6 Incredible Benefits of Working with a Travel Consultant

In recent years, with the perceived simplicity of booking travel online using self-serve booking engines, some people have assumed that using a travel consultant to book their own travel isn’t a necessity.

However, nothing could be further from the truth! During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous travelers were finding themselves extremely disappointed and stressed from having to deal with canceled trips, airline and hotel refunds, flight and cruise travel credits etc. on their own.

With COVID-19 changing the landscape of travel as we once knew it, and the addition of confusing new travel restrictions and rules, the value of using a travel agent has become a no-brainer. They are here to guide you through the increasingly complicated and ever-changing regulations and guidelines to ensure your travel will be as smooth as possible.

Here are some of the top reasons to work with a travel consultant to book your future travel:

1. Travel Consultants Help with Last-Minute Changes and Emergencies

If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught us, it’s that the unforeseeable can and does happen!

You can avoid the stress of navigating last-minute changes or emergencies to your trip by working with a travel consultant.

You might find yourself requiring support for a variety of possible disruptions regarding your travel plans. For example, an airline schedule change, a new COVID-19 guideline came into effect at your destination, or someone in your travel group becomes sick or injured during your trip.

If something unthinkable happens during your trip (for example, the hotel doesn’t have a room available for you, or your flight was overbooked), your knowledgeable travel consultant is just a call away, ready to help you in any kind of emergency.

Travel consultants work closely and have strong relationships with travel suppliers and often have an inside track to any changes or cancellations to your planned trip.

A travel consultant can help you navigate the bumps in the road to make your trip as smooth as possible. Our consultants are here to help you plan your future trips, once you’re ready to travel again!

2. Consultants Are Familiar with Travel Restrictions and Changes

From COVID-19 testing requirements, to knowing which airlines require toddlers to wear masks, etc. it is a travel consultant’s job to stay up to date with all of this information. If there’s something they don’t know, they have quick access to all the information, which is constantly and rapidly changing during these times.

Even during non-COVID-19 times, travel consultants are knowledgeable about which countries require you to apply for visas, if there are any necessary vaccinations, and any other requirements for travel.

3. Travel Consultants Can Offer “Insider” Knowledge

Travel Consultants know when certain destinations are busiest and when the best time to travel is considering peak and off-peak seasons, as well as when the weather will be the best in the destination you want to visit.

During COVID-19 times, your travel consultant can tell you all about the new COVID-19 health and safety protocols put in place at resorts, on airplanes, in theme parks, and more. This includes topics such as cleanliness standards, social distancing expectations, when you are required to wear a mask, and what is and is not available to do at your destination.

4. Travel Consultants can Protect You From Scams and Fraud

There are more and more instances of travelers coming across “too-good-to-be-true” deals online and booking their vacations through sketchy third-party websites.

Online scammers are becoming smarter and more advanced with their methods of online tricks and fraud. With so many travel sites to choose from offering seemingly similar products, it can be difficult for customers to notice the difference between real travel deals and scams.

If travelers have made travel reservations on fraudulent websites, it can become very costly and stressful to fix the issues that could arise because of it – and that’s where travel consultants come in to save the day.

Legitimate travel consultants know where to find you the best deals, without ever needing to access sketchy third-party websites. They will also make sure that you aren’t fooled by other types of travel scams and know what to look out for, such as rental car scams at destination, counterfeit event tickets, “bait and switch” property rentals, currency short-changing, fake international driving permits and more.

Once you’ve experienced a travel scam headache on your own, you’ll never book without a travel agent again.

5. You’ll Receive the Most Value for Your Money

Travel consultants can often land you deals and additional perks that you wouldn’t necessarily find by booking on your own!

Booking with a travel consultant makes so much sense, and it doesn’t necessarily cost you much more. Be aware that most travel agencies do charge fees for individual services like research, bookings, and changes. But with travel consultant’s expertise, experience, connections, and passion for what they’re doing, these small fees are minimal when you want to ensure that your holiday goes as smoothly as possible. You’ll have complete peace of mind knowing you’re completely taken care of, and that is invaluable.

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6. Travel Consultants Can Plan Your Dream Itineraries

If you have lofty ideas for your next dream holiday, it can be extremely overwhelming to plan every single detail, which can also be very time-consuming. This is especially true if you’re planning a long trip or a trip with a lot of people.

Travelers are dreaming of more extravagant trips to compensate for a whole year of travel lost to COVID, and a travel consultant can be essential, often organizing every little detail to make sure it all goes off without a hitch.

Travel is slowly but surely coming back, and booking through a travel consultant could save you some major headaches if there are last-minute changes that must be made to your itinerary. Travel consultants will always go above and beyond for their clients, because they are passionate about what they do.

START PLANNING YOUR VACATION TODAY

When you’re ready to explore a new or favorite destination and make your travel dreams come true, contact one of our TierOne Travel agents! They have extensive experience in life-changing travel and will be able to craft something incredible that is suited to your unique needs. One call; endless experiences!