Don’t fall for these Travel Advisor Myths!

There are plenty of myths (or misconceptions, if you prefer) around the use of Travel Advisors. I’ve been doing this for a while now and I’ve heard them all. So for this blog post I thought I would share with you some of the more prevalent myths – and most importantly the TRUTH!

MYTH #1: “Using a Travel Advisor is expensive.”

NOPE!  Add up all the time spent researching your trip (destinations, lodging attractions, hours of operation, investigating tours that will delight even the pickiest family member), booking flights, hotels, transportation entertainment, dining and excursions. Don’t forget the time spent on ongoing research to ensure prices haven’t dropped since your booking and reaching out to the hotel/carrier/cruise line if they do!  What is your time worth?

The Fact of the matter is this:  You don’t pay your Travel Advisor the supplier does! So now that we have that little tidbit out of the way, doesn’t it make sense to work with a professional who can enhance your trip by using their resources and contacts to find the best prices, and unique experiences?  And don’t forget that if your Travel Advisor is affiliated with a large company such as American Express or Cruise Planners (like say… me!) they often have access to group pricing or special offers that will further reduce the cost of your travel.

MYTH #2: “I don’t need a Travel Advisor… I can do the same thing myself on the Internet.”

Exactly the Opposite! The internet/online options seem to be endless.. and can mean confusing, overwhelming and sometimes contradictory.  How do you know you’ve found the BEST price?  And which resort is REALLY the right one for you and your family?  How long do you need between flights to ensure that you don’t miss your connection? Where are the best beaches in November (or July or April)?  Everyone has an opinion.  But your Travel Advisor has the tools, resources and experience to provide accurate and comprehensive information.  They also have access to exclusive pricing and package deals that are often not available to the public.

Perhaps most importantly, your travel advisor has more leverage when you need help – like when that hotel you really want to stay doesn’t have rooms on the internet.  Quite often when ‘Google’ gives you a NO, your travel advisor can get you a YES!

MYTH #3: “Travel Advisors ‘push’ certain cruise lines or hotel chains.”

Absolutely Not!  Travel Advisors have information about, and access to virtually every cruise line, hotel chain, airline, resort and tour operator in the world.  Our role is to help you find the best option for you/your family based on your budget, travel style, favorite activities and even your preferred dining style.  The options a travel advisor presents you are based on YOUR preferences and desires… It’s all about YOU!

Travel Advisors spend time learning your travel preferences, researching destinations and airlines, fact checking and curating personalized itineraries for you. Ultimately, working with a travel agent will save you an incredible amount of time, and often has access to deals and specials not available to even the most diligent internet search warrior!

Timing is Everything

They (whoever ‘they’ are) say that timing is everything. And it’s true. While the midst a global pandemic may not have been the best time to startup my own travel franchise, it did give me time to start an accompanying blog. So there you have it… Timing!

Timing is so important in travel. How far out can you/should you book a vacation for the best prices in air, lodging, cruises, all-inclusive resorts? When should I make dining reservations at Disney? What is the best time of the year to cruise in Alaska, or see whales in the South Pacific? It all comes down to timing.

So how do you know when the time is right? It’s really quite easy. You can spend endless hours googling the options and reading the fine print, read online reviews till your eyes blur, and ask the guy who works in the next cubicle where he went last July. Or you can just call your favorite Travel Advisor! It’s our job to not only understand the deadlines and optimal time frames, but also to understand your travel styles, recommend unique experiences, and remind our clients of all of those pesky timelines.

And when is the right time to call your travel advisor? Do it when you’re thinking about starting to plan, when you know what you want, or when you’ve tried and tired of handling it on your own… In other words… ANYTIME!

And finally – leave me a comment below with any questions, comments, or thoughts on where your favorite vacation was (so far!)

Call: (314) 578-9930

email: Edwin.RiveraAlvarado@cruiseplanners.com