Travel

#Top Five Reasons Why You Need a Travel Agent

Top Five Reasons Why You Need a Travel Agent

Why would you need a travel agent when everything is out there in the Internet just waiting to be Googled? Well, here’s something I experienced first-hand not too long ago that convinced me that, hello, just because I have a computer doesn’t mean I can find and book all my trips by myself—even one I thought was going to be an easy breezy one.

My mother and her husband live in Mexico, but he spends part of the year in Puerto Rico to visit family. A few weeks ago they called me to book a flight to San Juan with the same departure dates for both of them, but different return dates and, on top of that, they wanted to put them on separate credit cards. OK, sure, I can do that, right?

Well, not really, at least not if they wanted to be on the same return flight and sitting next to each other.

Why the issue? Booking separately under different cards with different return dates really complicated matters. So I called John Latimer, who apart from being the VP of our SkyMed Travel Club is also a professional travel agent. An hour later he called me back with confirmation not only for the flights, but also for the seats. Mission accomplished!

Truth is, as much information and Googling we can do on our own, there are plenty of instances why you would want to purchase travel from an agent as opposed to hitting the “Book” button yourself.

A travel agent can save you time. Start surfing and you’ll be faced with countless choices for flights, car rentals, hotels, tours, etc. The returns on a Google search can be mind-boggling, but an agent can make sense of all that and vet thousands of options, including ones not online, to find a handful that are right for you. Even on big box sites, the more options to compare, the more complicated it gets. And don’t forget about needed documentation, hidden fees, restrictions, limited seats, expiring discount fares and more. A corollary to this point: an agent will know what documentation and preparation you will need for an international trip and should have knowledge of local rules and regulations that could affect you at the destination.

A travel agent can save you money. Some agents understandably charge additional fees for their time and expertise, but most make their money from the commissions paid out by the travel suppliers. Agents are also experts at knowing where to find the best deals for your money, plus many have relationships with airlines—no wait times for them on the phone—and hotel chains, which means they can frequently arrange for value-added perks such as breakfasts, airport pick-ups, late check-outs and the like for no extra money. Having an insider on YOUR side is priceless.

An agent can work wonders when you need to book a group. Multiple itineraries and different needs for multiple people can be enough to drive even the best Excel spreadsheet organizer insane. Hand the responsibility to a travel agent; they are experienced in keeping track of all the details and working across the board with airlines, tour companies, ground handlers, hotels and travel insurance companies to make the planning worry free.

An agent is a problem solver. When you miss your flight or connecting flight that you booked online who do you call for help? You probably don’t have any idea who to call—and who can guarantee you’ll get a human being at the other end of the line? If you booked with a travel agent you would have him or her on your speed dial. A good agent will know exactly what to do to help you with your predicament.

An agent can suggest options you might not find online. A good agent can be as knowledgeable as the best hotel concierge when it comes to the hottest bistro in town, the coolest jungle tour or scoring tickets to a sold-out show. They can put together a unique experience that leaves your friends’ cookie cutter vacations way behind.

Do you have a preference when it comes to booking travel? While you can certainly book your own trip through the www. SkyMedTravelClub .com site there are always agents available at SkyMed Travel Club can help you navigate the travel waters when you’re ready—it pays to be a member in more ways than one!

With a background that includes stints on the mastheads of an eclectic collection of Spanish- and English-language magazines, Lydia continues to indulge her love of writing and travel as Strategic Content/Social Media Manager for SkyMed International.