Why should I use a travel agent?
Ever since I began my new career as a travel agent, I have debated writing this article. I did not want it to come off biased with it being my new profession. However, I see it being extremely beneficial to people trying to decide if there are true benefits to a travel agent. I want to be honest and transparent for our clients. Before working in the market, I saw travel agents as a waste of money and that there had to be a catch. Would it cost more to use a travel agent? Would it even be helpful? Let me answer those questions and tell you why my previous thoughts about travel agents were wrong.
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1. I can still have control of my vacation; I just get an advisor to help!
My wife and I have traveled all over the world including multiple all-inclusive resorts, cruises, Hawaii, Italy, Paris, Israel and much more. We consider ourselves well-traveled for millennials, but it seems like our bucket list gets longer and longer. Before working at a travel agency, I booked everything on my own including our international trips. It took a lot of research and time, some of it very frustrating, but I wanted my hand in everything I did. I wanted to know what was going on each second of my trip. My wife laughed at me when I planned our 3-day trip to New York down to 30-minute intervals (Its tougher than you think with the NYC traffic). I just wanted to show her everything! Ever since then, my timelines have not been as specific, but this shows how much thought I put into each trip. |
NYC Rockefeller Center
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One of the first things I learned after starting as a travel agent was that as a client, I can still have control of my trip. There are some travel agents out there just pushing deals to make a quick buck; that’s not the case here. Don’t get me wrong, we still look for great deals, but the goal is to provide the best travel experience possible (More on this later). The authenticity is real, and we are here to provide as much assistance as needed. When planning our Italy trip, I spent several nights on the phone talking to hotels and searching the web for questions. It would have been so much nicer to just contact my travel agent who had been there before! It would have made it a whole lot easier, and I could still plan all the “fun” activities I wanted to do.
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2. If you don’t know where to go, travel agents can help you decide!
I have heard the following phrase numerous times “I don’t know where I want to go… maybe a river cruise, maybe Alaska…, what about an all Inclusive?” It’s one of my favorite phrases! This gives me the special opportunity to educate people on the different options and help them find the perfect fit. Every option has pros and cons. We are not afraid to share both with you as it helps you better understand each location. Now as a travel agent, I realize that I get to help people daily! |
3. I was missing out on firsthand experiences!
When being interviewed for a travel agent job, the first question is always “where have you been?” Thankfully my list was pretty long and filled in a lot of gaps that the other travel agents were missing. The nice part about Lakeland Travel & Cruises is that we work as a team, not individual travel agents. This is a rarity in the world of travel, but it gives you access to more firsthand experiences. If one of us is not familiar with a location, chances are someone else has been there. On my trips, I did things that I liked and others that I did not enjoy. However, I never would have known until I did it in person. We utilize each other to help plan that perfect vacation. Whether it is the best gelato place in Rome or the perfect all-inclusive beach in Mexico, we share that with each other to find the perfect vacation!
When being interviewed for a travel agent job, the first question is always “where have you been?” Thankfully my list was pretty long and filled in a lot of gaps that the other travel agents were missing. The nice part about Lakeland Travel & Cruises is that we work as a team, not individual travel agents. This is a rarity in the world of travel, but it gives you access to more firsthand experiences. If one of us is not familiar with a location, chances are someone else has been there. On my trips, I did things that I liked and others that I did not enjoy. However, I never would have known until I did it in person. We utilize each other to help plan that perfect vacation. Whether it is the best gelato place in Rome or the perfect all-inclusive beach in Mexico, we share that with each other to find the perfect vacation!
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4. There are better options than “Off the Shelf” Deals on big booking websites!
Even before I was a travel agent, I knew this one. I have never booked through Expedia, Booking, etc, but it’s hard to avoid their super cheap deals! Most people get drawn in with a great deal but do not really know what the full package entails. I have checked out these deals before and realized that it’s usually too good to be true. Some would have terrible reviews, lacked hotel transfers, or did not include taxes, fees, etc. One time I saw a deal for an “On the Strip” Vegas experience. It included a cheap airline, nights at Circus Circus, and a “show on the strip.” This would sound amazing if you did not know Las Vegas so I’ll break it down. For starters, Circus Circus is on the very north end of the strip. To get to the Bellagio, it would be a cab ride. It sits by itself on the north end which is not really the “strip” experience unless you want to walk in the dark for 30 minutes to reach it. The “show” they talked about was a free show on site with different circus talents. I have seen it and there’s a reason it is free. It’s a fun show if you are there, but not Cirque Du Soleil. Circus Circus is a family friendly hotel with lots to do, but not a “On the Strip” experience like advertised. This is the deception that a lot of websites give, and you end up being disappointed. We help filter these out, so you do not have to! |
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Now Larimar, DR
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5. Travel Agents have the pulse on what is going on in the travel world
"Is it safe to travel to...?" This is a question we get a lot and are always here to help. We are up on all travel restrictions and closing. We can help advise clients on when and where to travel to avoid cancellations and other frustrations. As a big side note, we work directly with the travel companies to get you the best options. We have direct lines to the suppliers so you do not have to be on hold for 7 hours. We have your back and will work with suppliers to achieve waivers and vouchers for cancelled travel relating to worldwide events and closures. |
