Why Booking a Travel Agent is Worth It

While it seems like a dying industry due to the fact that almost everyone can now do DIY trips and book online, travel agencies and travel agents are still considered practical by some, particularly those who are trying to save money in the long run and those who are too busy to plan their trip.

Travel agents guide their customers and scout the best suited trip for them. They do it all: from planning the trip’s activities to giving useful tips to ensure that the traveller’s whole journey will be flawless and worth their money.

According to travel websites, travel agents are more recommended for international travels. This is especially recommended if the tourist is new to the foreign destination, as the travel agent can give him or her better recommendations than most online sites on how he or she can explore the unfamiliar area.

What are the benefits of hiring a travel agent, and how do they exactly come in handy? Here are some of the reasons why booking a travel agent is worth it:

Saves time. A travel agent helps to balance and carefully plan the whole trip at the traveller’s convenience. Agents can help a lot especially if the tourist is on schedule during the entire travel, since extended and prolonged travel is expensive as it is. Part of a travel agent’s job is to help plan a thorough daily schedule for the trips.

Better deals. Another advantage of hiring travel agents is that they have insider information about the tourism industry which is ideal if you want to get access to better deals. They have better knowledge of promotions, tools, and deals that a normal person wouldn’t normally know, because these agents have extensive connections that they established throughout their years in the industry. They know the right times and peak seasons when deals and upcoming sales would ideally come.

Solid itinerary. Travel agents are also recommended if tourists want a solid itinerary, particularly for first time international travelers. Travel agents are great in giving expert advice on which services, entertainment destinations, tourist spots, and amenities will cater to the tourist’s interest. They can give information about the destination that websites and blogs don’t even have.

Fallback plans. Sometimes, sudden changes in your itinerary might occur during the trip. For example, last-minute changes in hotel bookings or flight schedules can shift your plans drastically. Travel agents ensure that their clients’ trip won’t fall through by preparing fallback plans. Say you had to move your schedule because of bad weather; having a travel agent around would help keep you from having to spend a lot of cash just to rebook hotel reservations and plane tickets, because they have a contingency in mind.

Organized trip for groups. Group travels also benefit from booking travel agent. Since there are multiple persons on the trip and everyone would want to pitch in what they want to do, organizing everything can be hectic. Travel agents might be a great helping hand since they’re trained to be coordinated, organized, and prepared problem-solvers. Moreover, if tourists are travelling in a group, settling payment might be a problem with multiple credit cards involved but luckily, travel agents can get that done in a very orderly manner.

Stress-free preparation. In contrast with a DIY trip where travellers have to plan everything, getting a travel agent saves them the time and energy when it comes to planning trips. Leave the concern regarding logistics like booking travel insurance and reserving your rooms to the agent, and plan the other parts of the trip that you will certainly enjoy for yourself.

Finding a great travel agent is not that hard. There are various websites offering efficient travel agents. Asking friends, workmates, and relatives for recommendation is also effective since they have firsthand experience on their service. Plus, paying for a travel agent won’t create a huge tear in your pockets, since most travel agents get their commission fees from their recommended hotels and wholesale dealers with which they transact. However it wouldn’t hurt to ask about the agent’s fees first before booking one. If there’s a fee and it’s not that a big minus on the budget, then go for it. Keep in mind that the fee ranges differently from agent to agent.