If you had to choose between booking flights or sand in your toes, between finding a perfect place to stay or spending time at a winery sipping on a Cab or how about spending hours searching the internet for tours and actually taking the tour? If the latter of those choices all sound like a dream come true, then read on because engaging a travel advisor allows your dreams to become a reality.
At a function recently the question inevitably came up about what I did for a living. When I stated that I was a travel advisor, the person looked at me puzzled and said she didn’t know those even existed. I chuckled a bit as this is often a response I get. As surprised as I am by people not knowing about travel advisors I also love it as it gives me an opportunity to explain our purpose and share the benefits gained by utilizing services like mine.
So this week I am doing something a bit differently; instead of sharing an experience or destination I am going to give you insights into what you can expect when working with a travel advisor such as myself.
Translating dreams to reality
Have you struggled with how to take your vague notion about a vacation and turn it into reality? This is where I come in. I can translate your wants into real locations and help you identify what pieces of your trip will matter the most. Which island is best for golfing? How best can I see the Great Barrier Reef? How much time do you need for a layover? Would it make the most sense to rent a car, hire a driver, or something else altogether? If even starting down those trains of thought is giving you sweaty palms, take a deep breath and know that as your travel advisor I have the answers.
Peace of mind
In the unfortunate event that something does go wrong, having someone on your side to help you through it and advocate for you is invaluable. Instead of being stuck internationally frantically trying to track down all of the people you need to call, you can make one call to a travel advisor and trust them to figure out the best plan for you.
We get to know you – The more you use a travel advisor, the more valuable we are. With each trip you take, the more feedback you’re able to give us on what worked for you and what you’d skip next time, making each subsequent trip even further beyond perfect.
Travel Advisor vs Travel Agent
The difference between a travel advisor vs. travel agent is being of service vs. providing a task. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term Travel Agent was first used in 1885, and is defined as: a person engaged in selling and arranging transportation, accommodations, tours, or trips for travelers. In other words, an order taker/fulfiller. Communication between an agent and client was based on individual transactions and largely reactionary. An agent was more like an extension of the travel supplier, e.g. airline or hotel, and not a valuable counselor to the client. The relationship I have with my clients, as a Travel Advisor, is much different. I work for you. I advocate exclusively for you. I do not represent nor am I an extension of a particular hotel, cruise line, etc. My role as an advisor is to get to know your likes, dislikes, your needs, your dreams of travel—this builds a full picture upon which I can be proactive in my suggestions, anticipate concerns, and continue that work for the next generation as well. My goal is to create a long-term relationship with you and your family.
What do travel advisors do that is any different than the deals on the internet?
A Travel Advisor is not a tool. The Internet is. As your Travel Advisor, I use the tool to assist in creating a robust proposal for your future travel, and then I use my extensive personal relationships with hoteliers and other suppliers around the world to deliver a VIP experience to you. I will pick up the phone or send a text message or write an email to you during a pandemic, hurricane or other time of need. Artificial intelligence has not yet learned to replicate these human behaviors. The internet is useful for me to:communicate speedily and accurately with clients and suppliers all over the world, research options through proprietary web sites not available to consumers, and share consumer-directed sites that will benefit your own research, if you choose to.
Isn’t it going to cost me more to use a Travel Advisor?
With the help of a travel advisor, you will ultimately save money, plus we can certainly save you time. Most good ones do charge a fee upfront. This covers our time to research, craft an itinerary, and create your trip. We are experts at cutting through the noise and relieving you of the overload of information the internet contains. While we provide you with a variety of options—new hotels on the scene; the newest cruise lines; we also stay up to date with the latest passport, visa, and entry issues; weather; worker strikes; political unrest; natural disasters; travel insurance; insolvency of travel providers, to list just a few. Therefore, the value we bring to improve your experience is just one aspect of how we help you to travel seamlessly. We have your back before, during, and after your trip. Quite simply, you will not regret using a travel advisor.
Won’t I be cut out of the planning process?
Nothing could be further from the truth. You will absolutely be part of the planning and decision making process. The planning and anticipation can be half the fun! Designing your holiday should be a collaborative effort where ideas, activities, and experiences are talked through and discussed. This ensures that your holiday planning will be personalized, efficient, and effective. Oh, and also a lot of fun! As much as I can, I make the process seamless to give you more time to sit back, relax and anticipate your upcoming holiday.
Need more reasons? Contact me today and let's talk about how I can best assist you with your travel plans.
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