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 reputable consultant to help you with the task? After all, your travel advisor 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 Advisor is a benefit to you. These professionals know their destinations, work with trusted providers, 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, an anniversary, or a family reunion; it is important that all the details are in place, for a memorable stay. Taking professional care of those details lightens your burden to: just have fun. Did I make the right choice at our hotel / resort? Is it the best value? Is it during hurricane season? Or better yet, uh oh, I think I forgot to check the expiration date on our passports or secure a visa for our trip.
A travel advisor will usually schedule a phone appointment to talk with you about the details of your request. Taking note of your travel preferences, type of vacation, and experience you expect. Talking about budget and travel dates is important, as availability and price is what determines the best value for money for your vacation.
Once you have established your destination, travel type, dates and budget, you will see your Consultant’s creativity and expertise shine. Customizing the trip to your liking and making the trip of your dreams come true is your main concern.
Travel consultants typically charge a research / planning fee when researching any trip. Usually this 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 advisor to help you with your vacation planning is not only a smart and savvy travel 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 suppliers and hotels increases your purchasing power for you and it does not cost more to have this professional service. Instead, it usually saves you money!
We have heard the terrible stories of people who book online; just to save a few bucks and get to your destination and find out that it’s not exactly the “grand 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 find that he didn’t give him 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 bumps in the road, for a peaceful vacation ahead.
So relax, you have a professional handling your request from the beginning to the end of your vacation. It is comforting to know that you have an advocate for your travel needs when you travel. You’ve heard of the volcanic ash episode that shut down European airports and stranded many passengers, right? Those who had the immediate lifeline were those who booked with their advisers. What about assistance during airline / airport strikes? Travel consultants help you every step of the way, before, during and after your stay. No matter where it takes you, go with a trusted source. Your first call should be to your travel advisor.
