One reason (the first of many) to use a travel agent

Why a Travel Agent? reason #1:

I often hear "I use the same Booking Agent at the cruise line all the time" and my reply is always "Yeah, I used too also."  Last year I finally broke away and decided to give this a serious look.  I love, Love, LOVE to help people, I know about travel and I love to plan travel....sometimes to the point where every little minute is planned.  

I have planned out land vacations to Alaska, Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Portland, Quebec, Niagara Falls with Cedar Point and Put-in-Bay, New York City and numerous ski trips, to name a few. When it comes to cruising, I have booked a "ba-gillion".

Don't get me wrong....there are TA's who are in it just for the money and just because it is a job.  Also, there are even more TA's who are in it just to save money on their own vacations.  I want to help people who have the same attitude and the same dream as myself.  I want my clients to strive to get everything they can out of their week or 10 days or more.  I want to save them money and make sure they have seen what they set out to see ..and more!

Travelers have the option of scoping everything out on the internet today.  But still there are ideas out there waiting to be shared.  There are also dangers out there that a TA can help you battle, especially today when booking a cruise.  Once I discovered the differences in using a TA over just booking it over the internet or even over the phone with the cruise line....it was a no brainer...I just had to step out and learn how to do this! Let us start with the "book while cruising" issue.

The most common booking issue when you don't use a TA, is the "pre-sale" contract. These "saver" plans make a lot of extra revenue for the company.  By hooking people into booking early and on-the-spot they make back the dollars of the discount by charging change fees. A lot of travellers get caught in the hype of booking while on the ship because of the onboard credit they are offering.  When they return home and find out they cannot go, not only is the OBC gone, but they are usually charged per person to change their itinerary. 

I find it is best to book under a different promotion being offered and then "follow" the sales.  Reserve the cabin you want but change the promotion code later.  Switch to the rate for "early bookings" after you make sure you can go.  You have time...don't get drawn in.

Example:  Linda is on a cruise and they announce "if you book while on the ship you will get a future cruise onboard credit of $100".  Linda is loving her cruise so she books one for next year for her and her husband.  It is usually booked under a promotion that has a change fee of $50 per person.  Linda finds out after returning home that her chosen week to cruise will not work at her job.  Changing two people at $50 per person just ate up that OBC!  Remember the OBC is per cabin...if you book with children your penalty for changing could cost you more than the OBC you were going to get.

Meanwhile.....Sue calls me and wants to book a cruise.  Even though there is a early rate sale for reserving this cruise so far out...there is also a Past Guest rate with no penalties for changes or even cancelling.  This is the rate we use. Two months later when Sue is sure they are going, we check the current promotions and switch to the early rate.  In addition...I have a group booking on that same cruise and she is still getting a OBC!

What am I saying?  Don't rush, don't react and check into options.  Sometimes there is a better way!

Follow my blog and let us journey together.  I will try my best to help you and save you money.  Share this with your friends!