I read a couple of Travel related articles this week that got me thinking (something that can be dangerous - I know). The first was titled 'When cheap can leave you far from cheerful' the other 'Agents better than social media'. Although they appeared in different publications - in my mind they were totally related.

 

The first article was written by a journalist who recounted the tale of taking a bus across America and staying in budget hotels for the sake of saving a few quid - he had a few humorous and scary tales but ended up with a few words of wisdom that stated - always take the sea view and always take the taxi (or flight) instead of the bus - and don't be afraid to save up and go large or luxury because nobody ever comes home with memories of what they didn't do. Someone once said that travelling is the only thing you can do where you spend money and come back richer. How true.

 

So, I hear you ask - how are these articles related.

 

Well it appears that there has been a recent survey which revealed that British Travellers prefer consulting face to face when considering a holiday - with High Street Agents ranking higher than social media and other digital platforms. When people are going to spend what is probably the largest proportion of their disposable annual income - is it any wonder that they actually want to talk to someone before parting with their hard earned cash? In short, people are actively seeking recommendations when planning a holiday and it comes as no surprise to me that Travel Agents rank highly in this process.                                                                                                                                                               

Lets face it - the internet is great for information - but often there is just too much of it and sometimes it can be conflicting or just downright misleading or even fraudulent.  Even among 18-34 year-old's, many of whom will be travelling on their own for the first time, the security offered by using the services of an experienced Travel Agent can be invaluable. We can cut through the overpowering volume of information and come up with carefully considered recommendations for our clients based on their budget and requirements. For me it's always been about getting the right holiday for the customer. Some things are hard to put a value on and I for one, have no hesitation in recommending the Sea View room or for that matter the private transfer to the hotel with the fast track immigration service offered by the Airport if it represents value and enhances the holiday experience. (How many of us have endured that 1 hour+ wait in that queue in some countries after a long haul flight?).

 

We all work hard at our trade and I'm delighted that Travel Agents are still so highly valued by the Travelling Public - its nice to see it sometimes in black and white!