I’m an independent travel agent. I have been for almost 20 years and switched from in-store to working from home last year. It was a difficult decision to make the change but it’s a job I will always be proud to have had. Travel agents often get a bad rap but they are worth their weight in gold, especially the ones who work for independent companies. If you’ve never used their services I’m here to convince you to try them!
What is an independent travel agent?
Now, I don’t mean just people who work independently on their own, I mean agencies that aren’t tied to one single operator. For example, if you go into a TUI store in the UK, they are tied to selling their products. But, if you head into an independent agency they will have a range of operators they can use to find the best deal for you. Often, they will have companies that you won’t have even heard of before but will always be someone reputable.
There are lots of agencies on the high street that are independent. There are also lots and lots of agents who work from home for independent companies. These have the advantage of being flexible with time instead of just being available Monday – Friday.
Benefit 1 -Flexibility
I touched upon it before, the flexibility of operators is such a bonus. Whether you want to fly to the other side of the world, cruise the Norwegian Fjords or go on a family holiday to Lanzarote, the flexibility means they can find the right deal for you. Sometimes the right deal isn’t always about it being the cheapest option. The right deal could be those flight times that fit in with your ideal. It could also mean finding you the right hotel that ticks all of the boxes.
Benefit 2 – The Added Extras
Did you know that a travel agent can often book all those extras as well as the holiday? I’m talking about car parking, port parking, airport hotels before or after the trip, airport lounges, security fast track and excursions when you are away just to name a few. An independent travel agent is open to a host of suppliers who can book all these extras, again finding the right deal for you. It’s the little things that make the holiday special.
Benefit 3 – Insider knowledge
An experienced independent travel agent knows which tour operators are better than others. They know all the hotels to avoid and the hotels that have guests visiting year after year. Certain online tour operators won’t tell you about the bargain all-inclusive in Alcudia you’ve seen get complaint after complaint year after year. They also won’t tell you how many customers turn up at the airport with the wrong requirements for a certain budget flight operator, because frankly, they are a bit of a minefield.
The independents will listen to your requirements and steer you in the right direction to get the best holiday. You’ll often get a bit of insider knowledge about which trips to go on and which restaurant gets rave reviews in your destination.
Benefit 4 – Time Saver
Who enjoys hours trawling through the internet looking at the same things over and over? I can’t imagine that many people do. Plus, what about when you’ve booked it and want to ask a question? Who wants to spend potentially hours on live chat or hold waiting to speak to an advisor? Do you want to spend a few hours arranging special assistance for guests with special needs? I didn’t think so, leave it to your independent travel agent. It’s all a part of the service.
How to find an Independent Travel Agent
A quick Google search should help you to find your local store or agent. Ensure that holidays are ATOL bonded. This means that should anything go wrong, it will be dealt with properly. Over the summer of 2023, there have been so many different and unique issues, forest fires and Air Traffic Control failures to start with. There have been so many horror stories of people who booked a cheap holiday online and were left in the lurch.
Some people have saved £20 booking it separately only to find they needed to pay for a brand new flight when theirs got unexpectedly cancelled. Always expect the unexpected. Travel isn’t as straightforward as we would all like it to be. Find your local independent agent, I promise you, if you pay for their services you will never regret it.
Let me know how an independent agent has benefitted you.
Thanks for reading!
Becky x
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