Why Do You Need a Travel Agent?

Orbitz. Expedia. Travelocity. Is there anyone who hasn't heard of these mammoth travel-planning websites? And those are far from the only one do a search for trave or evacation planning and you will find hundreds of links leading you to sites for tour companies, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and more. With all of these travel resources on the internet, more and more people are booking their own reservations for both business and recreational travel. Is this a good thing?

Well, yes and no. While it is helpful for consumers to have access to the various websites so that they can do their own research for price comparisons, or even just for helping to make a decision about a destination, by bypassing travel agents in favor of planning your travel may not be such a great idea. Though some people erroneously believe that the age of the travel agent has passed, there are still quite a few very valid reasons why you should still visit your agent before booking any travel.

Travel agencies provide their services at no cost to you. That's righ you do not have to pay your travel agent to research and book your travel! Agencies make their money from the companies with which they book the travel they make a commission from the hotel, cruise line, or tour company, for example. The exception to this may be with airline tickets the airlines, for the most part, do not pay commission, so agencies will likely either charge a nominal fee for booking tickets only, or they may show you how to book your ticket yourself, if that is all you need.

Travel agents have sources that you cannot access online. Your travel agency will have contacts at all of the major tour companies, vacation destinations, and hotel companies. Because of this, they are likely to locate special deals and discount packages that you would not be able to find by searching on your own.

By going to a travel agent, you may be offered valuable coupons and upgrades. As a condition of the travel package that you book, for instance, your travel agent may be able to get the hotel to upgrade your room to a suite at no extra charge. Or, perhaps your agent might have coupons from an airline for free airport parking. These types of perks are not ones that you could find online.

Your travel agent is very knowledgeable about travel restrictions and requirements. Say you want to travel abroad do you know for sure whether or not you need only a passport or if you will also need a visa for a certain country? Or do you know if any inoculations are required for traveling? Your travel agent knows all of these things and will be able to make sure that you have everything you need. Also, your agent can let you know about airline restrictions, such as carry-on baggage measurements and items you are allowed to bring in your luggage.

Booking your travel at a travel agency saves you time. Sure, you can spend hours poring over the various travel-related websites, searching for the greatest deals. Or maybe you just want to look around online a little bit for some ideas about where to travel. But you will save a great deal of time if you go to a travel agent she can do all of the research for you. Just tell her where and when you would like to travel, along with a few other important factors (such as your budget, the size of your travel party, etc.) and she will hunt down best bargains for you. Then all you have to do is choose from among them.

A travel agent has your back. Say you get to your hotel and find that the hotel has lost your reservation. Or maybe the airline has lost your luggage. If you booked your own travel, guess who has to deal with the problem? But if you booked through a travel agent, all you need to do is give her a call and she will take care of the issue for you. That's a nice bonus, isn't it?

So, with all of these benefits that a travel agent provides and for free, too, don't forget it makes a lot of sense to go to an agent the next time you need to plan business or personal travel. After all, you have nothing to lose by doing so and quite a lot to gain.