Planning a trip can be a daunting task, especially if you're researching and comparing the different options available. But why use a travel agency instead of booking online? In short, you'll have a better trip, without the stress of planning your trip alone. A travel agent can provide you with their wealth of knowledge and experience to ensure that you get the most out of your trip. Different types of travelers can benefit from using a travel agency.
Whether you're going on a tropical honeymoon, a safari, a family-friendly amusement park vacation, or a ski trip, there's always an agent well-versed in their field. If you're traveling internationally, especially to a country you've never visited, a travel agency can be an invaluable resource to help you plan your trip. For longer and more complicated trips, enlisting the help of a travel agent can help you make the most of your time. But if you're organizing a large group, need dozens of plane tickets, or have an expensive trip planned, then using a travel agency is probably a good idea.
While travel agencies usually get most of their revenue from the other party to the transaction, charging fees to hotels and airlines, you may pay a fee for their services. American Express Travel has several different branches, such as the luxurious Fine Hotels + Resorts program and its Global Business Travel program. Low-cost airlines such as Spirit and Frontier and budget hotels such as hostels or cheap Airbnbs are usually not part of a travel agency's portfolio, leaving the cheapest sellers possible out of their trips. Despite having access to unpublished rates and secret systems for booking airline tickets, the process will continue to end with a confirmation number when booking with a travel agency.
The job of a travel agent is to work for you and make sure you have an incredible vacation. However, they are not inside your head and they don't know exactly how you like to travel. Ultimately, it's up to you to decide whether booking with a travel agent is worth it or not.
