June 1, 2020
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Due to travel restrictions, plans are only available with effective start dates on or after
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Who uses travel advisors anymore? It's so easy to book your own travel. All you have to do is research your destination on TripAdvisor, then check the rates on Hotels.com, then compare airfares on Kayak, then scan Airfarewatchdog for special deals, then...
Sometimes things just get too complicated, and that's when it's time to call a professional.
Travel advisors are best known for helping with international travel, whether booking unique cruises and tours or organizing accommodations for a trip around the world. But their travel expertise can be invaluable during a domestic trip, too. Here are three situations when it’s smart to use a travel advisor, even if you’re staying in the country.
Visiting Disney World isn't just a vacation anymore; it's a major undertaking. Even the resort admits that "understanding the Walt Disney World Resort and planning a vacation can seem overwhelming."1 Should you stay in the park or outside of it? Should you splurge on the hotel and scrimp on experiences, or vice versa? You can spend hours scouring websites for tips, or you can consult a travel advisor.
Why use a travel advisor for a trip to Disney? Because they know everything about the park and they know how to find the best discounts. "I provide my guests with an itinerary where I have studied crowd predictions, park hours, and my agency’s tips and tricks," explains one travel advisor in an interview with Cheapskate Princess.2 Her best tips: Definitely get the dining plan. The best time to go is at the end of October. And book as early as possible to get the reservations you want.
Honeymoons. Destination weddings. 25th anniversaries. For some trips, the stakes are higher: Everything just has to go right. That's when you should call in a travel advisor. Look for an experienced advisor who has visited your destination (not just read about it in a magazine) and understands your vision. Want a table for two on the beach? Or private horseback riding lessons? A travel advisor can make it happen. And if you should arrive at your Hawaiian resort to find your "oceanfront" room faces a retention pond, your travel advisor can help intervene.
Don't turn down an advisor just because he or she charges a consultation fee, The Knot advises: " If you trust and like the advisor, consider it a small price to pay for a perfectly planned honeymoon."3
You're hosting a family vacation for your two children and five grandchildren, but the planning is more than you bargained for. One family's coming from Chicago; one's coming from Dallas. One wants to go to coastal Maine; one's pushing for California. Where should you go, and how can you stay within your budget?
Multigenerational vacations are increasingly popular. A 2014 AAA survey found that more than a quarter of Americans planned to take a trip with three generations of the family in the next year.4 But these trips also present challenges, and using a travel advisor can smooth the planning process. An advisor, for instance, can recommend destinations that work for toddlers as well as older children. The most popular domestic destinations for multigenerational travel are Orlando (25 percent) and national parks (17 percent), according to a Preferred Hotel Group study.5 When everyone has an opinion, “it is important to find a destination that speaks to all generations,” travel advisor Jessica Griscavage tells Travel Agent Central. She often recommends an Alaskan cruise: "Young children can hold Iditarod puppies while older kids can fish, kayak, hike and zip-line.”
These aren't the only situations when a travel advisor can be helpful, of course. The best travel advisors can offer you special discounts, unique expertise and stress-free planning, wherever you're headed. Safe travels!
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