6. I always thought travel agents would cost too much!
“What is the cost, where is the catch?” As an independent traveler, I was convinced there has to be a fee; how will they make money? This is the main reason I never talked to a travel agent. I was nervous about getting nickel and dimed for everything. Once I started working at the travel agency, I realized my worries about this expense was completely false. We do charge a “processing fee” for booking individual flights as airlines no longer pay us a commission. However, travel companies like cruise lines, all-inclusives, Disney, hotel chains, etc. will pay us a “standard fee” called commission so we do not have to charge any type of fee. Commission is a standard percentage so “biases” do not change what we sell. A great example would be my two favorites: Cruise and Disney. I can get the exact same price (and possibly a lower price) than what you see on the website! That's right, the Disney Vacation or Alaska Cruise that you are overwhelmed with, we can help plan and purchase it for the exact same price as booking on your own. That means I can assist with dining reservations, room locations, excursions, etc. I know that seems crazy, but it’s true! This is as transparent as it gets, and our knowledge/expertise is available to you!
“What is the cost, where is the catch?” As an independent traveler, I was convinced there has to be a fee; how will they make money? This is the main reason I never talked to a travel agent. I was nervous about getting nickel and dimed for everything. Once I started working at the travel agency, I realized my worries about this expense was completely false. We do charge a “processing fee” for booking individual flights as airlines no longer pay us a commission. However, travel companies like cruise lines, all-inclusives, Disney, hotel chains, etc. will pay us a “standard fee” called commission so we do not have to charge any type of fee. Commission is a standard percentage so “biases” do not change what we sell. A great example would be my two favorites: Cruise and Disney. I can get the exact same price (and possibly a lower price) than what you see on the website! That's right, the Disney Vacation or Alaska Cruise that you are overwhelmed with, we can help plan and purchase it for the exact same price as booking on your own. That means I can assist with dining reservations, room locations, excursions, etc. I know that seems crazy, but it’s true! This is as transparent as it gets, and our knowledge/expertise is available to you!
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Now, “What if I book direct? Where does that commission go?” Great question! The most basic answer is nowhere, you just paid for a service you will not use. They don’t “donate” that commission, they just keep it. Some suppliers will let you transfer to a travel agent for free if the final payment has not been paid and it was booked directly with them! If you booked with Expedia, then we can’t really help. This is a disappointment when you need to call a 1-800 number just to change a feature, have an issue with a flight, or was sold on an “Off the Shelf” product that isn’t the real deal.
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7. I know what I want, I don’t need a travel agent
So many people are shocked that after so many years of planning my own vacations, I decided to become a travel agent. The real reason is that I did not understand the industry or the people. We are sincerely here to assist you and guide you in the right direction. Even if you know exactly what you want, let us check it out. We can make sure it is the right trip for you, and save you the time of working with the resorts, international suppliers, Disney, cruise lines etc. No need to call a 1-800 number and wait on hold just to answer a million unneeded questions or make a payment. I have done this a lot, and it’s no fun. As travel agents, we have a direct line so just call our number and tell us what you need. Let us do the busy work to book it for you!
-Stephen @ Lakeland Travel and Cruises
So many people are shocked that after so many years of planning my own vacations, I decided to become a travel agent. The real reason is that I did not understand the industry or the people. We are sincerely here to assist you and guide you in the right direction. Even if you know exactly what you want, let us check it out. We can make sure it is the right trip for you, and save you the time of working with the resorts, international suppliers, Disney, cruise lines etc. No need to call a 1-800 number and wait on hold just to answer a million unneeded questions or make a payment. I have done this a lot, and it’s no fun. As travel agents, we have a direct line so just call our number and tell us what you need. Let us do the busy work to book it for you!
-Stephen @ Lakeland Travel and Cruises