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TRAVEL AGENTS: MASTERS AT COMPLEX VACATION PLANNING
Smart Money Magazine says travel agents can help with travel perks, lower prices
*TRAVEL AGENTS: MASTERS AT COMPLEX VACATION PLANNING *
*Smart Money Magazine says travel agents can help with travel perks, lower
prices*
Nashville, TN Tuesday, January 06, 2009 – Internet or travel agent? It's a
dilemma many people are wrestling with as the spring break vacation season
heats up.
If you think most travel agents would always recommend their services over
booking a trip online, think again. "Depending on the individual needs of
the traveler and the complexity of the trip, a travel agent may not be
necessary," advises Erica James of Erica James Travel in Nashville, a travel
industry veteran, "especially if it's a simple airline ticket or booking a
room at a well-known hotel chain. The Internet has made those types of
transactions easy for most travelers. On the other hand, if your trip
involves multiple destinations or several trip components, or you're seeking
a truly unique and personal vacation, that's when an experienced,
well-connected travel agent can really make a difference."
According to *Smart Money *magazine, travel agents can also use their
connections to obtain hard-to-get travel perks for their clients. In the
"Smart Spending" section of its June 2007 issue ("Travel Agents Are Staging
a Comeback"), the magazine states, "… web sites like Hotels.com, Orbitz and
Travelocity are losing some of their edge, especially when it comes to
high-end locations. And customer displeasure is starting to show; growth in
the once red-hot online travel business is cooling, up 20 percent last year
after a 28 percent increase in 2004. Enter the travel agent, the most savvy
of whom can use longtime connections to secure that 'sold out' room or
coveted aisle seat …" Indeed, many travelers enjoy numerous special
privileges because of the long-standing relationships their travel agents
have developed over the years with travel suppliers.
Here are five other scenarios when a travel agent's expertise may outperform
the electronic variety:
1. *If you're going on a cruise* –With nearly 150 cruise lines and more
than 225,000 staterooms to choose from, according to Cruise Lines
International Association, where does one begin to narrow the choices for
this very popular vacation option? Try a travel agent. Travel counselors
stay plugged in to what's hot – and what's not – by frequently going on
cruises and ship inspections and attending industry workshops. Agencies like
Erica James Travel can also work on your behalf to get you the best price,
plus special perks and benefits not available when booking online or
directly with the cruise line. For instance, Erica James Travel can book you
on one of its popular Ensemble(R) Hosted Cruises, which offers the extra
attention of a knowledgeable host when needed during the cruise, plus other
privileges like a private cocktail party onboard and a complimentary
Ensemble(R) Experience shore event, ranging from gourmet luncheons and
private museum openings to special musical performances and personally
guided wildlife cruises. Expect the same insider information and special
deals from many travel agents when it comes to independent or escorted
tours.
2. *If your trip is complex* – A vacation involving a 10-day
Mediterranean cruise followed by a week on your own driving the Grand
Corniche into Monte Carlo and on to Provence requires numerous airline,
cruise, hotel, and car reservations. Arrival and departure times, hotel
check in and check out policies, directions to the rental car agency, all
can be overwhelming to most travelers. Leave those critical details (they're
all interconnected, too) to a travel counselor who has instant access to it
all. The travel pro can probably even give you turn-by-turn directions to
pick up your car in Nice (and what to do if rental agency is closed when you
drop it off), not to mention the best café for people-watching along the
famous "Croisette" in Cannes.
3. *If you're looking for the out-of-the-ordinary *– As more people
search for the "road less traveled" when it comes to vacation experiences,
savvy travel agents are creating quite a following in creating personalized
"over-the-top" vacations for their adventurous clients. For instance, Erica
James Travel has access to hundreds of unique experiences for their clients
– oftentimes off-limits to the general public. Interested in complimentary
breakfast for two in a 13th century Irish castle? Sipping champagne at
the foot of a waterfall in Hawaii? Building a nomad home out of felt, wood,
and rope in Mongolia? Arriving by seaplane for a romantic private lunch on a
remote Scottish Loch? Whether it's staying in a centuries-old castle or
partaking in a culturally enriched encounter led by local experts, travelers
have hundreds of these kinds of unique experiences to choose from when they
book their vacation with an Erica James Travel expert.
4. *If you're traveling overseas – *Do I need a passport and/or visa?
What inoculations are required for entry? Are there security issues or
travel advisories for this country? These are just three of a myriad of
questions that a travel agent can answer for you within minutes. Travel
counselors also have access to the specific locale and region, such as which
museums are closed for renovation, which holidays shut down the city, and
which festivals are coming up. Also, depending on your destination, certain
"undiscovered" spots may not be accessible via the mainstream airlines (and
by most travelers). Not to worry as travel agencies like Erica James Travel
have relationships with charter carriers and lesser-known airlines to get
you to your hidden treasure.
5. *If you want an ally 24/7 – *Many people like the comfort in knowing
they have a built-in problem solver if anything should happen along the way.
When your flight to Ft. Lauderdale is cancelled (meaning you may miss your
cruise), or the resort has lost your reservation (and it's sold out for the
next three days), or you've slipped and broken your leg while shopping along
the Strøget in Copenhagen (and you're in desperate need of a doctor), who
are you going to call? If you booked it through an agency, you've got help –
immediately and round-the-clock. "Our clients have our home phone numbers
and cell phones to contact us in the case of an emergency after hours," said
Erica James of Erica James Travel. Travel agents can also recommend ways for
you to save money without jeopardizing the quality of the vacation
experience. Changing your departure or return date, selecting a similar but
slightly different room at the resort, or modifying your choice of travel
supplier in many instances will reap great savings.
And what about pricing? The *Smart Money *article also compared the vacation
pricing of three traditional travel agencies to two travel Web sites. The
results? The travel agents were able to deliver the greatest savings to
their clients when going head to head with Expedia and Travelocity.
Indeed, a travel agent should not be the sole source when planning your next
vacation. But if you're seeking extraordinary experiences, insider
connections, VIP treatment, and exclusive perks and privileges not possible
on your own – plus the benefit of a real person – there's none better.
Erica James Travel is a full-service travel agency specializing in group
travel with counselors that are known for their unique and affordable
vacation packages and itineraries, exemplary customer service, and an array
of exclusive perks.
Erica James Travel is a member of Ensemble Travel(R) Group, an elite circle of
professionals with knowledge of every type of vacation experience. Preferred
partners include premier cruise lines, tour companies, on-site destination
specialists, and hotels and resorts around the world. Erica James Travel
offers special amenities and unique opportunities which are only available
through an Ensemble Travel Group member agency.
Contact:
Erica James Travel**
Erica James
(615) 405-2167
erica@ericajamestravel.com
www.ericajamestravel.com
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Ingrid Fletcher
Chavez PR & Management
Phone: 615-310-6979
Email: ingrid.mjcs@gmail.com