike. What works for one
may not work for another. The good travel agents keep their
eyes open for anything that will make your trip better, even after
you have already committed and paid your deposits.
3. Show me
the Money (I saved)
Saving money is not just about price. It is more about value. If the
hotel was not the right location, if the cruise line was not the
right cruise line, if the golf course was not the right golf course.
It does not matter how much you saved. One can save a ton of money
and be miserable or spend a little more to be in heaven. A travel
agent can recommend relevant offerings and also provide cost saving
strategies. Moving a date, changing the location of a room/cabin,
being open to flight options, etc., all can save money. Nobody wants
to pay more than necessary so an agent will help you find the best
value without the sacrifices of a cheap trip.
4. I already have a
Job!
If you have an agent that you trust, then you don't need to spend
what little free time you have, scouring the web, trying to piece
everything together-- flights, cars, rooms, etc. In addition, your
agent might be working with transfer and car rental companies that
you simply don't have access to, and in many cases, even hotels and
airlines that you don't have access to. An agent is someone who has
taken the time and made the commitment to be the best so you don't
have to make planning your vacation a second job!
For a more extensive list of
"Why Use a Travel Agent", check out this
site that list 101 reasons.