DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF A TRAVEL AGENT

Travel Agents are not obsolete contrary to what you may have read,
Although an agent charges a few dollars for their professional services, it is often worth the cost.

1. The main reason a consumer uses a travel agent is to take advantage of their specialized knowledge in the industry. Training is ongoing for them. Talking to their co-workers or evaluating their own travel experiences is important knowledge.
2. Good travel agents know destinations and what they do not know they can find out from databases designed for agency use. They also visit various destinations and talk to clients upon returning from their vacations.
3. You can easily waste a lot of time with airlines that do not serve your home city or a tour operator that may be great from New York or not as good from your area.
4. A good agent knows what is available from the same internet sites you are familiar with. In addition agents know how to search their own agency computer systems, which are not available to the general public.
5. Travel agents can save you time. This is the main reason consumers rely on their agent to make their travel arrangements.
6. When something goes wrong either before you depart or while you are on your trip, a travel agent is your source of help. Don’t make repeated calls to a voice response system or stand in an endless airport line. Instead, when you encounter problems, call your agent. Your problem can be resolved while others are waiting in the same line.
7. How do you find a good agent? The same way one finds a stockbroker, accountant, or an auto mechanic – word of mouth. A travel agent is a professional, just as those others are professionals. The way to find a good one is through a satisfied client.