4 More Myths About Working With a Travel Agent
There are many falsehoods surrounding travel agents — not about what they do, but about what people think they do. In part one of this series, we covered four myths about working with a travel agent, and as we continue, we will provide you with four more myths about working with a travel agent to ensure you have the most accurate information possible. Once you have a better idea of what travel agents do, reach out to JP Travel to book your next trip!
It Doesn’t Bother Us When Friends and Family Book Without Us
Using a travel agent is an optional choice for any traveler, but when it comes to the friends and family of a travel agent, feelings can get hurt if they book without us. You may think that you’re saving a travel agent time and effort, especially if you’re simply going on a quick trip. However, when we see pictures of friends and family members on vacations or hear about them taking trips we didn’t help with, it can sting a little. The reason for the hurt isn’t because we want to make money — although, making money on a trip you’re planning to take anyway doesn’t hurt — it’s more about the idea of ensuring you get the most out of your trip. When friends and family members don’t book with a travel agent they know personally, that travel agent can start to wonder if they really got the best deal or the best hotel, or depending on where the traveler is going, it could bring up questions of whether or not they thought to purchase travel insurance.
All We Do Is Book Trips
Don’t get me wrong, booking trips is a huge part of what we do. However, it isn’t the only thing we do. When you work with a travel agent, they are your constant contact for that trip. What this means is that if something changes with your booking or you have questions about where you’re going, your travel agent is there to help with all of that. In addition to providing you with expert knowledge during the planning portion of your booking process, your travel agent will also reach out to you prior to your trip with important information, as well as suggestions on what to pack, weather conditions, and so much more! Our goal is to ensure you have an amazing trip, and we do everything we can to make sure that happens.
Travel Agents Are Trying to Earn Higher Commission If They Don’t Quote the Cheapest Price
When travel agents do their research for quote requests, they’re looking for a few different things:
The best price
The most direct and time-friendly itinerary
High-quality hotels
Packages within your budget
With that in mind, there may be some cases where a travel agent quotes you a price that is a little more expensive than something you may be able to find on your own, but it’s important to think about what you’re getting when you compare those two prices. For example, with the cheaper price you find on your own, it may not have certain fees factored into the listed price. Additionally, the cost may include the cheapest airfare with terrible seats or multiple layovers, or it may quote a hotel that is less than ideal and doesn’t quite meet your needs. With a travel agent quote, on the other hand, the quoted cost will likely be exactly what you were asking for. When you work with an agent, they get an idea of exactly what you want, so you’re likely to get a quote that includes better seats and flight times, a hotel that has everything you want, and so on, all while staying within your budget.
Travel Agents Are Outdated
When most people think about travel agents, they think of people sitting behind old desks, working on outdated computers, or even looking through giant books to help you plan your trip. However, travel agents are much more advanced than that. With the internet offering more ways to travel and book vacations than ever before, travel agents have learned to adapt in order to keep up with technology. In addition to booking online with various vendors, travel agents also receive daily emails with information regarding discounts and incentives before they are released to the public, if they’re released at all. In addition to booking online, travel agents are able to contact vendors directly to see if they can get even better deals for the clients.
Start Planning Your Trip
Hopefully, these two posts have given you a better idea of what travel agents do, and if you’re interested in learning more about working with a travel agent, don’t hesitate to reach out to JP Travel! We are more than happy to help you book an amazing trip, and our agents are licensed, bonded, and insured. Reach out to us today to get started!
