4 practical reasons why should book your trips with a travel consultant

Yes, we've all heard it before - people say they can do it themselves. DIY is recommended when you have a simple itinerary, point to point, and you know very well the destination place. But what do you do when you need or want to go somewhere you’ve never been or where you don’t know what to expect?

Nowadays more than ever you are not sure what to expect.?At the same time, there are people, who have been in this field for a long time and who have a lot of insights about airlines, hotels, airports, city regulations, taxes, cultures, food, places to visit that simply you cannot get anywhere else. There would be quite a number of sources you would need to check. I have been in travel for more than 20 years now and I am still learning.

And yes, again. Things are a bit more complicated now and this is why I am writing this article. Restrictions and travel conditions are dynamic and they do bring some uncertainty to the whole experience, but that does not mean there isn’t a simple solution.

Here is why I believe you should be booking your next travel with a travel consultant.??

1.??????Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.

You may have had some tough experiences in the past. However, bear in mind I am saying “consultant”. This is the kind of role that provides services on a higher level of quality or standards.

I am referring to a professional, an expert who has had studied this sector continuously and is super passionate about what you need & your experience. Someone who has a great customer attitude towards you, a person who managed to get experience through hard work. Someone who goes the extra mile and impresses with the level of details they pay attention to. They have advised a lot of travelers on all types of travel services and have done a lot of work to be able to be a consultant and… keep in mind, is paid accordingly and fairly. Like in any other industry, there are amateurs and there are professionals.

Speaking of value, one example here would be calling a hotel GM in advance to ask for an upgrade for your accommodation or make sure you are known on arrival. This is a matter of attitude towards their job and they have an urge to go the extra mile just because. They do not promise. They just do things to surprise you.

2.??????Valuable advice and support for all your journey.

Be prepared to express clearly what you want.

Having a person that you can reach, call or WhatsApp, and get the information you need in a matter of minutes is quite beneficial. It maybe you need an offer, a booking, some information about the conditions you need to fulfill in order to travel, luggage information, schedule changes, rebooking, airlines regulation or even moral support. I believe the travel consultant is your friend in need at a distance. They answer and they do their best to provide you with the support you need.?

In order for the travel consultant to give what you need, you must give them what they need. Answers to questions. This is the first sign you are dealing with a person interested to know your needs. Consultants always ask a lot of questions at the beginning in order for them to do their research and compile the information you require; they must obtain the specifics from you. If yours does not spend some time with you to the understand what you need, you may not be getting the real deal. Please keep in mind that you should be mentioning the budget together with providing your wishes or requests.

One very important aspect is the degree of attention you get from them throughout all your journey. In all the phases of your journey: before you depart, on the road and after you have returned. The interaction does not end when you get invoice and you pay it. The consultant stays close by communicating constantly relevant information about the different services you acquired until the time you get home safe. Even if they do not get in touch you, they work in the background to make sure everything is delivered as they require.

3.??????Save time and money, so you can focus on the things that matter the most.

Let’s face it, you cannot get all the know-how of a person who is doing this for a living. It is the same as me trying to make repairs in my house. Just because I can clean the tiles, it does not mean I can mount them on the wall… properly. It would take me 5 times more than a specialist, no clue about what to buy and not to mention the huge mess I could be causing. The same here. If you want to know details about restaurants in Barcelona, which airline has the best timetable to fit your schedule for going to London, what is the best option of accommodation for your family in Spain or the closest hotel to your meeting spot in Zurich, talk to a consultant. They know where to look for the information and have access to a myriad of tools that you simply cannot imagine.

A travel consultant has access to a handful of travel systems and platforms that deliver booking for a whole range of B2B and B2C services. They constantly get training and attend webinars delivered by international experts or global companies. The industry has a lot of particularities in this regard. At the same time, they are very well connected within the industry. From local airline representatives, hotel managers and suppliers, rent a car companies, transfer providers, border control, embassies, authorities, destination agencies, and other consultants they keep relationships with the whole ecosystem in order to be on top of their game.

They leverage their existing personal relationships with suppliers to deliver a full package to you.

4.??????You want to avoid frustration or bad experiences.

While many people believe that cutting out the middleman will provide greater savings in the trip planning process, it is quite the opposite. If you are like me and you hate it when people waste your time or you cannot focus on what you supposed to do, frustration is a heavy burden. Expectations and reality sometimes differ. That is why I always ask for information from people who have a formed idea about the matter, just to avoid having an unpleasant surprise during my trip.?

After the past year, I believe the travel consultants are masters in dealing with crisis. Consultants are experts in the art of crisis management. This is when you realize that having a travel consultant in your corner was the best decision.

Either it is medical emergency, a canceled flight, a strike, a volcano eruption, you name it. They deal with this kind of issues on a daily basis.

At the same time, they are very good at managing the complexity of the nowadays amount of information about traveling that comes every month when governments release a new set of rules or changes in the requirements. The amount of information to track, including vaccine requirements and closed borders, documents needed for border control, not to mention the rapidity with which everything can change, is quite challenging.

No matter the purpose of your trip, you can enjoy your journey with the help & the expertise of a professional who is keen on your having a memorable experience. Finding joy and passion in the work they do is what propels travel consultants to succeed. It’s this love for their work that drives them to be the best that they can be. That passion is contagious and encourages others to seek them out for travel, too.

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