Sue's travel adventures: October 2016

The New Adventures of the

"Travel Yenta"

Let me explain what a 'yenta' is.

She is a busybody, she has to know everything about everyone. She makes it her business to know... she does her 'homework.'

This is first in a series of tips and recommendations by me, Sue your personal 'Travel Yenta,' who wants to give you all travel related information. Listen to it... Don't listen to it. Every single piece of information is true. I have been a Licensed and Award Winning Travel Agent since 1995.

Why use a travel agent?

Back in the 'stone age' well before the advent of all of the do-it-yourself travel sites, people used to turn to travel agents when they wanted to take a vacation. But with all of this new technology, do travel agents still exist? They absolutely do! And you may be surprised to learn that although technology has changed dramatically in the past few decades travel agents have not. They have became better educated and trained.

They are still some patient 'World Travelers' who have 'oodles' of experience, helpful tips, great suggestions and they still offer better deals than most of the big corporate multi-million dollar travel booking sites. Read on to learn while using travel agencies aren't for the old fashioned, they are for the budget-minded traveler who wants the best vacation experience possible.

Then versus now:

When your parents were younger, they would head to the trusted, reliable local storefront travel agent when they wanted to get the best advice for a family getaway. The agent would listen to their needs, budget, time of year, vacation style and personal preference of the vacation. Then the travel agent would not only give advice and make recommendations based on her extensive travel experience, but all of the details. Flights, hotels, rental cars, excursions, etc. If that weren't enough, sometimes this personal service came at an even cheaper rate than if you personally called all of the companies to book individually. Nothing has really changed in regard to the service you'll get from a travel agent, but now it's easier than ever for the layman to book his own trip. Not only are there a plethora of sites like Expedia and Priceline that promise the best deals, but there was also no shortage of recommendations to help you along your way. There are websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp. Okay, this may sound great there is so much information to wade through it can sometimes be overwhelming to try and find reviews that's good who you are as a traveler.

How do travel agents still provide value in this day and age?

Travel agents have 'weathered the storm' of old versus new Technology by continuing to provide excellent personal one on one service to their customers. It can be tedious and extremely time-consuming to manage all of the aspects of booking a vacation, which is where travel agents excel. You can call a good travel agent and tell them you'd like to do a 10-day Tour of Rome and you'll get personalized itineraries with recommendations for cafes, upgrades at your hotel and 'perks' with zero hassle on your part!

Many travel agents these days have chosen to specialize in specific types of vacations like cruising or Disney trips so that they can provide the utmost customer service experience to their valued clients. They cultivate close relationships with partner hotels or cruise lines to secure the best deals, perks, and upgrades for their customer, things that would be virtually impossible for individuals booking their own vacation to acquire. And there's the fact that a travel agents job is not complete once the booking is done, either. If something goes wrong during your trip, a travel agent can provide much-needed assistance instead of you having to flounder on your own in a foreign city. They can change your hotel if you're dissatisfied, get your money refunded if you had a terrible time and one of my travel agents has even gone so far as to bail me out of almost missing a flight thanks to lost documentation. That piece of mind doesn't come with travel arrangements that you can book on your own.

To use an agent or not?

This comes down to personal preference, but there are some things to keep in mind. If you are planning a trip and you enjoy the research that comes with booking a new vacation in the time it may take to get the best deals, then you're probably best off booking everything by yourself. But, if you're traveling somewhere new, it would be wise to speak with an agent. They can tell you what you need to know about passports, visas, and vaccines and the customs procedure so that there will neer be confusion or last minute stress on your part. Another time to consider using a travel agent is if you're planning a complex trip. Complicated vacations are an intelligent travel agents specialty, so utilize them if you're planning a tour that involves multiple cities, flights and tours. They will also give you the lowdown on any hidden fees or restrictions with your flight, hotels or car rentals, making the whole process much smoother and stress-free.

Call me in lovely Delray Beach, Florida at 954-575-6101 whether you are considering an All-Inclusive Caribbean or Mexico Getaway or you want information for a European River Cruise with amazing 'freebies' and 'perks.' But first, enjoy my travel photos.