As a travel advisor, I get this question all the time:  Why use a travel advisor?   With the Internet, the do-it-yourself travel planning is easier than ever.  So, should you even consider talking to a travel advisor?  Yes, you should!

Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, an international luxury travel agency network with more than 11,400 advisors worldwide said to the Boston Globe, “Studies have shown that the satisfaction of online booking has steadily been going down, while the use of travel advisors has been going up.”

Buying travel is a unique purchase because you are buying both a product and a service.  Travel advisors know how to work with both parts. We know our products that will match your needs, and our service provides insightful advice all the way to make sure your trip is stress-free and seamless.  Let me break it down more for you. Here are 8 reasons why you should work with a travel advisor.

Hotels and Cruises

In the majority of the cases, the cost of the hotel whether you book it yourself or have a travel agent book it is the same price.   The same applies to cruises.  The cost of a Windstar Cruise you see online is the same price if you book it with an agent.   If you book with a travel advisor, it is the same cost AND, in some cases, you get benefits.  For example, for my clients’ hotel in Spain, they got the best rate, will get a room upgrade (if available), early check-in and late check-out (if available), a $100 credit to the hotel’s restaurant, free Wi-fi, and complimentary breakfast. Why would you pass up on extra perks worth hundreds of dollars?

Again, it all depends on your needs.  But, in my short experience, travel advisors can save you money and make the most of your budget.  Travel Market report says, “Whether they [travel advisors] charge a fee, as many do, or base their businesses on commissions, the time and money you spend with them will be returned to you many times over in the form of perks, upgrades, convenience and great service.” – Travel Market

There is a difference between price and value. Travel advisors make sure you get the best value possible while usually saving you money.

2. Travel Advisors Save You Time

People fail to realize how long it takes to actually book a trip. Do me a favor, Google “Vacations in Mexico.”  41 million results.  Do you have the time to go through and find what you want?  Travel advisors can edit those results according to your preferences and wants to just a few.

Don’t forget, you need to add air, transfers, tours, etc.  Logistics of booking a trip can be complicated, especially if you are booking a group, multi-cities, or even traveling with entire family. Travel advisors have the experience and the knowledge to be able to book the logistics with ease, saving you a lot of time (and money)!

Also, time is money.  Do you have the time to spend hours upon hours researching hotels, areas, flights, etc.?

3. Travel Advisors Create Less Stress

The last thing you need is stress and worry while booking a vacation. You should be excited about your upcoming adventures – not stressed! Travel advisors will take the worry of finding the best hotel or nailing down that complicated itinerary so you can focus on the exciting events to come!

If we have not been to a particular area before, we have exclusive connections with vendors and even other travel advisors in order to provide you insights you cannot find on TripAdvisor or social media. Keep in mind that reviews and ratings on Travelocity and TripAdvisor are very skewed!

Furthermore, what is right for your neighbor may not be right for you. We will give you advice based on your wants and needs.  Travel advisors help guide you with their expert advice to help you decide how to spend your invaluable time off. There are no do-overs once your trip is over.

5. Travel Advisors Will Advocate for You

When things go wrong, travel advisors know whom to contact to get the problem resolved immediately.  You don’t have to wait on the phone for hours to get something resolved.  One call or text to your travel advisor they will fix the problem while advocating for you. For example, my clients’ flight was delayed due to weather, making their connection time for an international flight in Atlanta 30 minutes.  Worried that they might not make their connection, I reserved them seats on the next flight to their destination.  Furthermore, I contacted both their tour and cruise companies to alert them to a possible change in the client’s schedule.  The Internet cannot do that for you.

6. Travel Advisors Have Clout

Especially since I am a Virtuoso affiliated travel advisor, my travel providers will personally welcome my clients and treat them like VIP guests, not just a nameless and faceless reservation number. Travel advisors have direct connections (see below) to the General Managers, Owners, Executives, and Representatives to the world’s top travel providers, cruises, and hotels.  That “sold out” hotel you were dying to stay in – we have the clout and connections to make that happen.

8. Travel Advisors Create a Personalize Travel Experience

Most meaningful travel experiences are not offered from “Google.” Furthermore, we tailor every itinerary according to your needs, wants, taste, budget, and dreams. You will not have a cookie-cutter package or travel experience. Here are a few of the rare and exclusive experiences: a tour of the underground of the Colosseum, a winetasting in a private vineyard in France, or a cooking lesson with a renowned chef in Italy.

Using a travel advisor does not mean that you will lose control of planning your trip. Travel advisors love to collaborate with their clients. You tell me what you want and my level of involvement in order to create an extraordinary trip.