Despite what you may have heard, true love and fairy tales still exist and travel advisors aren’t a vanishing breed;.
We aren’t trying to give to get. We genuinely care about your experience and trust me, no matter how well traveled you are, Virtuoso travel advisors have way more connections than you do.
Here are some of the most common myths about travel advisors, and I’m here to draw my sword and sleigh them once and for all.
According to Virtuoso Editors a Google search of “Where should I stay on Maui?” returns 7.7 million results and pandemic-related uncertainty instilling the Truth that all travelers can benefit from personalized vacation-planning help now more than ever. There are thousands of travel advisors around the world (including 22,000 Virtuoso travel advisors in 50 countries, to be exact) who are ready to help make travel dreams come true so you can have a happily ever after!
Myth #1: A travel advisor is just a fancy name for a travel agent.
Think of travel advisors like financial advisors.
I am a trusted, knowledgeable source who help shape and support big decisions in your life. Travel is an investment, and it can yield an incredible return on life!! Deciding where and how to go shouldn’t be taken lightly, whether that’s a years-in-the-making Italian sojourn, a bucket-list world cruise, skiing the Andes in July or a spring break African safari with your family. Travel agents can be merely transactional – but travel advisors are transformational. I make it my business to get to know you and your likes and ideally if we are a match want to work with you again and again on your travel plans, learning everything from your favorite spa treatment to the go-to bottle of wine you like to have waiting in your hotel room and just how tolerant you are of customs and immigration lines.
Myth #2: Every travel advisor is the same.
In my experience, my travel colleagues all come from different backgrounds and they each have their own destination specialties and travel-style preferences. It has taken a few of us a while to align our career with their passion but have arrived at the desired destination. Some are pros at the family vacations or wellness retreats while others focus on certain areas of the world, such as Europe or the South Pacific. And because we are so well-connected in the industry, we are able to tap into a network of experts around the world. Not only are advisors specialists in travel, AGAIN the goal is to be specialists in you, the traveler.
Myth #3: It’s expensive to use a travel advisor.
Travel advisors earn commissions on trips we plan, which may be paid by hotels, cruise lines, and tour companies. Most advisors charge a nominal fees, which is typically billed as travel design, research, or itinerary-crafting services. These fees vary per trip and every advisor is upfront about them prior. For many clients, paying a design fee to know that their entire trip has been customized and vetted – and knowing they’ve got someone who will be on call before, during, and after their trip – is MORE THAN worth it.
Fees aside, I will save you money (and will definitely save you time). Working with an advisor provides value you can’t access on your own, such as complimentary breakfasts, spa or dining credits, and upgrades at hotels – plus stateroom credits and complimentary shore excursions on cruises.
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Myth #4: You can’t be part of the trip-planning process when you use a travel advisor.
One of the joys of travel is actually the anticipation and planning: I know this! I am instantly happy when I go searching for the next adventure. This part of the process is almost just as fun as the traveling. But for others, there’s also the stress of worrying if you’re making the right choice, whether your hotel is where you want to be, and what the room actually looks like. (Decision paralysis is real.) Your Virtuoso advisor ( ME again,) will be as involved as much or as little as you want me to be when it comes to swapping travel ideas, making itinerary decisions, and more. The vacation-planning process is collaborative, personal, efficient … and yes, fun. An advisor makes planning seamless, leaving you time for more of the fun details.
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Myth #5: Travel advisors are just trying to earn a commission.
A trusted travel advisor wants you and your family to experience the best possible trip and they treat your money as if it’s their own. You may want to talk to a few different Virtuoso advisors to find the right fit, but today’s travel advisor considers this job as much of a calling as a career – and takes pride in crafting a perfect itinerary for your needs, selecting the best hotels, and choosing engaging tour guides. it’s about truly LOVING what I do for a living.
Myth #6: You can plan the same trip faster online.
People are time starved across age groups and income levels – especially right now. Searching through the overwhelming volume of online content often yields questionable results, with conflicting or outdated information. We believe leisure time is your most valuable, nonrenewable asset. Once it’s lost, you can’t get it back. Virtuoso advisors know the answers to questions you may not even think of – and plan things you never knew existed. I spend a good amount of my own time traveling the world, researching and collecting ideas for my clients. I love the travel experiences you can’t find on the internet!!!
Myth #7: You can find the same prices and perks on your own.
Through global connections and years of cultivating industry relationships, Virtuoso travel advisors have access to special rates and offers that are not made publicly available. And beyond the hotel perks and cruise amenities available there’s one more skill I have that online booking websites don’t: the ability to pick up the phone and be on hold all day, every damn day.
If a hotel’s website says it’s fully booked, there’s a good chance a Virtuoso advisor can still secure a reservation for you. And if your flight gets canceled or delayed, your advisor can probably get you on another flight faster than you can.
Stop staring at the 25 tabs open on your internet browser and just email ME at rachael@howfaradventures.com
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Myth #8: Nobody uses travel advisors anymore.
The biggest myth of all is that travel advisors are extinct, having disappeared with the advent of the internet. That couldn’t be further from the truth: And if the exaggerated coronavirus pandemic has taught me anything, it’s that I will never take the ability to travel for granted again. When it comes to something as valuable and important as your leisure time, it’s absolutely worth it to work with a professional who will always have you covered. Think of me as your WHITE KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR.
Thank you to Virtuoso for this AMAZING credit to Travel Advisors and what we do.
As always…I love travel planning as much as I love traveling, let’s make your Dreams Come True. How Far Adventures is an independent affiliate of Gifted Travel Network, A Virtuoso Member.
