🌴🍹6 Reasons why - Booking with a travel agent🍹🌴

So you want to go on holiday but you're unsure about a country. You work a lot and don't have the time to do research online. You went self-catering last year and ended up with big charges on your credit card and then found out when you arrived there was a tourist tax to pay and it made your holiday feel like another stressful week at work.

This is what us travel agents hear a lot, things that could have gone better. Online companies refusing refunds, not being able to contact them for love nor money. These are just a few scenarios we deal with on a daily basis.

Before I start with the reasons why...

They are highly trained and work so hard to find the perfect holiday for their customers. Working out of hours, spending a whole day at a time on 1 customer researching a destination, or discussing the must-haves. They book for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and so much more. They make dreams come true for many people. There are lots of affordable payment plans in place to help people who would like to spread the cost. The list is endless of ways travel agents can help customers to have the holiday they've always wanted, From a week in the UK to an around the world cruise.

Here are just 6 reasons why you should book with your local travel agent...

1. Knowledge, Experience and Expertise.

A lot of the countries travel agents sell have been to them or know someone who has. They have a large support network with lots of people to ask about different destinations. They have good knowledge and are constantly training and learning new things about their job. They're perfectionists, only wanting the best for customers and go out of their way to provide a bespoke service for them.

2. Personalised service.

Travel agents also work hard to make sure every holiday booked is the best vacation based on the preferences the customer has shared. For Example, If a customer would like to go to Tenerife but would like the quieter resorts they will do in-depth research into different resorts based on the needs and wants of the customer. There is no cookie-cutter vacation when working with a travel agent. They take the time to get to know customers, helping them to book their perfect getaway.

3. Planning.

A Travel Agent's responsibility is to make sure every aspect of the trip is taken care of, from luggage allowance to flight times, board basis and insurance. By speaking with customers Travel Agents collect information on what would make a holiday perfect and plan their trip around that. They tailor-make a lot of holiday packages to make them unique to each and every customer, a lot of planning goes into every single trip that is booked.

4. Convenience.

Why would you do the research when you could have someone else do it for you?

Hours of their time is spent learning about resorts and destinations for customers.

Everything is taken care of, with no hidden fees or add-ons. Everything is laid out in black and white so customers know exactly what they are paying and what they're getting for it.

5. Discounts and promotions.

Travel Agents have access to endless discounts from suppliers, which the general public would never have access to. They use these promotions to help a customer get an amazing holiday for a better price! A lot of the time a Travel Agent can actually beat the price of an online holiday. You also have someone you can go to with any questions or queries.

5. Protection.

Travel Agents are ABTA and ATOL protected.

ABTA - If the travel company you book with goes out of business, you will be entitled to a refund which includes hotel costs. If you are abroad, your transport home will be covered.

ATOL - Air Travel Organiser's Licence: ATOL cover means (for air travel) If the travel company you book with goes out of business, you will be entitled to a refund which includes hotel costs. If you are abroad, your transport home will be covered.

There are so many more reasons to book with a Travel Agent but I have highlighted the most important ones above. It is so important you take good care when deciding on a holiday as without good care and attention a holiday can go terribly wrong.

I hope this blog has helped a few people to understand the importance of Travel Agents and the great detail they go to when doing their job.

Being a Travel Consultant myself, making people's holidays perfect is just second nature to me now.

Keep an eye out for my next blog.

Chloe x