In this day of online trip booking and lowest price airfare searches, do you still need a travel agent? According to the ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents) and most travelers, the answer is a resounding yes. Travel agents still book nearly 90% of all cruises and over 80% of all tours and packages. A consumer-conscious travel agent will work hard to find you the best possible combination of price and features to make your tour a dream vacation. Here are some questions to ask that will help you evaluate travel agents and be sure that you find the best one for your booking and travel needs.
1. Do you know a good travel agent? Yes, start by asking around. A good travel agent will build a good reputation. If you have friends and associates who travel often, ask them for their recommendations. Those will be a good starting point for your own search.
2. How long have you been doing this? Look for an agent that has been in business for five years or longer. While length of time in business is no guarantee of commitment or knowledge, experience is a great teacher.
3. What are your qualifications as a travel agent? There are a number of professional training courses that your agent may have taken. The highest certification for a travel agent is a Certified Travel Consultant, which requires five years of full time travel industry experience and the completion of twelve courses. Other certificates include Certified Travel Associate, and Destination Specialist. While it is not necessary for a travel agent to hold any of these qualifications, they do provide proof of commitment and knowledge in the industry.
4. Are you affiliated with an agency? On the other hand, even a younger, newer agent who is affiliated with an established agency has access to the resources and information of the entire agency. That's not to say that outside agents - those who work outside an agency - are not as good. An outside agent has the advantage of flexibility in booking trips that are not part of their agency's offered products.
5. Are you affiliated with any professional organizations? U.S. travel agents are not generally regulated or held to uniform standards, but there are two major professional bodies to which they may belong, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and the Association of Retail Travel Agents (ARTA).
6. What questions is the agent asking me? One of the most important qualifications for a travel agent is an awareness of and sensitivity to your needs. The agent you're working with should be full of questions aimed at learning as much as possible about your needs. A good travel agent will be focused on you and your needs, not just on the products they are selling you.
7. Do you have any specialist knowledge? Some agencies and agents specialize in a particular type of trip. If you have special needs or are seeking a unique type of vacation - like the new and very popular eco-tours - you may do far better with an agent who is experienced in that special field. Other specialties may include booking tours and trips for people with limitations and/or disabilities, booking adventure tours, or booking trips to a specific destination.
8. How do you find me the best deals? You can ask more specific questions, but you're really trying to find out how well-connected your travel agent is within the industry, and how current they are with the latest technologies and developments. You're looking for answers like, "we have preferred supplier arrangements with these travel companies" and "I subscribe to these databases of travel offers" - answers that make it clear your travel agent uses all the resources available to find you the best possible trip.
9. What will happen if I have an overseas emergency while your agency is closed? Your travel agent can and should be your strongest advocate before, during and after your trip. Being able to contact your agency during their off hours can mean the difference between sitting in a hotel lobby waiting until the office reopens. The answer you want is: "There is always an agent on call to resolve problems that might arise even when we're closed."
10. Do I like this person and feel comfortable with them? While it's not necessary to like someone in order to do business with them, it's a very good gauge of how well they're relating to you. You'll get the best service and vacation experience from a travel agent who is focused on you, your companions and helping you arrange the vacation of a lifetime. After all, a good agent isn't looking for a sale - they're looking for a long-term relationship.
A family cruise vacation is a great way to get away and spend time with your children. Almost of the cruise lines offer packages that cater to families. Surf the web for the right family cruise vacation that will cater to all of your needs. Better yet, talk to a cruise travel agent. Make sure they are a member of CLIA (the industries organization) and have taken many cruise vacations on several cruise lines. The cruise travel agent will be able to steer you to the cruise lines that have children's programs that are age specific, have trained youth counselors and will fulfill your desires on your family cruise vacation.
The great thing about these programs on the cruise lines is that your children will be with qualified people all day, doing all kinds of activities and you are free to do your own thing with no worries.
A family cruise vacation takes you to many destinations without the rigors of packing and unpacking. A cruise vacation will also alleviate the stress of airport security. You might have to fly to your port of embarkation but after that there will be no more checking in and long security lines.
The cruise ship will take you to many ports where you get off the ship and enjoy your day on shore. Before you leave on your family cruise vacation research the ports you will be visiting. Plan what you want to do in each port ahead of time. Since it is a family cruise vacation, discuss this with all your family members. You can find out what the cruise lines offer in the way of tours on their website. In many cases the cruise lines let you book tours online or by fax.
Here are some guidelines to help you choose the perfect family cruise vacation.
First find out if they allow kids in your children's age group. Cruise lines may limit the amount of children in certain age groups. This applies especially at times like Easter or spring break
Do some digging to find out what kind of children's facility the cruise line has. You will want to check what the activities will be, are there play areas, and baby sitting available. Find out the rules for placing your children in the child care center. Most times you must sign your child into the play areas and the kids will not be allowed to leave until you sign them out.
It is important to know the ratio of counselors to children. You want to know that there are adequate supervisors for your kids. Know the qualifications of the care giver. For instance, on the Queen Mary II they have licensed nannies.
If you will need a cot or crib find out if they are available and if there is a fee. Sometimes these need to be reserved in advance of the family cruise vacation. The size of the cabin should be noted. If the cabin is too small, you will be cramped. If you are not taking toddlers it is best to book cabins across from each other. You and your spouse take the outside cabin and give the one across the hall from it to your children. This not only affords you privacy but the kids will feel "grown up" with their own cabin.
Check to see if they have a kids menu. A lot of kids don't eat a variety of foods. If they are particularly picky it is nice to know that the cruise lines offer food for kids, like hamburgers and hot dogs. Almost all cruise lines offer hamburgers and hot dogs at lunch around the pool but what about dinner? Find out in advance of your family cruise vacation so you know everyone will be happy.
If anyone in your family has special needs make sure your cruise travel agent asks the ship if they will provide for them. There may be two or three formal nights. If you do not feel comfortable participating in them with little children, find out what kind of alternative dining the cruise line offers. Many ships have alterative dining rooms for just this purpose. Some of the cruise lines have kid's dinners where only the children and the caregivers can attend. If this coincides with a formal night it would be nice to know.
Some of the children's activity that are offered on cruise lines are scavenger hunts, pizza parties, disco parties for teens, arts and crafts and pool parties. The cruise line will bend over backwards to keep your children entertained. They want you to come back.
So call your cruise travel agent and start planning the perfect family cruise vacation. It will be one vacation that you and your kids won't forget.
Both Craig Elliott Elliott & Mary Hanna are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Craig Elliott Elliott has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Security, Education and Landscaping. About Author:Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics concerning travel and vacation planning including . Craig Elliott Elliott's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.
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