Booking through a travel agent
also "What To Look For In A Travel Agent"
With so much information out there, a good travel agent can help you focus in a short time on a few lines or a few ships or a few destinations that would best match your needs. The agent usually would start with asking questions to find out what the interests are and be able to focus on the cruise line or package that works for particular client.
Aimee J. Ricca, owner of Bonne Amie Travel in Rockport, Maine, and one of the experts featured on the Travel Channel's Vacation Challenge, says that most Internet travel sites are actually travel agencies - that just make you do all the work. Here are some other reasons to use a travel agent:
You already have a job. You don't need to spend what little free time you have trying to piece everything together — tickets, hotels, routes, etc. A counselor takes the time so you don't have to make planning your vacation a second job.
90 percent of all cruises are booked through travel agents. Many clients suggested the same thing: "Use a professional travel agent."
You’re an individual. By asking questions up front, an agent can provide a relevant needs assessment. This can include your schedule, if you’re traveling with children, grandchildren, or pets, your interests, preferences, and budget. No two travelers are alike. What works for one may not work for another.
You do not get charged any more to use a travel agent than if you booked it through the line directly.
A good travel agent should give you unbiased advice. Traveler's comments: "We had already tentatively settled on a port and ship because we wanted to drive to the port to save money. When we told the travel agent our plan, she said she could not in good conscience put us on that ship and she refused to book it if that was our final choice. She didn't feel it would fit the experience we were seeking. I don't think the cruise line would have told us that."
Value. Travel planning is not just about price, it’s about value. If the hotel was not in the right location, or the tour package didn’t meet your needs, it doesn’t matter how much you saved. A travel counselor can recommend relevant offerings and also provide cost saving strategies. Moving a date, using a preferred travel partner, being open to flight options, etc., can save money. Nobody wants to pay more than necessary, and a counselor will help you find the best value without the sacrifices of a cheap trip.
Some prefer the personal interaction and having someone to hold accountable or call if an element of a trip goes awry, and they also like knowing precisely where their money is going.
With a travel agent you have someone to go to bat for you if something goes wrong. They have representative with cruise lines and travel groups and are usually booking volumes of vacation packages each year - more reason for travel companies to keep agents happy when they are recommending lines and packages.
Travel agents deal directly with the vendors, like individual cruise companies, who can offer wholesale prices and perks that they pass down to clients. The agents make money off commissions from referring clients to a specific vendor. Credible agents also go on a few "familiarization" trips each year to see hotels and destinations firsthand.
Multidestination and international trips are often better handled by an agent
"Humanizing the human experience" is an interesting article on TraveWeekly.com by Arnie Weissman that talks about the lack of human interaction in the digital booking industry.
If it weren't for her travel agent, Debbie Ricketts of Taylorsville might have missed seeing the black and white birds on her down-under vacation. "We would not have had a clue about seeing the ferry penguins," says Ricketts, 50. "I didn't even know they had penguins in Australia." But her trusted travel agent of 11 years, did. "I did book online once, and before I even left, the price went up. I'd already paid for it. I had to pay more, or the trip would be canceled." She says she didn't notice that all reservations and prices were "subject to change" any time prior to the trip and ended up paying $200 extra.
And its not just for baby boomers, several twentysomething are designing their honeymoons and European travels through travel agents.
What To Look For In A Travel Agent
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Most travel agents are in the business to not only make money but to also serve their fellow travelers. Most current travel agents are experienced travelers who enjoy traveling and want to help make your trips more enjoyable.
Travel agents can help you sort through vast amounts of information so you can make the most beneficial travel arrangements. They offer advice on destinations and make bookings for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, and tours for you. They are also book the most tickets for the major cruise lines. Also, resorts and specialty travel groups use travel agents to promote their travel packages.
Agents are also expected to know about and be able to advise you about your destination, such as the weather, attractions, customs and events. Travel agents can provide information on customs regulations, required papers (passports, visas, and certificates of vaccination), travel advisories, and currency exchange rates. If you need to change your itinerary in the middle of a trip, they can make alternate booking arrangements.
Travel agents use many sources for information on departure and arrival times, fares, quality of hotel accommodations, and discounts. They should also visit hotels, resorts, and restaurants to better evaluate the comfort, cleanliness, and their quality.
When you select a travel agent be sure that the person is truly interested in the travel industry and not just the money which they can make from it. According to the latest estimates provided the travel industry has become one of the world's fastest growing occupations today.
Keep in mind that a well versed travel agent is worth their weight in gold. They should be intimate with subjects such as touring, hospitality services, lodging, air travel, airport operation, cruises and theme parks. A well rounded agent is a valuable asset to an organization. If you sense that your travel agent feels that he can make a difference in whether you have an enjoyable trip or not then you have found a jewel in the making. A good agent specially one specializing in leisure travel should want to help their clients to learn about various cultures and they should be willing to go to all lengths to achieve this result.
Ensure that the agent you select has the necessary talent to be in that positions, the energy to obtain the needed information for you should you require additional data and a good work ethics. Keep in mind that our current work at home society has enable tens of thousands of travel agents to literally work from their home. Don’t underestimate these work at home people for they put just as much effort into satisfying their customers as does one with a store front shop. In some cases since their overhead is lower you stand a good chance to gain from lower ticket prices. These agents are well worth checking out.
Often times a travel agent will specialize in a particular sort of travel such as singles travel reservations or elderly travel plans or perhaps their specialty is in a particular region or a lifestyle. Occasionally you may want to partake of some of these great savings that this type of agent can offer you. Get to know them as a professional acquaintance and you will be glad you did.
If you happen to be interested in taking a cruise with or without any specialized requirements your travel agent should be able to handle this request with no difficulty. Whether the cruise you are interested in is a luxury cruise, a barge cruise or a river cruise they can handle it all. Usually you can contact them by e-mail or by phone to learn more about the programs they are currently offering.
Perhaps you do not care so much for an ocean cruise but would rather prefer a land vacation. Possibly you have always dreamed of visiting Tahiti. If so then now is the time to sit down and discuss all your desires with your travel agent. They can make a difference in whether your trip is enjoyable or one that is a nightmare.
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