Whether you are researching a trip on your own or not, here are some tips for finding a travel agent to help you plan a trip that is right for you and who can help you with all the confusing information found online. You may be traveling for business, on family vacations, for a religious engagement, or to host a special event such as a wedding, anniversary, or family reunion on a cruise or all-inclusive! Don’t forget about fundraising activities on a cruise ship.
Location is key
Travel agents are consultants who are available to help people like you make various travel plans. To find a reliable travel advisor for your trip, try exploring one of these options:
1. Visit your local Chamber of Commerce or visit their website to review the list of accredited travel professionals.
2. Look in the Yellow Pages to shortlist local travel agents and their contact information.
3. Talk to neighbors or friends to gather some recommendations, but these are not always reliable.
After short-listing a few travel agents in your area through your initial research and local contacts, take a notepad and jot down the start and end dates of your travel schedule, departure and arrival locations, and intermediate destinations. , transportation preferences, if any. , available budget and special requirements such as wheelchair accessible entry and exit points. Also determine what kinds of activities you would like to do on your trip. All this information will help the travel agent to choose the best product to make your trip memorable and successful. Do some research on your own, but let the travel agent help you decide if the information you find is really the best for you. There is a lot of information out there.
Have a stress-free vacation
When you finally meet your travel agent, you can use their checklist along with the checklist provided below to avoid disappointment:
1. Keep your conversation with your travel agent focused on the items on your list, but keep an open mind to listen to the travel agent’s suggestions for improving your trip.
2. When discussing your travel plans, available options, and expense details, avoid falling into the trap of buying services you don’t need.
3. When making travel plans, always make sure you have a “Plan B” to address setbacks such as unreserved seats, missed connections, lost luggage, missing travel date on tickets, and more dire possibilities.
4. You should also discuss in detail the travel agent’s resources for handling last minute changes such as trip cancellations, date modifications or itinerary changes.
5. Talk to the travel agency about products like travel insurance to help protect your travel costs along with medical protection. Travel insurance covers more than just the items listed in numbers 3 and 4 above. Travel insurance also covers you medically should the need arise. Some insurance plans do not cover you when you travel outside of the United States. Be sure to check with your insurance company to see if you are covered.
6. If possible, use a credit or debit card to pay all expenses, to ensure that all your expenses are accurately tracked, monitored, and auditable in the event of a future dispute.
If you are lucky enough to find a reliable travel agent, you can easily expect courteous and timely services as you plan, prepare, and execute your travel plans with a suitable budget and schedule.
