Having a travel agent can save you a lot of money. You don’t have to spend all your time trying to call different hotels and airlines to see if anything is available. You pay a travel agent to do everything for you, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
According to discount-florida-vacations.com, “The main reason why people choose to use travel agent services is because it is easier than planning everything yourself. However, there are other benefits that come with using a travel agent and one of those includes that they often know what deals are available at the time.”
People have been using travel agents for many years. You can find a travel agent in every neighborhood. Now agents have to have better deals to keep customers coming back for business with online travel sites increasing in popularity. But some travel agents still have no fear about people buying their tickets or booking hotels online.
Marie Lillions, a travel agent at Windy City Travels in Chicago, said, “People like to use travel agents because they know they can get everything done at once. When you book online, you have to go through so many steps.”
Everyone is trying to find a deal when it comes to traveling. Buying packages can save a lot of money you can buy planes tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and meal plans all at once. It is best to shop around looking for the best agent with the best deals
Many people are now going online to find cheaper plane tickets and hotel rooms. Many hotels and airline companies are paying different sites like Hothotels.com and Studentuniverse.com that offer cheap tickets to students. Searching on the sites, you can find a plane ticket and see what rooms are available at local hotels.
“I used hothotels.com for my spring break because I knew it was going to be cheaper. I bought my plane ticket, hotel room, and rental car all for $300. If I would have used a travel agent, I would have had to pay more money and a fee for the agent,” said Alex Ashley, a student at Columbia College Chicago.
Because of the bad economy, it is advised to watch out for scams. Make sure the website says Member of the Better Business Bureau and The American Society of Travel Agents. Having those two names on the site means they belong to a bureau, which shows that it is safe to use the site.
Buying tickets online can have a bigger fee than an agent in person. If you miss your flight, you will have to pay a fee to get new ticket.
Paying a fee for service crosses a lot of people’s minds when deciding if they will use a travel agent or buy online. For example, using Studentuniverse.com, you will have to pay $26 for a service fee and Windy City Travels charges $20 to $40 for booking a plane ticket. Even airline companies charge a fee.
When you are making plans to travel and want to use an agent, there are a lot of things you need to think about. If you want to use an agent, try to have time to meet them. Also, get everything in writing so everyone has a good understanding on how much the trip will cost and the different fees you will have to pay like hotel rooms and car rentals.
Finding a good deal on a trip takes time. You will have to look online and talk to different agents so they can give you quotes about trips. Take your time because if you rush, you may feel like you didn’t get a good deal. There are agents (travel and online) out there ready to help you plan the perfect trip.
Photography By Billy Montgomery
