Do you know what an OTA is?

OTA stands for online travel agency. This includes sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak, Trivago, etc. Basically, these are sites where you book your own travel through a service online.

What’s the difference between using an OTA and a Travel Advisor? Below are some key differences which show you what you are and are not getting by using an OTA for your travel planning.

Vetting

When you use an OTA to book your travel, you may or may not have access to customer reviews and ratings, but you are not getting any kind of vetting from the OTA directly. When working with a travel advisor, you will have access to advice, recommendations based on personal experience, information learned through industry training and collaboration between other advisors.

Customer Service

When booking through an OTA, there is often little if any customer service available to you. Changes in the travel, additions and cancellations are more cumbersome if even possible at all. When working with a travel advisor, you will be informed right up front what can be changed and what the process for that would be. But more importantly, by getting more information and advice in the beginning, as well as suggestions of options you can look at to book, you will likely have a more perfect package from the start and not need to make changes. A travel advisor will also guide you to book travel insurance that actually has a broad coverage based on what you need and to make sure you are protected from the unexpected.

Customization

When booking your travel on an OTA, what you see is what you get. But what if you want to customize your travel experience to include the destinations/activities/tours/resorts that specifically speak to your travel dream? When working with a travel advisor, your trip can be completely customized from beginning to end.

Recommendations/Expertise

The beauty of travel recommendations is that you have the benefit of the knowledge of your travel advisor but also the knowledge of their colleagues, the travel suppliers they have relationships with, industry training and their personal experience. An OTA does not offer recommendations but again makes you rely on the reviews you can find. (Always remember that reviews are not a vetted tool. This means while some are real, some may not be. It's a common tactic for bad reviews to be "planted" to discredit a competitor as well as to make things look better than they are by posting a "false positive" review.)

Problem Solving/Crisis Support

What happens when something goes wrong? (and unforeseeable things do happen sometimes) What if you become ill or injured? What if your flight is cancelled? What if there is a crisis or disaster at your destination? Do you think you can contact your OTA to help you in a timely manner? Your travel advisor is there to assist you before, during and after your travel. You will be expertly guided through whatever is happening and your travel advisor will have your back.

Resources

When you use an OTA to book your travel, it's unlikely you will receive other resource information. Travel advisors can supply you with tons of resources. This might have to do with passports, travel advisories, destination information, restaurant/tour recommendations, etc.

Stress Reduction

This is huge. There are thousands of options out there. If you have no knowledge base to narrow things down, figuring out each component of your travel can be very stressful plus time consuming. You also have to determine which services online are legitimate. Working with a travel advisor greatly reduces this problem as the TA is doing the legwork based on your preferences and type of travel you are looking for. Today's world can be chaotic and uncertain. The rules are ever changing. You need a professional in your corner who has your best interest as a priority.

Bottom Line

Do you like being treated like a VIP? Do you like feeling confident that your trip is exactly what you are expecting? Do you like getting special amenities?

Travel time and money are very valuable commodities. Are you willing to risk those fulfilling your expectations by trying to book your travel on your own or by using a very one-dimensional option? Protect your investment and work with a professional. You'll be glad you did.

Need help or just have some questions as to how this type of relationship works? Set up a discovery call with me, and I'll be happy to share that information with you. https://calendly.com/timeforyoutravels/45min