A Travel Agent
Should You Use One Or Plan Your Own Trip?

It's easy to find airline deals on the web, and there are tours enough to make your mind spin.... But that could be just the reason you might want to contact a professional to help plan your travels.

If you are trying to plan a complicated trip.... say an African safari or a swing through several Southeast Asian countries, an agent who specializes in those areas can help guide you to the best hotels and sights.

We used a travel agent close to home for a trip to Southeast Asia. We used a Malagasy Agency for our trip to Madagascar. Both made the trip so much easier! Sure you can research the hotels, but those pictures and descriptions can be deceiving. A good agent has been there and stayed in those hotels and knows the area.

A cruise package might seem easy to arrange, but an agent who specializes in cruises knows the ships and the different cruise lines. They can help you choose the cruise line that best suits your budget and travel style, and they will know which cabins to book and which ones to avoid.

You might not save any money booking through an agency, but you will save the time and headaches of researching for the best deal. On the other hand, you might save money or at least get more for your money... an agent who works in a specific area can sometimes get you a better package than you could by yourself because they work with hotels and tour operators in their area.

Your travel agent might have enough influence to get you into places that most tourists can't get to. A special service like this will probably cost you more than just a "regular tour", but if there is something that you've always wanted to see or do,wouldn't it be worth it? A travel specialist in that area could help you with that dream.

Agencies can help you arrange for your visas. You can always get visas on your own, and a visa service can help you too, but if you've been working on a complicated itinerary with a travel consultant, they'll know what you need.

Sometimes agencies have special relationships with the consulates of the countries they specialize in. Our agent for Southeast Asia got us our Vietnam visa quickly because she had a connection with the consulate. If you need several visas for a trip, it can help speed things up to have those connections.

How do you find a good travel agent? Talk to friends and family. Talk to the agent, make sure they sound knowledgeable, and that you're comfortable with them. If you're planning a complicated dream trip to an exotic location, you might want to check out lists in one of the big travel magazines. Every year they profile top professionals who are among the best experts in specific areas of the world.

You'll most likely be fine booking a one week cruise to the Caribbean on your own. You might snag a simple tour to London or Paris on the internet. But... If you have a complex or exotic itinerary in mind, you might just be better off letting an expert take care of the details... Call a travel agent.

Happy travels... even if you don't travel the world... just remember that life is a journey... embrace and enjoy it!   Judy and Mark

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