Choosing the right travel agent is an essential step in planning your next holiday. After all, they are responsible for making it happen. There are many things you can do on your own, but there are also certain tasks that only professionals can efficiently handle. Here are some points to consider before hiring your next travel agent:
1) Reputation
A good place to look at the reputation of an agency is online review sites like Trip Advisor. You can just search for their name and see what people have to say about them. If you find someone who has had personal experience with them, ask for more information about their services, whether they were happy with the outcome or not. Furthermore, the agency’s website should also give some idea about their service. Does it look professional? Do they have customer testimonials and media coverage on their page? These are all good signs that the company is reputable. Some smaller agencies do not have a website, so you need to ask them for references instead.
2) Policies and fees
You can also visit the agency personally if you cannot find enough information online. Every company has a set of policies that defines how they operate, fee structure, etcetera, whether written down or not. Ask them about this when you meet in person, so there will be no surprises later on. Find out if they charge a commission from your final price or not and other processing fees such as airport surcharge, insurance, etc.
3) Travel consultants
The travel consultant working with you is the most important factor to consider when choosing a travel agency. You can either get in touch with them or choose an agency with more than one consultant; this way, there is always someone available to assist you even if your assigned consultant is not immediately available. A good idea would be to find out their availability before making any plans.
4) Package options
In some instances, it might be cheaper if you just book flights and accommodation separately rather than taking a package offer from the agent. In this case, ask them for more information about booking each part individually, so you’ll have a better idea of how much money you need to prepare. (plussreiser) If, on the other hand, you are not sure which places to go to or what hotels to stay in, a package is an affordable way for you to go about it. (https://plussreiser.no/reisetyper/skoletur-og-studietur)
5) Upgrades and perks
Some travel agents might offer extra upgrade options when you book with them. (https://plussreiser.no/reisetyper/reise-til-israel) For example, they may be able to get lounge access tickets, free breakfast, etcetera depending on your flight class. Inquire about these services as part of your package if available that way, you will know what you are getting into before booking anything. Furthermore, some companies also give their clients complimentary gifts for booking through them, such as 200 USD worth of credit for Uber rides. Ask if this option is available during the consultation process as well.
6) Flexibility
Some travel agencies might offer different package options concerning departure dates. For example, they may have a promo only available for August. Inquire about this and make sure that you get what you want at a reasonable price. Furthermore, it would be best if the agency has partners located in various countries to have more places to visit when you go on holiday.
Conclusion:
Choosing a travel agency is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning your next trip. Do not rush into it and consider all factors carefully to ensure that they can handle your requirements.