Planning a vacation can be stressful. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always trying to get the lowest price on airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and other accommodations. You may think that hiring a travel agent is outside of your budget or unnecessary for short domestic trips, but you may be surprised to find how a travel agent can simplify your life.
While you can scour the internet for the best vacation deals, hiring a professional travel agent is really the way to go if you want to save money and find the perfect place to relax and unwind. If you’re still unsure about the benefits of hiring a travel agent, consider the points below.
Save Yourself Some Time
If you have ever planned a vacation from start to finish, you already know how time consuming the process can be. You have to keep a close eye on airline flights, schedule transportation to and from the airport, book a hotel room or resort, and ensure that all of your daily activities are scheduled. When you hire a travel agent, however, you don’t have to worry about figuring out all of the minute details of your trip.
An experienced travel agent will be able to cut through the online clutter to find you the best vacation destinations at the most affordable price. They’ll take the time to research each destination that you are interested in, and they’ll devise a game plan for your trip so all you have to worry about is reapplying sunscreen every hour. A travel agent will also be able to give you advice on travel insurance, foreign travel requirements, and the passport application process.
Travel Expertise At Your Fingertips
With the large variety of vacation destinations out there and resorts that claim to “have it all”, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when trying to lock down a vacation destination. For example, if you were to Google the words “resorts in Mexico”, your search engine would be inundated with hundreds of thousands of vacation options. A travel agent will already have the travel expertise you need to narrow down options, so you don’t have to worry about combing through hundreds of websites to find the perfect resort.
Tailor Your Vacation Needs
Have you always dreamed about going parasailing? Is a scuba-diving trip top priority on your bucket list? If there are specific activities or sights you’d like to see on your vacation, working with a travel agent is the best way to make sure they happen. Since travel agents personally visit vacation destinations across the globe, they’ll be able to tell you the best places to visit for each activity.
Travel Agents Don’t Cost As Much As You Think
Contrary to popular belief, travel agents don’t cost an arm and a leg. In fact, most travel agents don’t charge any fees at all for their services. Instead, they rely on the resorts to provide them with compensation each time they book a vacation. According to an article from Travel + Leisure, “travel agents make the majority of their money on commissions paid to them by hotels, airlines, tour operators, and cruise ships.”
Enjoy Free Upgrades And Freebies
Another big perk of working with a travel agent is the fact that you can reap the benefits of their connections. Since most professional agents make their living through bookings, they tend to develop unique relationships with a variety of service providers (including hotels, rental car services, resorts, and the like). This means that they may be able to get you a discount or a whole slew of perks you wouldn’t be able to access if you were booking the trip on your own.
Save Money On Your Trip
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons to work with a travel agent is the fact that you can actually save money on your trip. Unless you have an unlimited income, you probably have a budget in mind for your trip. Whether you only want to spend $2,000 or $15,000, a travel agent will ensure that you get the best bang for your buck.
A Travel Agent Will Have Your Back
Vacations are supposed to be rejuvenating and relaxing trips, but when something goes awry, it’s easy for things to feel discombobulated. After all, what happens when your connecting flight gets canceled unexpectedly or you lose your passport at the airport? You can let the feelings of panic sink in, or you can call your trusty travel agent for assistance.
Plan Trips For Large Groups
If you plan on traveling with a large group of people (for a business trip or family gathering), working with an experienced travel agent can save you a ton of time and effort. When you’re trying to plan flights, transportation, and hotel accommodations for more than three to five people, it can start to feel like you’re herding cats in a tornado. Instead of stressing over the booking process, hire an agent to create a travel itinerary for your group.
Get The Protection You Deserve
Most DIY vacation planners don’t realize the importance of travel insurance and medical insurance when traveling abroad or overseas. If you get injured in a foreign country and you’re submitted to the hospital, there’s a good chance the hospital staff will take your passport and expect a full payment for your treatment. If this doesn’t sound like a joyride to you, you can put your mind at ease by working with a travel agent. They’ll make sure you have the right travel insurance to keep you and your family safe while traveling.
There are many benefits to hiring a travel agent rather than trying to plan a trip all on your own. If you live near Denver and you’re flying out of the Denver International Airport (DIA), be sure to park your vehicle with ParkDIA. Our airport parking facility is the closest, fastest, and least expensive near DIA, and we offer affordable parking rates and options that will meet your needs and budget. Download our mobile app today to reserve your DIA parking space!
