| Finding the right travel agent can be as hard | | | | when talking to your friends and family. |
| as finding the right doctor. You want someone | | | | |
| you can trust to get you the best deal. | | | | A good travel agent will keep a portfolio of |
| Someone you who is knowledgeable about the | | | | all your travel needs and preferences. Things |
| area you are wanting to visit and has the | | | | like frequent flyer miles, credit card |
| resources to provide you with all the | | | | details, hotel or airline favorites, and any |
| information you need. Travel agents book | | | | other personal requirements should be kept by |
| about 75% of all air travel, 30% of all hotel | | | | the travel agent in a specific folder. This |
| reservations, and 95% of all cruises. Even | | | | saves you time when you go in to book a trip, |
| with all the information online most people | | | | by having everything already filed out you |
| still prefer to avoid all the hassle and use | | | | won't have to do it each time. A good |
| travel agents. The first step to finding a | | | | travel agent will also find out your |
| good travel agent is to check their | | | | preferences, like places you enjoy visiting. |
| credentials. Check to make sure they are a | | | | This way if they come across an unpublished |
| certified travel counselor. To be a certified | | | | bargain for a place that is of interest to |
| travel counselor a travel agent with at least | | | | you they can contact you with the |
| five years experience must complete a two | | | | information. A good travel agent is always |
| year graduate level program offered by the | | | | looking for the best deal for their client. |
| Institute of Certified Travel Agents. For the | | | | This includes informing you if changing the |
| travel agency itself you have to look for | | | | dates of your vacation or changing your |
| membership in one of two associations. The | | | | itinerary can lower the price for you. |
| American Society of Travel Agents and The | | | | Finding a good travel agent can be |
| Association of Retail Travel Agents are the | | | | frustrating and time consuming. When you find |
| two travel agency associations. One of the | | | | a good travel agent you should use them for |
| easiest ways to find a travel agent is by | | | | all your travel needs and refer them to any |
| word of mouth. Ask your friends and family | | | | one who is looking for a travel agent. |
| who they use. Try to pick friends and family | | | | |
| who have similar interests as you , that way | | | | Another place to look is online. Search for |
| you can find a travel agent who will | | | | one near you. Don't always go with the |
| understand your needs. Most people use a | | | | cheapest. Ask them their credentials upfront. |
| certain agent and not a certain agency. Not | | | | If they try to avoid the question, move on. |
| all agents in a travel agency are the same. | | | | Do they provide phone contact information on |
| One might specialize in cruises while another | | | | their website and give office hours? This is |
| specializes in low cost travel plans. Make | | | | a good way to tell if it's an agent you may |
| sure you get the name of a specific agent | | | | want to deal with. |