HOW TO FIND
THE BEST TRAVEL AGENCY FOR YOU!
Here are
questions you should ask:
• Has the
agent been to the place you want to go or have other specialized knowledge
about the place? Has he been selling the
destination and received feed back from other clients?
• Has he
traveled the way you want to travel (on a cruise, escorted tour, via package or
on your own)?
• What
professional organizations and affiliations does the agency have?
• How long
has he been in the travel agency business?
• Are most
of their clients’ casual travelers? Families? Sophisticated travelers?
• Are they
familiar with the price range at which you want to travel?
• What
services do they offer, and what fees do they charge for those services?
• Are
there companies they do not do business with as a matter of policy?
• Can the
agent's relationship with the supplier earn you benefits, like upgrades or
resort credits?
• Can the
agent help you after hours if a problem arises, and how will you contact them?
(Don't abuse that contact, though. Save it for true crises.)
Communication is key-The
agent should ask you a lot of questions, just to be sure you're on the same
page. In that conversation, you should share the following information:
• Ages and
preferences of your party- Be as specific as possible. (If your children are
high energy, savvy older teens, don't assume the standardized children's
programs are going to appeal.)
• Financial
commitment for the trip.
• Primary
goal-(Bonding with family? Visiting every European capital? Rest and
relaxation?)
• Style of
travel you desire- Be as specific as you can. It helps to talk about your
favorite hotels and why you liked them, and explain your least favorite travel
experiences, and why they went awry.
• Pace of
your trip- Do you hate down time, or do you want to take things slowly?
• Trip
ambience- This is a combination of service attitude, decor and programming
(music in the lobby, other programs aboard ship or at the resort). Ask about
all three.
• Hassle
factor.-Are you the kind of traveler who will travel two days to get to a
remote destination -- if the experience is exactly what you want? Or do you
want to stick with direct flights only? Be sure we understand your comfort
level.
No agent wants a dissatisfied client-And no traveler
should have a bad vacation because he didn't want to share his feelings
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