Why you should use a travel agent

Planning a vacation? Business trip? Honeymoon? Using a travel agent is going to be your best bet. While it’s a fairly easy process nowadays to go on the internet and book your travels yourself, are you sure you’re getting the absolute best deals? And how long is it taking you to find and book your airline travel, hotel accommodations and more? When you have questions about your traveling plans, how do you find out the answers? Even though you’re able to book your own trips nowadays, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re getting the absolute best deals.

So why use a travel agent?

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Because travel agents not only help their clients plan their travels, they are also available to assist with any problems that may occur before, during and after traveling. For example, if a flight or a hotel accommodation is canceled for some reason, there’s no cause for alarm as a travel agent knows exactly what to do. Travel agents simply know what travelers not only want, but need when booking a trip. This means they will double check all booking details, assist with any necessary documents needed when traveling, as well as provide our clients with any important travel tips that will make their travels all that much more enjoyable.

And the majority of professional travel agents earn commissions on their bookings, which means they don’t charge their clients fees when helping them plan their travels.

Travel agents are trained professionals. A travel agent not only knows exactly what every traveler needs, they can help them get everything they need in a much quicker fashion, i.e. visas, passports, special accommodations. Using a travel agent can help travelers get better seat accommodations, any special meals they may need, upgrades when possible and much more. A travel agent can also give their clients advice when they’re wanting to travel to a country that is experiencing political unrest, or a location that experiences a lot of unruly weather.

Inside scoops. Travel agents have insider access, which means they have the inside scoop on hundreds (if not thousands!) of travel-related resources that can make any trip a better experience. This means they have access to special tours and accommodations that aren’t available online and instead have to be booked through a travel agent. If there are any special discounts or offers available for when or where the client is traveling to, a travel agent will find them.

Alan Eskelsen is a travel professional with Kalilei Vacations in Idaho Falls. He can be reached at 208-201-6395 or alan@kalileivacations.com.