Why choose a travel consultant to book a vacation?
Well, it has finally arrived! You are planning your vacation, one of your most important trips! Why not maximize your budget and time and choose a trusted consultant to help with the task? After all, your travel consultant does this as his full-time job.
When selecting your travel advisor, make sure they have qualified references to handle your request. Working with an experienced Destination Specialist, Certified Travel Consultant and/or Senior Cruise Counselor is a benefit to you. These professionals know their destinations, work with trusted vendors, and have the experience and knowledge to handle land arrangements, cruises, tours, and special needs for your stay.
If you are planning a special occasion, such as a honeymoon, anniversary, or family reunion; it is important that all the details are in place, for a memorable stay. Taking professional care of those details lightens your load to: just have fun. Did I make the right decision at our hotel/resort? Is it the best value? Is it during hurricane season? Or better yet, oh oh, I think I forgot to check the expiration date of our passports or secure a visa for our trip.
A travel consultant will usually schedule a phone appointment to discuss the details of your request with you. Take note of your travel preferences, type of vacation and experience you expect. Discussing budget and travel dates is important, as availability and price are what determine the best value for your vacation.
Once you’ve established your destination, type of trip, dates, and budget, that’s when you’ll see your Consultant’s creativity and expertise shine through! Customizing the trip to your liking and making the trip of your dreams come true is their main concern.
Travel consultants typically charge a research/planning fee when researching any trip. This usually goes towards the cost of your trip, or is an additional fee for your research and design of your itinerary; depending on the duration of your trips and destinations.
Using a travel consultant to help you with your vacation planning is not only a smart and travel-savvy choice, but it will also enhance your travel experience. You cannot be a VIP at the hotel or request an upgrade, based on the volume of business you have brought to the cruise line or resort. Your travel advisor can do this and more! Having the advantage of working with preferred vendors and hotels increases your purchasing power for you and it doesn’t cost more to have this professional service. Instead, it usually saves you money!
We have heard the terrible stories of people who book online; only to save a few bucks and arrive at their destination to find that it’s not exactly the “great resort” they thought they were booking. Who is going to help you now? He thought he did an excellent job researching those “cheap international flights” only to discover that he didn’t have enough time for his connecting flight…and he missed it! How much are you willing to pay for a bad vacation? By working with your travel advisor, you can minimize the bumps in the road, for a smooth vacation ahead.
So relax, you have a professional handling your request from the beginning to the end of your vacation. It’s comforting to know that you have an advocate for your travel needs when you take your trip. You’ve heard about the volcanic ash episode that shut down European airports and stranded many passengers, correct? Those with the immediate lifeline were the ones who booked with their advisers. What about assistance during airline/airport strikes? Travel advisors help you every step of the way, before, during and after your stay. No matter where your journey takes you, go with a trusted source. Your first call should be to your travel advisor.