Do travel advisor/travel agents still exist?
Can I save money by using a travel advisor? How much does a travel advisor charge? Why should I book through a travel agency when I can do it online myself? These are all questions that I get when I meet people at events around Montgomery County.
Yes, travel advisors/agents still exist. There are some travel advisors that do charge fees for doing the leg work and for making changes, but not all of them do. Some may charge a fee for booking flights as airlines do not pay commissions to travel agencies anymore, or a fee for cancellations. For the most part, the traveler will not pay anything extra for the use of a travel advisor.
I will tell you the benefits of booking with a travel advisor like myself, at 777 Travel. I love to travel, which is why I started in this business. Like in any business, we are bombarded with training either online or at events, and we are constantly learning about new travel destinations, or revamped older destinations. We also get chance to explore those destinations so that we can help recommend them.
Some agencies specialize in Disney, all inclusive resorts, cruises or European vacations. When we first started 777 Travel, we focused on cruises. We loved cruising and had already taken a dozen cruises and helped friends and families book their cruises, which is why we decided to begin our journey in the travel industry. Over the past 9 years, we have grown to learn more about different destinations and what other types of travel that others may enjoy. We have also learned that there is not one perfect vacation for everyone, but we can create a custom vacation that is perfect for each certain travelers by simply asking questions.
One of the benefits of using a travel advisor is that you have someone to talk to and to give you advice and their expert opinion. Researching travel online can take hours out of your day and can be very frustrating. Using a travel advisor, you tell them what you are looking for, and let them do the research, give you some options, and narrow it down until you find what is perfect for you.
Many of the cruisers I talk to call the cruise line and use the travel advisors that work for the cruise line. That is great, until they are no longer there, promoted, or on leave. We used the same Carnival cruise PVP(personal vacation planner) when we first started cruising, and he was great, but then he got promoted and we had to move to another, then another. Using a local advisor, you have the same person every time, and most are available at all hours of the day and on weekends. We don’t have a 9-5 schedule or an 8 hour day like cruise line advisors. We work for you and have your best interests in mind, because if we don’t book you, we don’t get paid. Cruise line advisors work for the cruise line, so they may not always be looking after your best interests. Your travel advisor will also be able to help you with your pre and post cruise hotels, flights, and any other travel you decide to do outside of that cruise line.
Can a travel advisor save you money on travel? Absolutely! We have access to deals that you may not have access to or may not see or understand. We are constantly looking at different cruise lines and booking engines to find deals to help our clients get the best bang for the buck. With cruise lines, our prices are always the same if we are comparing apples to apples, but sometimes we have specials that the cruise lines offer us or group space that is much cheaper than the current rate available. Those rates can’t be offered by the cruise lines as it is only for the agency or group and only certain agencies can access them.
We are experts in travel and spend hours every day learning about what’s changing, new promotions and sales in the industry, and give you advice on the do’s and don’ts of where you are going. Did you know that you cannot wear camouflage in Jamaica? Your travel agent does, and he will advise you as such or any other rules that you may need to know based on your destination. They will also help you with whether you need a passport for a cruise, most closed loop cruises from the US don’t require one, but we always recommend it because it makes the debarkation process quicker.
If you already have a travel agent, then you probably understand the load it takes off of you when you book travel. If you don’t have one, I encourage you to build a relationship with one to help your travel planning easier. Remember, when you book online, you are still paying for a travel agent that you are not utilizing because the travel agency fees are included in your fare. If you are interested in contacting us at 777 Travel, call 281-541-1301. Remember, we turn your DREAM vacation into Reality.