Five Reasons Hiring a Travel Agent is Still Worth it. By Marisa L. Cole, CTC

The tourism and hospitality industry has been hard hit by COVID-19, but with hopeful news of effective vaccines coming, people are again planning travel for the year ahead, from rebooking honeymoons to long-dreamed-of “bucket list” trips that were put on hold by this global pandemic. As you consider your own return to travel, now is a wonderful time to reach out to a travel agent for help. While the rise of online booking services allow you to, in the words of Fleetwood Mac, “go your own way” at the click of a mouse, there are still many reasons to enlist an experienced travel agent. Here are just a few of them.

#1: You will be better prepared for the unexpected.

Who saw the coronavirus coming? If you had to haggle with hotels for reimbursement versus credits, you already know what I mean. A travel agent is there to help you manage the unexpected, whether through reputable travel insurance that can ensure you and your loved ones can receive appropriate emergency medical care or whether in response to a water main break at your hotel. You cannot anticipate every issue that might arise, but you can be better prepared to disallow the unexpected from ruining your trip by having someone in your corner whose job it is to help you pivot when Plan A won’t work. That person is a travel agent.

#2: You will unlock doors to upgrades, special amenities, and perks you cannot research.

Despite popular opinion, not everything is on the Internet. Having been in this business for over 30 years, I have established connections with people all over the world who offer special experiences you will not find on any website. These range from the mundane but helpful, such as getting free breakfast included throughout your stay, to the extravagant.

For instance, one of my recommended destinations offers each guest a chocolate upon arrival that is made in-house. If you book online, you’ll get to eat a chocolate. If you enlist my help, I can get you and your travel companion(s) access to the chocolatier and the chocolate room where you can make your own special candy bars. Or let’s say you want to take a mother/daughter trip to Paris. A guidebook can point you to some chic stores you may want to go shopping in, but I can connect you with a personal shopper who will have tailor-made recommendations to suit your size and style. See the difference?

#3: You will travel with the peace of mind that your sources are vetted.

Many popular destinations are overflowing with companies catering to tourists, but how will you know if, say, the tour company you found online is truly committed to safety and excellent service? Poor experiences are nearly always shared with travel agents and, if a pattern emerges, the provider behind those experiences will quickly drop off our “recommended” list. While ratings-based guidebooks can be helpful, people, such as myself, will have the most up-to-date picture of the current situation. For instance, maybe that beautiful-looking hotel was the best place to stay in town at the time the book was written, but wasn’t that before the extremely noisy roadwork commenced just outside its front door?

#4: You will save time.

If you are balancing work, family, and community or volunteer commitments (and maybe finding some time to take care of yourself with a workout or social event every once in a while), you probably do not have time to plan a trip that is sure to be outstanding. Just because you can do everything yourself online does not mean that you must. A trip is supposed to be a fun way destress, but, ironically, planning for a trip can add one more log onto the stress fire. Your time is valuable, so instead of using what little you can spare on something that is not your vocation, why not enlist a pro? Which leads to our final point…

#5: A second pair of eyes can only help.

Maybe you have already made some travel plans yourself. Has anyone in the know reviewed them to double-check that they are a good idea or, for that matter, even possible? To share just one of many anecdotes along these lines, I had one client who wanted me to book some honeymoon experiences for he and his soon-to-be bride. He said not to worry about flights; his father-in-law had generously offered to take care of that part for the new couple. While it was outside of my purview, I reviewed the client’s travel plan from A to Z, and as I did so, I realized that they were going to miss a connecting flight in San Juan.

Had I not been involved, this new couple’s honeymoon would have started off with a night in San Juan with no place to stay, and probably an argument. This client later told me, “I think you saved my marriage.” That’s what travel agents do. I love to design a complete experience for people, but even if you have some plans set, a wise second pair of eyes never hurts.

Most of us want to enjoy memorable trips that are adventurous but not dangerous. While executing that dream trip is certainly possible with a “do it yourself” approach, for all the reasons listed above and more, your chances of creating positive memories that last a lifetime increase exponentially when you enlist the support of an experienced travel agent.

Marisa L. Cole, owner of Sensational Travel, is a Certified Travel Consultant (CTC) and Virtuoso Voyager Cruise Hostess with over 30 years of experience as a leisure travel specialist