Reasons Why You Should Use a Travel Agent to Book Your Next Trip

 If you love to travel, dreaming of your next trip and planning it can be almost as much fun as the trip itself. While the internet has made researching destinations and booking a trip easier and more accessible than ever, the many options for flights, cruises, hotels and tours can overwhelm even the savviest of travelers. Add to that the new and ever-changing travel restrictions related to the pandemic and suddenly your vacation can go from dream to dread! If your plans include traveling in the near future, you may want to consider working with a travel agent. Now more than ever, these travel pros can work their magic to help you plan your trip and keep everything running smoothly. Here, AAA Travel Agents share some of their top reasons to consider working with an agent.

1. Travel Agents Save You Time

Travel agents can take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many options available to travelers, saving you time and the hassles that often come with vacation planning. With years of experience and knowledge about destinations, transportation options and vendors, an agent can eliminate hours of online research time.

“The options come to my mind quickly as we speak about their trip vision,” said Allison Walker, a AAA Travel Agent in San Clemente, California. “I can create a short list that only includes reputable, quality options that are appropriate to their trip destination objectives.”

“Travel is my job, but for my clients it’s a passion or a hobby,” said Lisa Landay, also a AAA Travel Agent in San Clemente, California. “Sometimes they only know about the vendors that have the most prolific marketing. It’s my job to listen, listen, listen to what my clients want. And then, cut to the chase by recommending a vendor that would be a good fit for them. This way, they don’t end up wasting time and money on a bunch of ‘trial and error’ experiences.”

Agents don’t just save time researching and making decisions. They can also handle changes and other issues that may pop up before or during your trip.

“I was able to quickly handle a hotel closure, rebooking and flight schedule change for my client’s upcoming trip to Palm Springs while they continued on with their day,” said Ashley Andrews, a Travel Agent with AAA Oregon/Idaho. “We are here to do the work so you don’t have to!” 

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2. Travel Agents Take the Stress Out of Planning

Agents help clients with all types of situations and are immersed in travel full-time, so they’re aware of details you might not think of when planning on your own. Their knowledge and experience also gives them the foresight to prevent potential problems.

“‘You don’t know what you don’t know,’” Walker said. “Sometimes consumers don’t realize there is something really important for them to include or arrange. Thankfully, experience has taught me most of these things and when I’m not certain, I know where to check and who to ask.”

“We take care of all the details — those little things that are not fun to plan like transfers, checking in, etc.,” said Melanie Manzi, a AAA Travel Agent in Providence, Rhode Island. “We’ve got you covered from A to Z — reminders about what to pack, temperature, side trips, adventures, where to get the best coffee, or that Instagrammable spot to make your friends jealous they are missing out!”

3. Travel Agents Offer Expert Recommendations

A knowledgeable travel agent will make personalized recommendations and offer tips on destinations, what to see and do while on vacation, the best and worst times to travel, and much more.

“I may suggest to take a train for a certain portion where I know the driving is too difficult or it takes too long and their vacation time is not being best spent,” Walker said. “Or because the sights en route are so amazing, they will want to watch the view and not the road. Cost versus time versus experience — all need to be in balance.”

Agents don’t just gain knowledge from their own travel. Their knowledge of destinations is also constantly updated by their clients.

4. Travel Agents Have Been There, Done That

Travel agents are often well-traveled, having visited the destinations and experienced the vacations they recommend to travelers.

“First-hand experience is immeasurable — and extremely important depending on the needs of the client,” Platero said. She has clients who are in wheelchairs or mobility challenged, so when traveling she always checks to make sure hotels, attractions and restaurants are truly accessible before recommending them.

5. A Travel Agent Can Handle the Unexpected

Between weather delays, natural disasters, flight cancellations, lost luggage and much more, a lot can happen on vacation. Travel agents act as the traveler’s advocate in the event something goes wrong, helping navigate the challenge of making any necessary itinerary changes.

“As travel agents, we have seen it all,” Troy said. “While the traveler may have never had to deal with a weather delay, we have. We know the details and the best way to handle the situation. We can talk to the airlines, resorts, etc., to make sure you are fully taken care of in the best way possible. We will find the best possible solution for the given situation whether it means changing dates of the trip completely or just rebooking them on the next available flight.”