Happy New Year! I trust each of you had a wonderful holiday season, Now that we are in the beginning stages of 2022 many of you are considering jumping back into the travel pool. At the same time, many travel suppliers are predicting that 2022 crowds could be back to what they were in 2019. Time will tell if these predictions hold true. What we do know is that even if 2022 travel levels return to those we saw pre-pandemic, little else has remained the same. There are more hoops than ever to jump through to get to that stress free vacation you’ve been dreaming about.
This week I wanted to recap the top 10 reasons everyone should be utilizing the services of a travel professional now more than ever before.
#1 – Peace of mind – We hold your hand from start to finish, when flights are cancelled you are in touch with the same person who you’ve been planning with the entire time. When regulations change we are there to help you understand the new protocols.
#2 – Customer Service – much like peace of mind, we’re just a phone call, email or text away. You’re not directed to an 800 number with a 6 hour hold time to reach a representative who has no idea who you are or what your situation is like.
#3 – Maximize your budget – when booking your vacation online, or even directly through the cruise line, resort or hotel, do you think they will tell you that if you travel on a different flight or a week later or earlier that you can get a better value? Of course not.
#4 – Better choices – this is something we’ve touched on in many articles. Just because a vacation was perfect for your friend, neighbor, cousin or your friend’s neighbor’s cousin, doesn’t mean it is the right fit for you. We drill down and make sure that the proposal we provide is the best choice for your travel needs.
#5 – We save you time – A 15-20 minute consultation with one of our agents will start you on the path to your next vacation. Once you choose the proposal that is right for you we’ll continue to monitor that vacation for changes in regulations, flight schedules, pricing and more so you don’t have to.
#6 – Personal service – You will never be a number to us, we are here to get to know you and your travel style so we can better match you with the vacation you’ve been dreaming about.
#7 – Insight and expertise – Most families plan one big vacation every year, we do this all day, every day. In addition to our years of planning experience, we’ve also been to the locations that many of our clients are visiting. There’s no substitute for the first hand knowledge we can provide.
#8 – Document assistance – Did you know that your passport needs to be valid for 6 months after you return home? (You should if you’ve been keeping up with these emails regularly) We check your documentation from the start and continue to monitor changes from the time you book until you return home.
#9 – Consumer advocate – We are here to help when things don’t quite go as planned, which leads right into the next reason
#10 – Industry contacts – We have spent years cultivating relationships with travel industry colleagues around the world.
These are just some of the benefits of utilizing the services of a travel professional when planning your next vacation. This is not the time to try to take on planning yourself. Turn to a professional, if I’m not a great fit for the vacation you have in mind one of my agents most likely will be. Still not a great fit? I’ve got a network of colleagues all over the US, I’m certain I can connect you with someone who will be the right fit for your travel needs.