Why NOT Use A Travel Advisor?
When speaking with friends and potential clients, I am always shocked at how many people have never used a travel advisor before. When you can hire a professional - at no cost to you - to help you plan something as important as your vacation, why wouldn't you?
Here are a few ways in which hiring a travel advisor can make your life easier - both when planning and taking your next vacation:
They tailor your trip to YOU...
A good travel advisor should take the
time to get to know you personally and customize your vacation to
your specific desires from the earliest planning stages. You will be dealing with an actual person
from start to finish, not just an anonymous voice on the phone, or a web site.
They save you money AND offer you added benefits...
Your travel advisor can offer you the same or lower rates than those you will find when
booking yourself AND quite often will add some valuable perks. Complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and spa credits are just a few of the added amenities travel advisors can obtain for their clients. If you are booking a cruise or a tour, travel advisors almost always have exclusive discounts.
They also save you time and added stress...
Instead of
wading through the crazy amounts of information available to you, let
your travel advisor do it for you. The sheer magnitude of online information (some of which can be
very misleading) is overwhelming. Travel advisors
can refine that information for you. Whether they are recommending a
boutique hotel, the latest restaurants, "do not miss" sights, or reliable airport transfers, travel advisors know the "best of the best" from their extensive resources.
They can create unique experiences...
Your travel advisor has valuable contacts all over the world to help create experiences which make your
trip exactly what you desire. A scavenger hunt at the
Louvre, tickets to a sold out sporting event or show, or reservations at a Michelin starred restaurant? All in a day's
work for a travel advisor.
They will be your personal advocate...
Your travel advisor will troubleshoot any problems that may arise before, during and after you travel. With a travel advisor on your side, hotels and tour companies will work hard to make things right, so as not to lose future business.
And, most important of all...
They are usually FREE!
As most travel advisors are paid commissions by the travel suppliers (hotels, cruise lines, tour companies), they usually do not charge a fee for all of the things described above. Occasionally, if you have a very detailed itinerary, travel advisors may charge a nominal fee, which is easily recouped with the savings in money, time and added benefits they can provide.
So, why NOT hire a travel advisor to plan your next trip??