"So how does this travel agent thing work?"

     Since I have started working in the travel profession, I have received one question more often than others:

"So how does this travel agent thing work?"

I have also learned what is really being asked with this question. I've decided to use this blog to hopefully answer this multi-intended question. 

     The first thing people are looking for when they ask this question is,

 "Isn't using a travel agent more expensive? I don't use one because I don't want to pay someone to book a trip for me!"

No. You do not pay a travel agent for their services! Isn't that great?!

So now you are wondering how I make money off of this profession, because let's face it, I have to make a living. And I do. But it doesn't come from you. When I book a trip for you, I am then paid a commission from the hotel, cruise line, resort, etc. And also no, 

This does not make your price go up. 

     Let me give you a metaphor: Let's say you go to your general physician for a checkup. He suggest that you see a specialist for some reason. That specialist is going to want to hear from your general physician on why you need the specialist's services. The specialist is more likely to accept you and treat you if your general physician is the point of contact for why you you need the specialist. 

     Now, I understand that that may have sounded a little harsh. And no, Carnival isn't going to turn you away if you book a cruise on your own. However, since it is my job to know as many details as possible about your cruise, Carnival is going to give me a commission for booking your cruise for you, and I am going to have all of the details I need for your cruise from Carnival. I then handle all of the questions that you would normally be calling Carnival to ask about. 

     In the end, you are going to pay the same price for a cruise that you could have booked on your own, instead I am going to be doing all of the work for you. 

  

   That brings me to the other part of this question:

"If I book my trip with you, what's different than me booking it on my own even if the trip is the same price."

     This is the part that gets people to use a travel agent sometimes more than the actual price associated with the trip. As your travel agent, 

I am with you throughout the whole booking process and actual trip!

     To begin, I am going to do a good bit of the research for you. More than likely you have done some research before you have even contacted me. Some of my clients like to be very involved in the process, so everything I send to them, I either send with links, or they will research that more on their own. Once you have decided what you want to do, I will be there for the booking process. I actually do the booking for you. This makes a lot of people feel better because there is a second set of eyes on all of the details. From there,  I let you know what you need to do, make sure you have copies of your tickets or passes, and help you get all of the needed documents together for your trip. If you have a question, I am there to answer it for you. If I don't know the answer, then I look it up for you. Again, this is my job. I also call to confirm your reservations and make sure you are ready to arrive. 

     Because I want my clients to know I am there for them, my own personal service is to have your travel documents with me at all times for the entirety of your trip. If you need anything from the moment you leave to the moment you return home, I here for you with your travel documents in my hands. I'm taking the trip with you, in a way, so you're not alone. 

     There's also another part to this question that not everyone wants to ask, but it's definitely on their mind at some point:

"But in the end, do we really need travel agents any more?'

     Between all of the self-help websites, Youtube, blogs and vlogs, and do-it-yourself guides, you can do a lot on your own. If you spent enough time reading and researching, you could repair your sink, close on your house without a realtor, fix your AC, or even build a house on your own. The key word to knowing how to do all of these things is time.

I am not just in the travel business- I am in the time saving business.

     In a world of easier access to make our lives more efficient, we somehow have less time for "everyday things." That's where I come in. Between work, kids, life, and those pesky home repairs, it seems like you are "supposed" to plan a perfectly planned out vacation to get a break from it all. But when exactly are you going to do that? Well, you're now- I am. And just like your AC repair or home closing process, you can be as involved or un-involved as you would like. You can now save time planning your vacation and have more time to be excited about it. 

     So if planning a vacation stresses you out, you may want to consider having a travel agent help you out. Just remember these three things:

1. You should not be paying them anything extra for their services.

2. They should be there for you every step of the way. 

3. They should be saving you time, and possibly money, to make your life easier. 

If you're interested in using a travel agent, check out my website at www.heritagetravelandevents.com. 

Happy Travelling!