Who needs a travel agent when you can do it all yourself on the internet?
We get it. You absolutely can book your own travel – but at what expense? And do you really know what you’re booking?
Here, we look at the key reasons why using a travel agent is so beneficial and, in some instances, crucial.
1 - Saving you time and stress
Looking at glossy pictures in holiday brochures, travel magazines and on social media might be fun, but how about 53 hours of it? That’s the average amount of time a person invests in holiday planning each year. That’s 53 hours of being overwhelmed by choice and having to make crucial decisions that could make or break a holiday. The whole process can leave you mentally exhausted.
Imagine having someone do all that research for you, saving you precious time and stress? Rather than being faced with thousands of choices, imagine being presented with just a handful of options that all suit your requirements down to a tee?
Booking a holiday via your personal Not Just Travel consultant is simple and fun – just sit down with them to discuss your dream trip and they’ll go away and do all the hard work for you while you get on with your busy schedule.
2 - It won’t cost you a penny
Despite the fact that your personal travel consultant might spend hours researching your trip, you will not be charged for their service. It’s completely free! The agent makes money from the commission they earn from the tour operator, hotelier, airline etc.
3 - Value for money
In most cases, for an identical holiday that you could buy online, you’ll be paying an agent the exact same price – without having had to invest any of your own time researching and booking it!
But, in most cases, you won’t be comparing like-for-like. Highly likely you’ll be buying a far more superior holiday when you book via a Not Just Travel agent.
Your agent might have secured you a better room, a more convenient flight, included transfers or thrown in airport lounge access.
Many tour operators and resorts are happy that agents send people their way. This means they can access discounts, perks or be made aware of something that gives you more value.
4 - They’ll help spread the cost of your holiday
Whether it’s a dream honeymoon, last-minute break or family getaway, paying for a high-value holiday can sometimes be daunting. But when booking with a personal travel consultant, you’ll get access to a hassle-free option.
Once you’ve got your heart set on a holiday or trip of a lifetime, a direct debit scheme will take care of the rest: being able to spread the cost of a trip in low monthly instalments can make all the difference.
There will be an amount agreed to go out on the same date each month, which means you don’t need to worry about missed payments and can look forward to your holiday instead.
Bonus reason: Instead of a remaining balance 14-16 weeks before your holiday, the final payment isn’t due until 6 weeks before you travel when you pay via direct debit.
5. They’re in the know
Ever felt FOBO? That’s ‘Fear of Better Options’. Is there another hotel out there that might suit you better? Is there another destination that you’d enjoy more? Is there a more convenient direct flight? Would it be cheaper to do a stop over?
With so many scenarios to consider and investigate, booking a holiday can trigger immense anxiety.
Not Just Travel agents have the knowledge, the inside track and all the options at their fingertips. In fact, they have far more options than you’ll ever have access to independently. They work with many operators that only deal with the trade and not the general public.
Like any professional, they know their sector best. If you had a broken tap you’d call a plumber to fix it. It’s no different in the world of holidays.
Like most industries out there, the world of travel is an ever-moving target, it never sits still. The options available, the destinations for certain types of travel, the go-to hotels never stay the same for long. They will know it all.
They might even suggest an option you’ve never considered. What’s more, they’re privy to new hotel openings; special offers; airline routes and no end of options to ensure FOBO plays no part in your holiday.
6. One stop shop
Don’t just think of your personal travel agent as being the person who books your flights and hotels. We all know there’s so much more that needs to be arranged when it comes to going on holiday.
Transfers, airport car parking, airport lounge access, car hire, travel insurance – these are just a handful of the basics that your consultant can tick off of your to-do list.
All these things can be handled by just one person – your personal Not Just Travel consultant. There’s no need to have a list of contacts for various aspects of your holiday. You just need your agent’s number on speed dial and he or she can handle the rest.
