Planning a trip today can be confusing and time consuming. A local travel agent not only arranges the various modes of transportation, but also may be able to save you money with early booking discounts, special fares, accommodation details and travel advisories.

Benefits of Using a Travel Agent

Save Money! – Strong working relationships with travel suppliers and the latest in computer reservations technology enable travel agents to access the most up-to-date information on how to get you the best value.

Traveler Advocates – Your best interests are the priority of travel agents they have a long-standing record of fighting for consumer rights.  Travel agents live in the same community you do. They want your vacation to be the best it can be so you will come back and tell all of your friends. They want to build relationships of trust. Your local travel agent will be there for you before, during and after your vacation.

Service – Travel agents are knowledgeable and active in the industry. They seek out education, training and resource materials to equip them with the tools to offer the highest quality of service.

Agents Will Go the Extra Mile – Agents work for you and will do everything they can to meet your travel needs. Some agents literally go that extra mile to help their clients. Some agents even give out their home phone numbers to assist you while your are traveling. They are not a faceless computer taking orders; they are people that really care about you.

How do you find a good travel agent?
Choose one like you would a doctor or lawyer. Get advice from friends and relatives who use an agent they trust. Since travel choices are personal decisions that reflect individual desires and lifestyles, you will want to visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your needs. Consider everything from the appearance of the office to the agent's willingness to listen and answer questions. The best agents want to establish a long-term relationship with a client, not just make one sale.

What special services do travel agencies offer?
As the industry grows more competitive, travel agencies increase the quality and type of services they offer. Agents can arrange all types of domestic and international travel, from hotel and resort accommodations to air and ground transportation, including car rental needs and tour packages. They can provide assistance with insurance protection, passport and visa applications, inoculation procedures and other foreign travel requirements. Many have toll-free phone numbers and offer meeting planning and incentive travel services.

Some agents maintain automated individual profiles that include the client's frequent flyer number, airline seating preference, smoking or non-smoking designation and other specifications for a custom-designed trip.

Who uses travel agents?
Travel agents are the leading distributors of travel products and services. Travel agents sell:

80% of cruises
79% of all tours and packages
50% of all airline tickets
47% of all hotel stays
45% of all car rentals
Source: 2006 Travel Industry Survey/Travel Weekly

Agents are the only unbiased professionals who can sort through nearly 100,000 daily changes in airfares alone.

When you are planning your family vacation or business trip do you want to be on your own or do you want the guidance of a professional that cares about what happens to you.

Can you afford to have a bad vacation?

Without a travel agent, you're on your own!!