How to Pick a Travel Agency
by Nathan Lynch
The trip of a lifetime can take a lifetime to plan unless
you know how to pick a travel agency.
A common misconception is that travel agencies add to
the cost of your trip. In truth, finding and using a good travel agency
to plan your trip usually saves you time, money, and frustration. So
how do you pick a travel agency?
Ask around!
The best way to find a good travel agency is through
word of mouth. Ask your family and friends who they've used and then
ask them about their trip. How did they travel? Where did they stay?
Was their trip enjoyable?
Getting a few referrals from friends helps you to know
in ahead of time what to expect from a particular travel agent and helps
you weed out the good from the not-so-good as well.
Are you a member?
Many clubs and organizations offer travel services for
their members and many corporations have established relationships with
travel agencies that their employees can use. "Members only"
travel plans frequently offer the best values.
Compare
Shop a couple of experienced firms. Travel agencies
come and go like any other businesses. The ones that stay in business
add experience and know-how to each trip they plan. Make your first
inquiry with a travel agency a listening experience; judge how well
the agent listens to you and how comfortable they make you feel.
A good travel agent will ask you to outline your trip.
They'll ask where you're going and why, how you'd prefer to travel,
how long you plan to stay, and what your travel budget is. Be open and
honest with your answers.
A good agent will readily put together a sample itinerary
that describes availabilities in transportation, accommodations, and
estimated costs.
If you feel like you're getting the "hard sell"
or the travel agency tells you there's only package available, keep
shopping. You can always go back if you find that they're right!
In addition to finding the best rates in lodgings and
transportation, an experienced travel agent can also give you some helpful
tips about your destination and here's the bonus- generally it costs
nothing to use a travel agency!
Because they can buy in volume, travel agencies get
discounts on prices for both tickets and lodgings!
For travel made easy, use the services of a travel agency
to make your outing a time to remember well!
Nathan Lynch is an avid travel writer and the author
of South Beach Uncovered. "The Ultimate, Indispensable, Insiders
Guide To Saving Money and Having a BLAST in South Beach, Miami".
http://www.southbeachuncovered.com
