In the travel industry, the more knowledgeable your travel agent, the better your vacation will be. Knowledgeable travel agents know tips and tricks for making the most of your destination, such as how to get the most exclusive tickets to activities and events, when to travel for the best weather, and best of all, how to save the most money on your vacation. If you are interested in booking a vacation, work with a travel agent who knows the ropes. Though, how do you find the most knowledgeable travel agent out there? Here are some tips for choosing your agent:
Tip #1: Look at past experience.
Someone who has spent ten or more years in any industry is usually more knowledgeable than someone who has only been in the industry for just a few months. There’s something to be said about working with a travel agent who has a fresh approach to vacations, and age is not always a good indication of knowledge, but this is a start.
More so than time in the travel industry, however, you want to look at the volume of work that they do. Some travel agents only book a few trips every year. Others work with dozens or even hundreds of travelers every year. So, as far as “experience” goes, look at both time in the industry and number of trips they’ve booked.
Tip #2: Work with someone who has booked trips to your destination in the past.
Most travel agents have booked trips to Disney World and Hawaii, but what about somewhere more obscure? Travel agents can schedule trips to anywhere you’d like to go, but that does not mean that they are knowledgeable about the area. If you want to take a ski vacation to somewhere in the Eastern United States, for example, it is not enough that your travel agent has booked trips to the Rockies. Before hiring a travel agent, find out where they have had success booking vacations in the past. For the best experience, work with an agent who has actually traveled to this destination as well.
Tip #3: “Interview” your travel agent.
When you first talk to a travel agent about your trip, don’t let them begin booking your trip right away. It’s really easy, and not uncommon, to just stop by an office wanting some information and leave with a signed contract in hand. Remember, though, when you talk to a travel agent for the first time, you are essentially interviewing them for the job.
As part of your initial meeting, you should talk about the travel agent’s experience, understanding of the location, commission rate, and more. Do not be afraid to ask questions to find out if your travel agent really is knowledgeable about the trip you want to take.
Tip #4: Get recommendations from your friends and family members.
While it is important to get recommendations, you can’t always believe what you read or hear. That is why you should stick to travel agents who are recommended by your friends and family members. It is really easy for some travel agencies to pay for good testimonials, but that does not mean that they are actually knowledgeable about your destination.
When talking to your friends and family members about travel agents that they have used, remember to take their compliments and criticisms with a grain of salt. What are these travelers like? If your cousin Jane likes to plan out every last detail herself, her travel agent might not have done more than booking the flight and hotel stay. If your roommate is hard to please, her “terrible” vacation was probably not all that bad.
Tip #5: Test their knowledge.
Lastly, do your own research so that you can test your travel agent’s knowledge. You should not be trying to trick them, but let’s face it, when you are ready to sign that check, no travel agent is going to come out and tell you that they don’t know anything about vacations to China or cruises to Alaska. Travel agents are good at talking their way through situations, so test them out to see how much they really know.
For example, you might do some research to learn about the airport options when you want to visit Southern California. Ask your travel agent about the choices. If he or she quickly says that LAX is the only airport in the area, even though your own research shows that there is another option, that’s not a good sign! Travel agents can’t know everything, but instead of feeding you information that is incorrect or incomplete for the sake of seeming like they are an expert, they should tell you that they are not sure and offer to find out for you. The most knowledgeable travel agents are always willing to keep learning.
Watch the video related to hawaii travel deals
www.edgeofadreamtravel.biz http www.edgeofadreamtravel.truewealthathome.com
expedia.com
Unless you Cruise, Hawaii doesn't have any all inclusive resorts – but of course you can always find a good deal for hotel etc… through a corporate travel broker. They have rock bottom package deals like 2 adults for $400 for 5 days at a really nice 4 star hotel.
Sometimes they also have 2 for 1 airfare deals. You can check out a reliable broker at the site below – I have used them before & had a great time! I didn't Cruise, I only got the hotel deal but it was great if you're looking to save $! Aloha
you could go to AAA, Expedia or Travelocity. I just booked my trip to Cancun and compare pricing between the three sites, the best fares I could find was on Travelocity.
Try http://www.perfectescapes.com for deals on luxury hotels in the US. Enjoy!
I am of the school of thought that if you want a generic package where you get what they have to offer and nothing else at an inflated price, then a website is the answer. If you want something specific, then you get in contact with a Travel Agent.
When you contact a Travel Agent, do not hesitate to ask for something specific as there's a very good chance that it can be granted. TRAVEL WITH STEPHEN is a very good Travel Agency, because they offer very good customer service, and the prices for most of their Travel are very reasonable.
This site lists great cheap travel sites: http://www.travelbargainsites.com
pretty steep
You don't need to use a travel agent, you can easily set up a honeymoon on your own (try Pleasant Hawaiian vacations, the top booking site). However using a travel agent might make you feel better that everything is taken care of on such an important time in your life. That being said, Hawaii is very tourist friendly and visiting is about as easy as it gets. Don't visit Oahu first if you have never been to Hawaii (and it sound like you haven't). Visit Maui instead, it's a little quieter and much less crowded. It's the top Honeymoon destination for a reason. Tons to do and see, it's much more like what you picture in your head. Oahu (where my sister lives and I visit every year) is home to 400,000 person strong Honolulu and tourist mecca Waikiki. Don't get me wrong, Oahu is a wonderful island and a great visit but it's not what you are looking for.
I would look for hotels in either Kaanapali, Kapalua or Wailea areas. I've stayed at all three and Kapalua is best, Kaanapali is a very close second. Wailea is a bit too far away from many of the sights for my taste, better to visit that area than stay there. You can't beat the Sheraton at Kaanapali or the new Westin just north of it. However all of the major hotels in that area are very nice.
Try this site first and go from there:
http://www.visitmaui.com/
i would try funjet.com
we are going to vegas (2 of us) flight and hotel for 225 per person! thats a really really good deal. we did cancun all inclusive this summer for 420 per person!