Travel Agents: Are They making a Comeback?
Travel Agents:Making a Comeback?
Is a real live travel agent better?
There has been a trend in the last several years to conduct all our business on line.Not only can one go on line and conduct business any time of day,It seems faster and cheaper to do so. But is this always the case?We've all been there , especially in the travel business, we've found this really great cruise on line, at a great price. But then the real questions surface, how do I get to the cruise port, which airline has the cheapest fare, what shore excursions do I go on, how do I get the best deal on those? The list goes on and on.
What happens when I have to change something, do I dial 16 different phone numbers to talk to a real live person? How much time am I going to spend doing all of this. In time , is it really worth it? How much am I really saving?
The novice simply isn't going to know what his or her options are, one who only travels once a year or so, simply can't keep up with all the changes going on in the travel industry.
Rates and fares change hourly, what was a good deal on Monday, might not be a good deal on Thursday.
Only by sitting down and talking to an experienced travel agent can one be reasonably assured of getting the best deal, and having someone available to solve any problem that might arise.
Statistics show that fewer people are booking on line, down to 46 % from a high of 53 % in 2007.
A real live travel agent can also give more personalized service, you're not going to get warm cookies if you stop by a travel website and want to change an itinerary. It's very hard to get creative and customize a vacation on line when all the options are unknown. Many times a travel agent has personal experience and knowledge concerning your destination, if they don't, they know someone who does.
The internet is a wonderful tool and I use it a lot, however even in today's world,there is still no replacement for the personalized service that a face to face meeting provides.
Gary is a travel writer and photographer living in Sarasota,Florida. He has a website featuring more photos and articles and also markets products featuring some of his travel photos.
Posted by The Florida Hoosier at 8/13/2009 8:19 AM 
Categories: Travel
Tags: booking on line travel agents
Categories: Travel
Tags: booking on line travel agents
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