Travel agents vs. Internet travel agencies

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I have often been asked why booking with a travel agent is better than if you book on the internet. A while ago I wrote an article for Associated Content addressing this. My article also addresses the fact that you can benefit your local community rather than a "big box" store, i.e., a Mom n' Pop store vs. Wal-Mart, for example. You can read the full article at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/427603/the_internet_vs_your_local_travel_agency.html.

Please let me know what you think of the article. I would love your feedback.

Please keep in mind also, when you are booking with a travel agent, you are dealing one on one rather than with numerous agents, often located outside the U.S. (should you get a human being) if you book online and need to call in with a question.

I recently had a client that found a lower priced package online than what I could find. In this rare instance, I could not match the price she found (normally I can do so without a problem). She decided to go with the online agency, however to get the price that she found, she actually had to be on the phone with them for 2 HOURS as the site kept coming up with errors.

My question is – what is your time worth? If she was booking with a travel agent, she would have been booked and done for about $100 more total rather than spending 2 HOURS on the phone to save this money. With me, she could have just paid a deposit and her final payment would be due 45 days prior to departure. With an online agency, you have to pay in full. What would you choose?

When you are booking with a travel agent, you build a relationship with your agent. Your agent learns what your likes and dislikes are and will find the right vacation for you based on this information. For my clients, I keep their needs at heart when working with them. Does a dot com travel agency do that for you?

For personalized service, email me at: divalisatravel@gmail.com!!

Travel agent/client communication

We all have pet peeves. You know -- the little things that people do that drive us nuts. Well, one of mine has come up lately and I look at this as an opportunity to maybe help travel agent to client relationships. The better this relationship is the better job a travel agent can do for their client.

Have you ever assembled something and when you were done, you had several important looking parts left over? You then go back to the directions (that you didn't fully read the first time) to see where you messed up. Now you have to start over. Had you read the directions the first time, you would be done already. (I am guilty of this too!)

A similar thing happens to me when quoting or giving information to clients. This is the common scenario. A client calls or emails me and prefers to receive their quote/information in email form, so I email them fully answering all of their questions. Usually, I get a response with more questions. This is common and expected. A good travel agent would rather have a client ask me questions now rather than later.

To be clear, I am one that always says to ask me anything and to not be afraid of asking a "dumb" question. I am going to get so called "dumb" questions (most of the time they are not) as that are part of the nature of my job as a travel agent, so I am not bothered by that. Also, I realize that many people have not traveled extensively (if at all), so they will have questions that they may think are "dumb", but due to lack of travel experience they need to ask them. This is normal and expected. It is also normal not to notice a thing or two.

However, when multiple questions that are asked would have been answered in full if they had fully read my email that is really annoying. It is almost like they just scan the email, pick and choose what they want to read and ignore the rest. If the answers they are looking for are not in giant neon flashing letters, they will never see it.

I, however am a good travel agent and value my clients and I resist the urge to send a smart alecky email in response. However, when I do respond, I often just copy and paste the answers from my original email. That usually takes care of it, but this step could have been avoided had they read my email in full. Both of our time has been wasted.

Please remember if you are asking for a quote or information from any travel agent, please read or listen to everything they give you so that you can ask any questions in relation to getting further information or if you think of anything new to ask or comment about. A good travel agent will want to do their best for their clients and this will help them to do so.

If you have any suggestions related to this topic or any other customer service issue, please feel free to comment or contact me at divalisatravel@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you and I promise to read everything you write!

Proof of Citizenship on a Cruise

I am a destination wedding specialist, so I can do weddings just about anywhere. A honeymoon couple that were interested in a cruise asked what they need to have identification-wise. This brought up the question of what is acceptable documentation for proof of citizenship on a cruise.

One thing to point out is that while it is not required to have passports for a cruise, a serious problem can arise if you do not have a passport. If for some reason you would have to go home early, you would not be able to enter the U.S. without a passport. You would have no choice but to stay on the cruise anyway, regardless of the seriousness of the situation that would cause you to have to leave early. So, even if you had a family member who passed away or if you or a family member was seriously ill, you could not leave the cruise early without a passport.

I cannot tell you how upset I would be if I couldn't go home if I had to! I advise all of my clients to get a passport, regardless of what type of trip they are booking. You may never leave the U.S. for a vacation, but wouldn't you like to know that you are traveling with the most comprehensive proof of citizenship? Personally, I like the feeling that I could pack up and go just about anywhere in the world that I would want to! Without a passport, you can't.

For information on obtaining a passport, go to http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

Please keep in mind that it is the traveler's responsibility to have the correct proof of citizenship on a cruise. If you have the incorrect documentation and are denied boarding, you will not be entitled to any refund.

If you have any questions or would like information on destination weddings, please email me at: divalisatravel@gmail.com!!

Don't throw away your old costume jewelry!

If anyone has broken costume jewelry that they are going to throw out, let me know before you do! I can breathe new life into it for you or if you just want to get rid of it, I'm your girl!

Click on the title of this post to go to the Nouveau Reve Designs fan page on Facebook or go to: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nouveau-Reve-Designs/227505797804?ref=nf. While you're there, become a fan!

To contact me about jewelry, email me at nouveaurevedesigns@gmail.com!

"You grow up the day you have your first laugh at yourself." - Ethel Barrymore. I've been doing a bit of this lately!

Great Quote for the Day!

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us, or we find it not." - Ralph Waldo Emerson