Olde Towne Travel Blog

Top 10 Benefits of Booking a Vacation With a Travel Agency

If you're still wondering whether or not you'd like to book your dream vacation through a travel agency; stop wondering. Yes, you do want to book your vacation through an agency!

A travel agency provides convenience, and great deals on airfare and reservations. There really isn't any reason not to use a travel agency. However, if you still need a little convincing, below we'll list ten of the top benefits of booking a vacation through a travel agency…

#1 - One Stop Shopping

Simply put, being able to grab your airline tickets, your hotel reservation, your rental car, and anything else you'd need all in one place, you save yourself the tedium of having to make dozens of phone calls and book every single component of your vacation one piece at a time. In addition to the above, one vacation may require transportation to and from the airport, more than one hotel if you will be visiting different cities or countries, ground transportation such as trains, buses, and taxis, and multiple reservations for dinner, entertainment, and sightseeing.

#2 - Insider Experience

More than just "somebody who buys tickets for you", a good travel agent is also something of a travel expert. This is because, if a traveler sends a negative review of a hotel in to a magazine, that magazine might not print it if that hotel advertises in the magazine. But if a travel agent meets a new client who complains of a bad trip they had, the travel agent doesn't have any reason not share that with you. A travel agent can warn you of sites that aren't all they're cracked up to be, or recommend lesser known getaways.

#3 - Customized Service

Going through a travel agent who listens to your needs, you can expect to rely on their advice and know how to get you exactly what you need. You might not know exactly what that is right off the bat, and a travel agent can recommend specific vacation spots, hotels, and airlines to suit your specific vacation goals. You can describe to the agent all the requirements you are looking for (within one block from the beach, ocean view, on-site babysitting, etc.) and they can often suggest a better alternative than perhaps the first destination you had in mind.

#4 - Consumer Advocacy

When you hear that travel agents make their money by commission, you might think "Oh then they're probably going to try to sell me the most expensive thing available!" But that practice is actually frowned upon in the industry, and, think about it, are they going to get a lot of return business if they keep ripping people off? A good travel agent is going to work on your behalf to try and get you the best possible vacation you're willing to buy, simply because it's your business that keeps them in business.

#5 - Best Value

Because travel agencies receive tickets at whopping discounts, and because they collect commission rather than a fee, you can expect the absolute lowest prices around through travel agents.

#6 - New Discoveries

If you're planning a tropical getaway, you've no doubt heard of the Bahamas and Bermuda, but you know what that means… so has everyone else. A travel agent should be able to help you find lesser known, truly private and special vacation spots.

#7 - Safety and Security

Travel agents can inform you of the necessary visa, passport and health requirements for international travel and provide application forms or assistance as needed. They can also keep you up to date on any travel warnings or advisories such as natural catastrophe or political unrest. Even if it's just a little thing like "always shake with your left hand when visiting the Middle East", the expert knowledge a travel agent can provide can make it a lot easier to get along with the locals, wherever you're headed.

#8 - Reliability

If you're just flying off to Mexico on a half-cocked whim, there's no guarantee you're going to be able to find a rental car and a hotel. Using a travel agency's all inclusive vacation packages; you can expect your rental car to be sitting there at the airport waiting for you.

#9 - Personal Contact

Basically, using a travel agency, even online, you get real live people you can talk to. You won't get this with simple ticket comparison sites. And if something happens on your trip -- unexpected illness or document theft -- your travel agent can get you the help you need when you need it.

#10 - Convenience

This one is simple, do you or don't you want to spend all day making long distance calls to hotels thousands of miles away and trying to find out if they have a twin bed room open on August twenty first? Even 800 lines can have you holding all day or navigating endless automated menus. Using a travel agent is kind of like having a shock absorber for hassles and headaches.

About the Author

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who covers the travel industry, often writing about specific topics such as vacation destinations and travel deals offered by a travel agency.

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