Today I’m focused on listening to advice from friends versus travel agents. How do you get a hassle free holiday? Let me share the story of someone I know that pretty much rescued their friends from a less than ideal start for a train journey through Italy. I’ll call her Sue.

Back story

Sue’s friends were using a travel agent in Australia to plan their adventure. One of their party had not been feeling well until recently so they were off to Italy to relax and chill out.

When Sue heard of the travel arrangements made by the travel agent she was startled. The friends were travelling by train and yet the travel agent had booked their accommodation nowhere near the train station. It was to a part of town where it would be even difficult to find a cab to get them back to pick up that train. That’s not relaxing! Having lived in that part of Italy Sue knew all it’s idiosyncrasies. She knew exactly the right places to stay but should she step in? Sue speculated that the travel agent chose the location because it was cheaper away from the train line. Sue knew it would be a right pain in the neck.

“I didn’t want to come off as being pushy or having them think that I knew better”, said Sue.

You can’t help but want to recommend a good experience with friends, but sometimes they seem to backfire. You don’t know whether you are best off just letting friends do their own legwork and bite your tongue. It’s their adventure after all. They’re grown adults.

The value of Travel Agents – CHOICE Magazine

Ideally, what are travel agents meant to cover off though? Lets consider an article produced by CHOICE back in 2020. CHOICE have long been hailed as a good place to look for balanced information in Australia. These 6 things are listed as the value of travel agents. 

1. Professional and personal travel specialists – “trained to make your entire experience – from start to end – hassle free. They also tailor the itinerary to suit specific requests and find packages and products that suit your unique wants and needs”. 
2. Customer Advocacy – “If you experience a problem while travelling, your agent will act on your behalf, and is there to rectify any travel-related issues you encounter”
3. Expert guidance
   • Trained destination and product experts. 
   • They have access to the best deals. 
4. Time saving – Saves you hours of researching
5. Convenience – One stop shop
6. A personal touch – ensure accuracy of booking details, provide valuable travel hints and tips.

https://www.choice.com.au/travel/on-holidays/advice/articles/travel-agent-vs-do-it-yourself

Dezzies thoughts

Taking on board what good looks like makes you want to reconsider how I go about things moving forward. I had to be convinced about using travel agents for a while there. I thought doing it myself was a better option for many years.

1. Get advice off friends first – Ask friends that have been of their experiences for where you are going. We’d sit around over dinner and let our friends share their story. So civilised. Check out their photo’s
2. Make a list of what you want to do, go and see
3. Do your own research before seeking out a Travel Agent – Aside from just generally doing a search join a group like Tripadvisor. They have loads of people in their community giving some great tips. https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/
4. See Travel Agent that has been where you are going – Double check that the specific person at the Travel Agents has been to where you are going. My friend that is a Travel Agent says that this is a must. If they have been there they know the ins and outs of the place. Having training on the place or from another team member is just not the same thing.
5. See your Travel Agent so they can appreciate your needs (eg. on your mobility scooter or walker) – Not all Travel Agents are the same. I found that when you have a disability or get a bit of brain fog they are a necessity with their Customer Advocacy skills. It’s about hunting around for one that suites your needs. Do a physical face to face. If I waltz up to the local travel agent in my mobility scooter or walking frame they would be automatically aware that I have specific needs. 
6. Avoid back and forth emails – It also lends itself to avoiding the email ping pong back and forth that I have experienced by doing things over the phone.

Dezzie 2024