The Internet Vs. Your Local Travel Agency

As a travel agent, part of the job is to go to destinations and check out the resorts and the destination itself, or in the case of a cruise, to check out the ship. These are called Familiarization Trips or Fams.

Now, I'm sure that it sounds like a great perk to you, but in truth it still is a business trip. Agents are scheduled by the tour company, resort or cruise line each day that they are there. We can see up to 14 hotels within 3 days! Most do try to give agents some free time, but most of the time spent is focused on getting to know their product that they want agents to promote. For me personally, I do admit that it is nice to get out of Ohio, especially in the winter!

These trips are an opportunity to learn more to better the information that travel agents give their clients to help them find the best vacation that matches what they want. (Kind of like a "try before you buy", or in our case, sell.) Most online travel agencies don't have this knowledge or functionality. When all you have to go by is the review or rating in the computer, sometimes little nuances are missed, so always check with your local travel agent. Many people don't realize is that they do benefit the local community and its economy when booking with a local travel agent versus an online travel website.

Everyone loves a great value for a low cost, so it always makes good sense to shop around. The more information you have, the better! One thing to consider, however, is that online travel agencies such as Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz and etc. compared to a local travel agency is like comparing Wal-Mart to a Mom and Pop store. You hear on the news that many people rally against having a Wal-Mart in their city, but these same people may turn around and still book with an online travel agency. That sounds like a double standard and doesn't make much sense, now does it?

If you do prefer booking online, you can still benefit a local travel agency. Many agencies have online booking engines now, so you can get the best of both worlds - an internet price but a local agency. To book online, contact your local agency to get their website(s) or do an internet search for the agency's name.

One thing to note is that some travel agencies may charge a fee for their services, and some may not. Contact agencies in your area and ask them about their fees so that you are prepared. For example, our agency charges fees for what we call "a la carte" items such as individually booked flights, car rentals, hotels, etc., but if you book a package, the only fee you would have would be our cancellation fee.

The belief that an internet price is always cheaper than a travel agency's price is not necessarily true. Per Erica Silverstein from SmarterTravel.com, "It's a common misperception that travel agents can't get the same low prices you can find yourself on the Internet. That's true - at least in some cases - when you're talking about airfare, but when it comes to booking a cruise (or a package), travel agents can often find better pricing and provide more personal service than any website." Also, according to Fodors.com, "If you're in search of comprehensive service...a good travel agent will go the extra mile to find a discount. Additionally, many travel agents have deals with consolidators (companies that offer reduced fares, but not to the public)."

The more information you find out ahead of time will help you choose the right agency, online or local, to book your next trip. But remember, if you book locally, you will know exactly who to go to when your trip goes awry, who to complain to or who to praise after you get home from a great vacation. That's not the case with an online agency, right?