Your leisure time is precious so when it comes to booking your travel, you don't want to trust just anyone. A good travel agent can be your greatest asset when planning a trip, saving you a lot of time and angst. But travel agents come in all shapes and sizes, and there are no shortage of horrific travel agent stories making the rounds! In this blog post, we've rounded up our top tips to make sure you find the best travel agent.
Do Your Homework
First things first, make sure that the travel agent adheres to state seller of travel laws. For example, most states will force travel agents to carry error and omission insurance. For that reason, we typically recommend choosing an agent in your home country. If you do come across serious issues, you have legal recourse if the agent is domestic.
In addition, look out for travel agents that are certified with one of the internationally recognized travel agencies. There are three affiliations to look out:
- American Society of Travel Agents: ASTA is the world's largest association of travel professionals, with a code of ethics that tends to attract only the most serious agents
- The Travel Institute: well-recognized learning body which offers courses on various destinations and specialties. The Certified Travel Associate (CTA) and Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) are the two most popular designations
- Association of Retail Travel Agents: this is a membership organization and another good indication of the agent's professionalism
Also, affiliation to organizations like the AAA or Carlson Wagonlit typically demonstrates that the agent has taken the right steps to operate a good business.
At France by Celine, we take accreditation and training very seriously. We are proud members of ASTA and ARTA, and we regularly send our agents to The Travel Institute to make sure they develop their skills as travel professionals and are up-to-date with industry trends.
Figure Out Your Needs & Must-Haves
Before you start working with a travel agent, you should have a high-level idea of what you want to get out of your vacation and some of the key parameters you'll be operating in.
Not only will this guide your travel agent, it will also help you in your research process. Some travel agents will specialize in certain regions or experiences whilst others will have budget minimums. Answering some basic questions will help you narrow your search and get the most out of your agent.
Areas to consider are:
- Timeline: When are you thinking of going away, and how long can you take off?
- Budget: How much are you willing to spend on travel? Does this amount include getting there, and food / wine while there?
- Level of Involvement: Are you looking for an agent that will plan out every last detail of your journey, including dinners and airport transfers? Or are you looking for someone to offer you a second opinion on your own research?
- Communication Style: Do you prefer to talk by phone, text or email?
Interview the Agent
The aim of hiring a travel agent is to save you time and potentially money to book your previous vacation. So make sure you take the time to interview a few agents and pick the one who's really going to meet your needs.
If the agent is serious, they should be willing to answer your questions about their experience, customer service and pricing structure.
Here are a few questions to ask when interviewing an agent:
- What kind of trips do you really specialize in? What makes their services unique?
- What do you include in an itinerary? How do you include your client in the process?
- How do you handle unforeseen circumstances during a vacation (cancelled flight, overbooked hotel, etc.)?
- How do you charge for your services?
- Can I talk to previous clients who have used your services?
If the agent is not interested in having this conversation or if their answers are evasive, it's a major ed flag and I'd move on.
At France by Celine, we recommend an initial consultation to talk about your needs, introduce our services and answer any questions you may have. We're very transparent about our pricing structure and we want you to trust us before you commit to using us.
Be Open-Minded!
A good travel agent will ask about your interests, fitness abilities and timeline before they pitch you any ideas for an itinerary. They might in turn suggest activities or sights that you didn't have in mind. Before jumping to conclusions, listen to their advice - they're the experts and know the industry inside and out. There are so many ways to book travel today that the best way an agent can help you is to uncover hidden gems and develop a better understanding of the world and to appreciate its variety.
At France by Celine, we often work on Loire Valley itineraries. Typically, our clients ask about the historical châteaux and vineyards, but did you know the Loire Valley is also famous for its liquor making? It is home to Cognac and the lesser-known but also delicious Pineau des Charentes. We often suggest a day trip to Cognac to discover these two liquors and even visit an artisanal barrel-making facility. All our clients have told us they loved this trip and would have never found it without our help!
If you're in search of other practical advice for traveling to France, check out our page that outlines all the information you'll need to know to plan a bump-free trip.
So, are you ready to take the plunge? If so, click below to set up your initial consultation with one of our certified travel agents!
