“Do travel agents still exist?” “What do travel agents do?” “Why should I use a travel agent?” Here at Adventures by Jamie we hear these three questions a lot. Modern day technology and the ease of the internet have many people thinking we are obsolete; but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you had a trip planned in either 2020, 2021 or 2022 you most likely spent countless hours listening to pre-recorded messages while sitting on hold to ask for refunds or credits. You also most likely wished you had someone to do all of this nitty gritty work for you. Well friends…that is where we come in.
As travel restrictions continue to evolve, the travel industry is more confusing and yet busier than ever. Not only do you need to worry about “normal” vacation things such as: what activities to do, what restaurants to eat at, or what clothes to pack; you now also need to consider all the new (not so) fun things: do you need a COVID test? Is there entry paperwork you need to fill out? Will you need to quarantine? Do you need proof of travel insurance? If you think that is a lot, the list goes on and on.
Save yourself the headache and stress of trying to navigate this rugged terrain solo, and do yourself a favor by tagging your favorite travel agent into the ring. There are so many skills and moves we can bring to the “travel match” to ensure you walk away with the big W.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Ensuring that our clients return from their vacations happy and satisfied is our number one priority. Helping clients plan amazing and life changing vacations is not only a hobby, it is our job. We know that happy clients become return clients so you can rest assured that we will do anything and everything we can to make sure your adventure is one you will want to relive time and time again.
TIME AND MONEY SAVINGS
Your time is valuable, we get that. Between shuttling little ones to activities, cooking dinner, running to appointments or putting in time at the office…there never seems to be enough hours in the day. The last thing you want to do when you have a moment to yourself is read review after review or call an airline. As travel agents, we set aside those precious hours to research those resorts or call that airline for you; you can use that precious time doing something you actually enjoy. We also spend time finding deals, promotions, or the cheapest plane ticket to assure you head out on vacation with as much fun money in your pocket as possible. The average traveler who utilizes an agent saves an average of three and a half hours and four hundred dollars per vacation! When you put those two statistics together…it’s definitely nothing to sneeze at.
VALUE
As travel agents we provide more value through a variety of ways. We offer personalized services that cater to your needs as well as offering more adventurous clients more unique vacation experiences. Cruise lines, resorts and small tour operators recognize that a good amount of their business comes from travel agents. Because of this, companies provide travel agents with special perks. The best opportunities come from who you know and because we know these cruise lines, resorts and tour operators…we get to pass along these special perks and savings down to you.
KNOWLEDGE
Without sounding cocky, travel agents are experts in their field. Now this isn’t to say that we know everything because believe us, we are constantly staying up to date on all the changes facing this ever growing industry. We discover, experience, and research the places we offer to our clients and we do this consistently; meaning you can rest assured that we know the in’s and outs of what’s happening around the world. And because we know it…you will know it too.
VIGILANCE
The travel industry can be impacted by so many different things. Everything from natural disasters, political upheaval and the ever changing pandemic numbers make travel a wee bit trickier than it has been in the past (okay…a lot trickier). That is why staying continuously aware of these evolving events is our full-time job and one we pride ourselves on rocking. You can breathe easy knowing that if anything occurs that changes any aspect of your trip, you will be the first to know.
RELATIONSHIPS
It is not a far off speculation that most travel agents are people persons, after all…we spend all hours of the day talking and getting to know all about our clients. We know your family’s names, how many kids you have along with their ages, your likes, dislikes, dreams and so much more. We remain with you and your family before, after and during your trip. A vacation is only as great as the heart that goes into planning it and while booking your vacation through an online website or app may seem easier; they know nothing about you or your family. As travel agents we pride ourselves on nurturing and building a relationship with you so you won’t only have one incredible vacation…you will have numerous.
PERSONAL TOUCHES
Since we now know what makes you and your travel party tick, you can bet your bottom dollar that your trip will be filled with little personal touches. Whether it’s in the time we take to compose the perfect itinerary for your food trip through Europe (wine and cheese anyone?), decorating your hotel door for your child’s first Disney trip (hello Princess stickers!), or making sure you have champagne and chocolate covered strawberries awaiting you in your overwater bungalow for your honeymoon (romance please!) The opportunities are as big as your travel agent’s imagination and can be the cherry on top of an already spectacular vacation.
EMERGENCIES
*Sigh* No matter how much time and energy goes into planning a remarkable vacation…life can still give you lemons. So what do we do? Make lemonade! Flight cancelled? We are already on the phone with your airline! Hotel overbooked? We have an even better room waiting for you! Is your favorite ride down for repair? Check your email for a list of fun alternative suggestions! We would love to say that every trip goes off without a hitch but we would be lying (and we don’t do that to our friends). As frustrating as emergencies can be, we are your personal advocate to do whatever we possibly can to keep your vacation from getting derailed. So take a deep breath and have a pre-vacation drink at the airport bar because we’ve got it handled!
There are so many intriguing reasons to utilize a travel agent for your 2022 vacations and beyond. Working with a professional provides relief from the stress, anxiety and frustration of vacation planning. On top of everything else, you will walk away with a new friend and advocate to work with on all future adventures. Sounds like a win win to us!
At Adventures by Jamie we pride ourselves on helping our clients experience the vacations of their dreams. We are committed to going above and beyond for you and helping you make memories that last a lifetime and we are ready to start right now.
Have you been overtaken by the travel bug? If so, leave a comment below telling us where you want to go and a member of our team will reach out to you shortly. We can’t wait to meet you.
Life is short and the world is wide. Let’s explore it together!