Dear Tammy, Cheri and Bety,
In today’s world of gadgets, instant gratification and internet access, I know a lot of people that just book their own travel. But, I’d rather book my travel with a travel agent for their expertise. Does it typically cost more to book through a travel agent?
Sincerely,
Jason~Sun Lakes, AZ
Dear Jason,
We get asked that all the time, if it is more expensive to work with a travel agent and what we charge for a consultation fee. Our response is always the same, “No, it does not cost you more money to book your vacation with a travel agent. In fact, travel agents save you time and money and a great agent will treat your vacation like it is their own.
Personal attention to detail and customer service are two things that travel websites simply cannot offer their consumers. Many people do not realize that travel agents offer their skills and years of knowledge free to the consumer as they are paid commission by tour operators, cruise lines and vacation companies.
Many consultants offer the following services to their clients that cannot be provided when making travel plans on the internet:
Expert guidance
Most travel agents are experts in understanding and deciphering available travel information online. They understand the complicated rules and restrictions when making travel arrangements — it is what they are trained to do. Agents receive current information and promotions from airlines, cruise lines and tour companies and help their clients select the best option based on their requests.
Personalized service
Travel agents establish and value customer relationships. They live and work in your community, allowing you to keep your business local.
Customer assistance and advocacy
Should a problem arise during your vacation, travel agents act on your behalf to ensure that all issues are resolved. Your calls are not re-routed to a foreign country and you are not placed on hold for 30 minutes waiting for an unfriendly voice of someone who might be thousands of miles away.
Time
Instead of trying to decipher which websites offer the best value, why not go straight to the source? Travel agents have unlimited resources at their fingertips. Your time is valuable so why spend hours in front of a computer booking online travel? Simply call a local agent with a travel date and destination in mind and they will do the work for you.
Selecting the right local travel agency is the key to a worry-free vacation. Please stop by and visit us so we can help you plan your next dream vacation!
If you have a travel question or problem you would like to submit, please contact Tammy Sikorski, Cheri Sigurdson or Bety Dar at El Sol Travel-located at 10325 E. Riggs Road, Suite 105, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. Call 480-895-9362, e-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]. View our website at www.elsolvacations.net.