Do you NEED a travel agent?
Web-savvy travelers have little need anymore for the services of a travel agency. But if you’re new to the travel game, a good travel agent is worth their weight in boarding passes.
Gondola, Grand Canal, Venice, Italy
Back in the day, you sat across from the travel agent with nothing more than an idea, a dream. The agent hunkered behind their hulking computer, tapping out secret codes that magically yielded your airline tickets with the aid of mysterious airline reservation systems not available to the public.
The Web changed everything. Suddenly, you had Expedia, Travelocity, Orbitz, Hotwire, Priceline. You could book air tickets, hotels, rental cars, whatever, from your own home. No more sitting like a supplicant at the travel agent’s desk, seeking wisdom from on high. No more sitting on “hold” until your phone fossilized, waiting for the airline reservation clerk to come on the line.
Soon enough, the airlines got in the game. They started pumping up their own Web sites to let you book flights directly through them. It didn’t take long for the airlines to come to the same conclusion as their customers: They didn’t need travel agents anymore, either. That’s when they started cutting off the commissions they paid to the agents.
The agents cried foul, but it made sense. Why should the airlines pay travel agents to do for their customers what the customers are increasingly doing for themselves?
The travel agent’s day isn’t entirely done, especially in those parts of the world where not everyone from the age of five has access to their own computer. But the days when you couldn’t put together a vacation of your own without an agent are gone — especially now that the tool a lot of travel agencies use to plan your trip is the same Internet you’re reading this on.
Even in the wired western world, though, a travel agent can still be useful, especially if you’re taking your first uncertain steps into international travel. Having the advice of a travel professional who’s been there and done that can be a real comfort. But just as with doctors, dentists and auto mechanics, you’ve got to find one you’re comfortable with, one who’s really going to work for you — and above all, one you can trust.
Those last two points are really important if you’re gong to be passing money through this person’s hands.
See if they’re members in good standing with professional associations that maintain a code of ethics — and insist that their members adhere to it. Check out the agency with the Better Business Bureau or its overseas equivalent, if there is one. Get recommendations — or warnings — from friends and the communities of travelers on the Web like Frommer’s or TripAdvisor, to name two of many.
And make sure the agent is putting in real work on your behalf. Far too many, especially those on salary with organizations like auto clubs, may try to simply sell you on one of the first couple of options they turn up on the Web. They may even try to do everything through a single Web site of their choice. You could do that yourself, at home.
What counts is not the agency’s size or name, but how you’re treated and how much help you actually receive.
Especially, look for a travel agent who’s passionate about the part of the world you want to visit. They’ll want you to love the place as much as they do, which makes them more likely to go that extra proverbial mile on your behalf. They can point you to sights and experiences you might never have found on your own. They can warn you of potential pitfalls. If you’re thinking about a group tour, they can point you to the ones that best fit both your wallet and your temperament.
What’s more, working with the best travel agents is just plain fun. Here’s an example of one I’ve dealt with personally — Joyce Cole of Hertzog Travel in Washington state. I went to Joyce for help in finding a vacation apartment in Paris, but she specializes in Italy.
Even if you have no real interest in Italy, her love for the country, her knowledge of all things Italian and her sheer energy and enthusiasm will have you mentally packing for Rome. With Joyce, life is not a period or a question mark. It’s an exclamation point! That enthusiasm, as much as the expertise, is what you want in a travel agent.
You can e-mail Joyce Cole at cbabeej@earthlink.net. Tell her who sent you.
