Decades ago, your vacation probably started with a visit to a travel agent, who relied on a combination of expertise and connections to find the best deals on airline tickets, hotels, tours and more. Since then, the internet has turned most of us into our own travel agents, and artificial intelligence software is making research and self-booking easier. But for some trips, specialized insider knowledge can still make a big difference.
So when should you hire a professional, and how does it all work? Here are some tips.
Why should I consider a travel advisor?
It’s easy for a traveler to research for a typical trip, says Chris Anderson, a professor at Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, “so they should look for a specialist for the type of tour they’re looking for, say a bicycle tour in Ireland, which can really add value.”
The insider knowledge offered by a travel consultant can add the most value to trips that have different city itineraries, include a wide age range of travelers, are very important (such as an anniversary vacation) or to destinations you’re not familiar with, says Gary R. Johnson, who ran a travel agency Journey to Woodside in Seattle for nearly 30 years. An advisor can help you decide, for example, which cities to visit in Europe based on local events and transportation options.
What can an adviser give me that a booking site can’t?
Travel advisors can help you research the best destinations, lodging, or activities for your specific group and travel goals, offering specific advice that might be difficult or time-consuming to find on your own. Cruise experts may know which cabin to choose if prone to seasickness, while a safari planner can help you decide which park is best for bird watching or spotting specific animals, such as of rhinos.
Travel advisors usually have relationships with tour companies, hotels and cruise lines, sometimes through networks. Those connections can allow advisors to offer additional perks like late checkout, free breakfast, airport transfers, a welcome basket or a credit to spend on a cruise ship.
“A good travel agent will be a better steward of your travel budget than you are,” says Guy Rubin, managing director of Imperial Tourswho arranges travel to China.
When bad weather or other circumstances disrupt your itinerary, travel advisors often have a direct line of communication with providers and can take on the task of rebooking and changing plans, saving you money. of time and stress.
OK, let’s say I need help. How can I find an adviser?
Networks like American Society of Travel Advisors and Travel Leaders There are websites that can help you start your search for a travel adviser by answering a few questions about your desired trip. Once you have a number of options, call them on the phone to discuss what they can do for you, how they charge and the level of service you can expect. Special trips can cost thousands of dollars, so it pays to budget up front, Mr. Rubin said.
Be sure to read travel agent reviews and any user-generated social content that mentions them, says Dr. Anderson. “If there’s no external validation, that’s a red flag.”
How are advisors paid, and how much will it cost me?
Advisors receive a commission from suppliers, typically 10 to 15 percent of the price, when selling cruises, lodging and tours. They also sometimes charge travelers a planning fee, ranging from a few hundred dollars, which can be credited to the final bill if the booking is completed, to tens of thousands of dollars annually for a luxury travel planner of concierge they can call year-round. Mr. Johnson said he charges a planning fee the first time he works with customers. If they come back for other trips, he waives the fee.
Advisors may be tempted to sell you something that will earn them a higher commission, says Dr. Anderson. But, he points out, the same is true for large online services, which promote hotels that pay them a larger commission. Travelers can ask advisors about specific commissions they receive or how they are affiliated with the products they recommend, he said.
Sometimes a local tour company will package transportation, lodging and experiences for a consultant, who tacks on a percentage before passing it on to a client. But an unitemized bill can make it harder to make trade-offs — between a more expensive hotel and a special experience, for example. If pricing transparency is important to you, discuss this with the advisor face-to-face.
How is AI and other technologies impacting travel advisors?
While new technologies allow do-it-yourselfers to create their own itineraries online based on individual preferences, and type questions directly into travel websites, advisors are also taking advantage of those technologies to improve their services. Joan Roca, chief executive of the upscale travel planning company Essentialist his team says it “uses technology to enhance the human touch,” using artificial intelligence to select options from a database of travel offers selected by a human team. If a couple wants to go for a walk after dinner, for example, Essentialist’s app will offer ideas on where to go, based on which part of the city the travelers are in and conversations they have with their travel adviser .
