The Value of a Travel Agent
In honor of Travel Advisor Day, it’s a good time to reflect on all the ways travel agents work hard for their clients, including myself. A lot of people who never used a travel advisor are skeptical but after experiencing a well-curated trip, they’re converts.
It’s no wonder everyone starts out that way in these current times. Travel is at your fingertips. Point and click. Yet, the abundance of choices has become overwhelming, so choice paralysis sets in. Not to mention, anyone with a computer can create a fancy website, so vetting the internet has become especially challenging.
What has never gone away? The importance of expertise, human touch and a global network of relationships at your disposal. Travel advisors experienced some turbulence with the introduction of the World Wide Web, but I’d argue, it’s never replaced the human touch and personalization — even AI can’t disrupt that. Don’t get me wrong, technology helps us travel advisors serve our clients better. We have our tools. We interact with our partners around the world in every time zone.
So, what is the value of a the modern-day travel advisor? Here are a few top ways to safegaurd your investment and experience:
Time saver! Get back hours of sifting through sites, gathering recommendations and verifying credible partners
24/7 support in destination in the same time zone with local connections
Local knowledge and guidance in each destination
In tougher to plan destinations, it’s paramount to use an agent. The nuances on booking safari, multi-country trips with a lot of moving parts, cultural sensitivities, group trips or destinations without the infrastructure really shouldn’t be DIY. There’s too much at stake to take a gamble.
Save money with inclusions and negotiated rates based on our buying power; pulling together a full itinerary will avoid surprise large expenses
Your stay is prioritized by hotel staff and tour operators when booked by an agent; this became abundantly clear when I worked in-house at hotels, seeing how the team looks closely at the booking channel and prioritized the agent relationship for that client staying!
Pre-booked services so there’s not a lot of currency exchange wasted or having to take out a lot of local currency, constantly making change; guidance on best tipping practices or pre-tipping in some cases can be arranged in certain destinations like safari
Secure access to hard to get into places, arrive at optimal times and cut the the lines at top attractions
For any mobility, dietary or other needs, a travel advisor can make it more seamless for the client by selecting the right destinations, accessibility-focused hotels and safeguard someone’s food safety
There are lot of booking channels like AMEX and such, but many will not craft a bespoke trip from top-to-bottom including atractions, train tickets, and personalized outreach to partners on your behalf
Help advise or arrange the proper visas and requirements for your trip
Have a dedicated person to ask all your questions and personalize every step of the way!
It’s not the cheapest route if you’re a true DIY and really want to stay at Airbnb or budget places. The hotels with no in-house concierge or direct contact are not places we want to do business, because we can’t make any guarantees and your investment is jeopardy as is our reputation.
Read in US News & World Report about the pros and cons of using an advisor and The Wall Street Journal on Hotel Star Ratings, where Jessica Parker aka Trip Whisperer weighs in.
Travel wisely. The choose is yours!
