You finally have the time and the means to make that long-dreamed-of trip a reality. However, you are not sure how to go about planning and booking your trip. You see several websites that promise to make your dreams come alive, but with so many options, choosing just one can be difficult.
Planning an overseas vacation is by no means an easy task. It is a complex and long-drawn process to which you need to devote a lot of attention.
While discount travel may offer you the lowest airfare to your destination, you can hardly expect them to give you a free first-class upgrade.
You can gather hundreds of travelers’ opinions on what they think of the room service and meal buffets from hotel review websites. However, can you get a personalized recommendation on the best accommodation for your honeymoon?
An international travel agency is capable of making an overseas holiday easier, more comfortable, and even
more affordable. Bookings for overseas travel are now back to earlier levels and getting increasingly complex about regulations and travel norms. Hence, booking your foreign trip through an international travel agency makes a lot of sense because of the range of benefits they provide.
This article explores the advantages of booking your trip through an international travel agency.
Who is a travel agent?
A travel agent plans and makes arrangements for all the services linked to travel and tourism for the general public. This is done on the travel agent’s travel suppliers’ or accommodation’s behalf.
Your international travel agent will book your flights, rental cars, hotel rooms, cruises, events, etc. Thus, your travel planning process is thoroughly simplified.
You will receive valuable suggestions for your vacation and stay based on their knowledge and research. They can also design travel packages as per your travel budget.
Above all, travel agents are devoted to providing the joy and satisfaction of a memorable vacation to their clients. They ensure that every aspect and detail of the trip is planned perfectly so that you, the client, can have a stress-free, unforgettable vacation experience.
Why use an international travel agency?
International travel agents can help their clients get the most from their vacation, booking the travelers for exceptional opportunities that help them get a full experience. Here are some of the reasons why booking your next overseas vacation with your family through an international travel agency would be a smart move:
1. Travel planning is their forte
The most important advantage of booking through a travel agency is because travel is their domain and their field of expertise.
In the same way, as you would hire a plumber to fix a leak in the bathroom or a mechanic to fix a problem with your car, when planning an overseas vacation, you should get in touch with an international travel agency.
Travel agents have the training and knowledge to assist you in all kinds of travel.
They conduct proper research to understand their client’s travel plans and accordingly provide them with vital details. They include travel advisories, weather conditions, current news, and documentation requirements at the destination.
2. Travel assistance
Imagine you are en route to a luxury cruise you had booked through a travel agency. However, a snowstorm delays your flight, and you cannot travel. Since you booked your travel through a travel agent, you can call them and ask to rebook your travel.
You cannot count on that level of personalized assistance when booking through an online travel portal. You might not even be able to get through to an actual human for assistance.
Even after you arrive at your destination, if you face some problem, like your transportation not arriving, or you are not too happy with your hotel room, the travel agent can find a solution.
3. Knowledge of various destinations
Travel agents are forever on the job to discover new and unfamiliar destinations.
They are constantly traveling the world to gather information for their clients. They also have a wealth of resources related to travel to provide solutions to their clients instantly.
They can provide recommendations for various travel reasons, be it family, couple, group, or mix-generation leisure trips or work-related travels.
4. Travel Recommendations
Have you always desired to travel on a cruise but found it hard to decide which one would be ideal for you, or even which destination to choose? Or you might have thought of going on a skiing trip with your spouse but are unsure when the skiing season begins.
An international travel agency can assist with such issues. You will find that many travel agents offer specialization in particular types of travel, such as Europe, cruises, or skiing. They have vast experience in their specialized fields and can make good recommendations that can help you to plan a vacation according to your budget and requirements. Their knowledge of the workings of the travel sector can save you money and time by avoiding unnecessary things and focusing on the trip instead.
5. Saving on costs
Some people shy away from getting an international travel agency to plan their vacation, as they presume it might cost them big money. They feel that booking their trips on their own could be far less costly than working with a travel agency.
However, it has been observed that travelers often can save money when booking with a travel agent compared to booking online.
Travel agents can provide their clients with exclusive offers, and they also keep track of current vacation promotions. You can gain valuable advice on the best time for booking and ways to minimize your costs.
6. Help in making changes
There could arise some unavoidable reasons you would want to make changes to your trip. Your travel agent can be of help during such a case.
People who book their travel often find that hotels, airlines, tour companies, etc., can be very uncooperative when making any changes to the trip.
A travel agency has tie-ups with different service providers, and they can work out a solution to incorporate changes to your trip or schedule.
The changes can also be made after the commencement of the trip. So, if you no longer want to take the train trip from Rome to Milan instead of flying, the travel agent can work up an arrangement for you.
7. Decreased stress
With an international travel agency taking care of your trip, you can remain stress-free and enjoy your holiday.
The job of travel agents is to provide all assistance to their clients to make their travel as relaxed and smooth as possible. If any problem arises as a rare occurrence, and the trip isn’t going as per plans, the travel agents can step in and resolve the issue so that you do not stress yourself out.
Having someone with the ability to understand the issues you could face during a trip and eliminate them at the outset or offer solutions during the trip is valuable in keeping your trip devoid of stress.
8. Connections
The professional relationship you will develop with your travel agent, and their connections with other agents are the two advantages of working with a travel agent.
As you get familiar with your travel agent, they will go the extra mile to create personalized vacation packages as you requested and choose the details to suit your requirements.
The travel agents who have long experience in the field build relationships with other travel professionals and institutions, which will get you great experiences. You do not have to go in fear of the unknown.
When you have a great working rapport with your travel agent, you can state dietary preferences, requirements related to room, and other unusual requests. The agent can accommodate them using their professional connections.
Conclusion
Even though you may find them great time-saving measures, travel websites cannot match what a travel agent can provide – experience, know-how, and personalized services.
That is why people are returning to using travel agencies a lot more than in recent years. Travelers want to have, as much as possible, a stress-free experience that will be forever memorable.
So, when you’re planning your next overseas trip, consider choosing an international travel agency and leaving the planning to someone who will be your best partner during the trip. If you need assistance in planning your next international vacation, get in touch with Altour.
