Why use a travel agent, when so many online resources make possible to plan a vacation on your own? That’s actually a great question! Continue reading to find the answer.

Utilizing a travel agent is free. So, there’s absolutely no reason not to take advantage of the service he or she provides. Not only does this save you a great deal of time, it provides you with a “safety net” in the event that something goes wrong during your trip. Additional advantages include:

Reason #1 – Destination Recommendations

Not everyone knows where they want to go on vacation. After all, there are so many exciting destinations to choose from. If you fall into this category, don’t panic. Your travel agent can help! Regardless of your budget, the agent should have no trouble suggesting several possible destinations, based on your interests and lifestyle preferences.

Reason #2 – Experience and Familiarity

According to TravelPulse.com, when it comes to arranging travel, experience and familiarity are worth their weight in gold. Take booking a hotel, for example. Travel agents are often frequent travelers who have extensive knowledge of a wide variety of hotels and other types of accommodations. If the agent hasn’t personally stayed at a particular location, chances are one of his or her clients or a fellow agent has.

On the other hand, if you book a hotel yourself, you have to rely on reviews from other travelers that may or may not be factual. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

This experience also puts them on the “cutting edge.” To be successful, travel agents need to maintain relationships with many well-known travel partners. This ensures that they remain up-to-date on the latest news and best deals in the industry.

Reason #3 – Clout and Money-Saving Perks

Fox News goes on to explain that working with a travel agent gives you a much higher chance of scoring great travel perks, which you probably won’t be able to obtain on your own. This includes extras like:

• free room upgrades
• impossible-to-get restaurant and/or show reservations
• priority attraction access
• food and spa credits
• connecting rooms, when not publicly available
• complimentary event tickets
• and more

Use the money you’ll save to extend your vacation or to buy extra mementos of your trip. The choice is up to you.

Reason #4 – Specialized Travel Arrangements

Some agents choose to specialize in a specific type of travel. This might be anything from honeymoons to international travel to traveling with a disability.

If you’re looking to book some kind of specialty travel arrangements, it behooves you to work with an agent who spends the majority of his or her time working in the niche you fall into. This helps to ensure you’ll have the most enjoyable experience possible.

These are just some of the many reasons why the answer is yes, when asking yourself “why use a travel agent?” The last thing you want is a vacation nightmare. Right?

Working with an experienced agent means that your trip planning process will go smoothly and your vacation will be one that you’ll remember for a lifetime.