When I tell people I’m a travel advisor I get some interesting reactions, such as “I thought travel agents went away,” and “I can book it all myself, on the Internet,” and “Can you get me a better deal than [insert any name here]???”

Here’s How I Answer Those Questions:

Are there still travel agents out there?

Yes, we are still here!  Travel agents never went away, but have typically moved out of expensive storefronts and into home offices. They have evolved from just booking flights, cruises, or hotels, to having extensive knowledge about destinations and vacation options to share with their clients.

We prefer the title “travel advisor” or “travel consultant,” which more accurately reflects the services that we provide for our travelers.

For the last 11 years, I’ve been guiding clients to great trips from my home office. I regularly meet with other advisors and suppliers in addition to completing both online and in-person training .

If you follow this blog, you know that I travel a lot. On these trips I’m always gauging how potential clients would find these experiences, and making note of important tips, tricks and caveats. I bring all that knowledge and personal experience together for my clients to plan the right trip for them.

Why do I need a travel advisor when I can do it all on the internet?

If you’ve ever planned a trip, then you know how long it takes to sift through all those websites, trying to find the information you need.  People often search more than 35 websites before actually booking a trip. My brother told me that he and his wife will research 50 hotel properties to find one that they want. That gets exhausting!

The best travel advisors harness the breadth and depth of the internet to bring great experiences to their clients.

One of my fellow travel advisors, Wonderful Susan Jeske, arranged for a son to join his parents celebrating their 50th anniversary in Rome. With less than a month to plan, she was able to get him on the same flight as his parents and get a room close to theirs in the same hotel.

Great travel advisors also develop relationships with hotel managers and tour operators. This comes in handy when clients need something extra on a trip or that special personal touch.

Amazing Jeff DalPoggetto told me that he arranged for a client to pick up a bouquet of 60 specially ordered flowers while she was on her way to  a 60th wedding anniversary party outside of Naples, Italy. Using his personal connections with a tour company in Italy, his client was picked up at the Rome airport, taken on a tour of Rome, driven to the train station, put on the train to Naples, picked up at the train station in Naples with the flowers in the car, and taken to the party.

He also arranged to surprise other clients with a Thomas Keller-signed cookbook to be delivered to their table while they celebrated a milestone birthday at The French Laundry in California. And Jeff’s clients thought his being able to get the reservation for dinner at The French Laundry was pretty terrific as well.

I can save you valuable time by learning what you want in a vacation and finding the best options for you. Unlike the Internet, I will actually take your call and help you when you need it. And because I travel as much as I do, I have the insider knowledge that you can only get with personal experiences and connections.

 Can I Get You A Better Deal?

What does “better” mean to you? Does “better” mean cheaper? If all you want is the lowest price for a trip, I can typically match what you can find online. 

But if  “better” means having a fulfilling travel experience, including the planning and booking process, then you will get a lot of value out of working with a qualified Travel Advisor.

Travel advisors can often provide extra amenities or services that you can’t find online. For example, I am able to bundle the various parts of a trip into a complete package that makes it easier for you to get everything that you want to do on your vacation.

We often have access to amenities or services that you can’t find online.  

Excellent Lori Thornton went the extra mile for an elderly client to make sure he has day-by-day instructions with maps and directions for his trip to Amsterdam. She has also personally contacted the hotel manager and the tour guides to make sure they know of his special needs. For other clients, she has put together detailed maps of ancestral locations for their genealogy tour.

You’re a travel advisor? Great! I really need your help in planning a trip to….

This is my favorite response!

A travel advisor who is passionate about her work will be especially helpful when you have a more complicated trip or want to visit exotic locations, such as visiting the temples in Cambodia or searching for gorillas in Central Africa.

An often overlooked benefit to using a Travel Advisor is that we can  also advise you on travel insurance. There are many products out there with lots of different coverage types. As a Travel Advisor, I am empowered to help you find the best coverage to fit your needs, and if things go wrong I will be your advocate.

They can make special and wonderful things happen for you.

 Fabulous September Holstad had a wheelchair bound client and his wife going to Paris for a few days. Because of her relationship with the Shangri-La Hotel manager, they were able to arrange for an upgraded Terrace Eiffel Tour View Room, which thrilled the clients and made their vacation extra special.

Today’s travel advisors want to help you plan the best vacation possible – not the most expensive, or the one that all the other tourists do, but the best vacation for you. When internet research gets you down and you need someone to talk you through the thousands of options call me: your friendly neighborhood Travel Advisor! You will be glad you did.

Let’s start planning your heirloom-worthy vacation!