Welcome back to my Travel Ted Talk.
Today’s installment? What I’ve already learned is an interesting response when telling some that one is now in the travel planning business.
Random Person: What do you do?
Me: Oh, I’m a travel planner!
Random Person: That’s amazing! Can I get your contact details?
Me: (feeling excited) Sure!
Random Person: Sweet! I can never find cheap flights.
Me: (feeling less excited) Oh…
Look, I know. This is the world we live in, right? We are conditioned to always go for the lowest cost and, with endless competitors in literally everything, it is typically possible to find a discount somewhere. That doesn’t make the demand less cringe-worthy nor that (perceived) discount not what it seems (it’s never what it seems).
This quest for a bargain certainly isn’t limited to the land of discounted dream vacations. A quick scan of any of our neighborhood share sites tells a tale of people on the hunt for referrals but only if those referrals “do not charge an arm & a leg” or “offer reasonable prices.” My favorites are those looking for cheap animal care as if veterinarians aren’t doctors of actual medicine.
But back to the land of flights or rentals or sailings or apres ski.
If one’s only consideration in engaging a travel agent is access to a coupon sherpa, then you likely do not understand the industry (which is certainly understandable). One of the very reasons travel planners exist is because they are, in fact, willing to do the work to understand the industry. The first lesson in travel planning is that there are no golden keys that open secret portals to rock-bottom pricing.
Sure, travel planners can find more cost-efficient options than the layperson but it takes time and patience and work and even finagling–all things that the layperson typically isn’t willing to invest.
Sure, travel planners are able to access package rates much more easily but this ability comes through a combination of experience and, well yes, portals–things gained via endless training, modules, courses, and certifications. Our secret decoder ring doesn’t arrive in the mail but exists because of our agency’s partnership with each vendor, whether that be a cruise line, hotel chain, resort, or theme park.
So, if a travel planner doesn’t have a magic button, what’s the point of using one? As explained here, you are paying for the service whether or not you are engaging one.
Who doesn’t dream of jetting off to an exotic location, basking in the sun on a secluded beach, or exploring the hidden gems of a bustling city? Turning that dream into reality is often fraught with stress and complications: where to go, what to do, where to stay—the list goes on. Connecting the dots between flights and transit and lodging and activities can be a dream killer as that labyrinth quickly becomes overwhelming…which is where a travel planner becomes a siesta savior.
Still have that word “cheap” floating around your noggin? Fine.
Using a travel planner can be a great way to disperse your budget more effectively. From special rates to packages to upgrades to insider deals…travel planners can find paths that you might not have discovered on your own. We are expert bundlers. You might book flights, a rental car, and a hotel through three separate transactions where your travel planner might discover a bundle that places them into one, discounted transaction. The savings? Margarita money.
And peace of mind? Peace of mind may not have a monetary value but, good grief, it does have worth.
When life goes awry, there is nothing better than having someone in your corner ready to swoop in and save the day. Have you ever done the panicky phone dance through automated hell while trying to reschedule an entire weekend? Travel planners are your advocate in the land of surprises as they often have existing relationships with vendors whom you may only “speak” with (by clicking buttons) once or twice per year.
Cheap flights? I mean, they are the bane of the travel planner’s existence and the primary reason many refuse to book air. Cheap flights are great if you prefer to travel with no luggage, including a carry-on. Cheap flights are terrific if you want to be nickeled and dimed across the friendly skies. Cheap flights are amazing if you only want one option for departures and another one for arrivals and neither are at all convenient. Cheap flights are ideal if you want to complain your way to and from your destination.
Personally, I’d choose the less stressful option any day, even if it does cost a little more. Plus, when engaging a travel planner, you are engaging a live person who knows who you are and what your goals are–something worth way more than any savings found via a cheap flight.
Did you know that many budget and plan their annual vacation during the first weeks of January? Travel Planners are ready to connect all the dots needed for your vacation to be a total success! Whether it’s me or someone else, engage a travel planner so that you can focus on the important things, like how many pairs of shoes to pack!