The Top 5 Benefits of Using a Travel Advisor in 2022

Many travelers think of travel advisors or travel agents as a relic of a bygone era- something that was useful before we could quickly book flights on our phone with the touch of a button. That thinking couldn’t be more wrong!

Travel advisors are an essential resource for any traveler looking to do more than the basics. From navigating COVID rules to discovering the most authentic experiences (that you won’t find on social media), they can help you to save time, money, and stress by helping you to plan your perfect bucket list vacation. 

Here are 5 reasons why booking a custom trip with a travel advisor is worth it in 2021:

1. The extra flexibility

One of the main reasons why travelers choose to design a custom trip with a travel advisor rather than book a packaged tour with a large company is the extra flexibility. No matter where you want to go, what you want to see, or what you want to do, there’s a good chance a travel advisor can make it happen.

A pre-planned trip often locks you into an itinerary, and there’s no wiggle room for extra sightseeing or activities, skipping destinations you’re not keen to visit, choosing your own hotel, filling up your schedule or adding in buffer days, and the like. By working with a travel advisor or consultant, you can have a say in as much or as little of your trip as you want. 

They can also help adjust your trip along the way. If you’re feeling exhausted from all the touring and just want to crash in your room for an afternoon, your advisor can cancel or reschedule any planned activities. And if you’ve realized you want to add a few extra days in your new favorite city, your advisor can work with the relevant parties to accommodate that change of plans as well.  Basically, they’re there to make your trip perfect for you, and no one else.

2. The personalized attention

Travel advisors work one-on-one with you from beginning to end. Unlike with larger tour companies, you’ll never be one of hundreds of customers waiting in line for support. Your travel advisor is often just a phone call away and is there to serve as your advocate before, during and after your trip.

They can also offer things that larger companies can’t, like special layaway plans for financing your trip, holding a flight for you if you’re running late, or helping you navigate a family emergency while on the road. This extra personalized attention is often a great source of comfort for clients who are a little inexperienced in international travel or have personal concerns they need or want to accommodate. 

3. The expert advice

As with any expert advisor, your travel advisor has years of experience and expertise and is there to fill in the gaps and give advice on things that you may not know about, understand or have the time to navigate. Most advisors specialize in one area of travel, like a group of destinations or types of activities, and have lots of personal know-how to share. They’ve often visited these destinations themselves, and have found the best local guides, hotels and restaurants to book you with. 

They’re also pros at navigating all the often complicated logistics of trip planning, like visa requirements and COVID travel restrictions. They’ll keep you informed of any issues, like flight cancellations or border closures, and will make sure you have the right paperwork and documentation for your trip. And if one of your travel companions catches COVID, they can help arrange things like testing, rescheduling flights and finding new quarantine accommodation. 

Although booking through a travel advisor is more expensive than doing it yourself, your advisor offers the unbeatable value of personal insights and knowledge not found in the travel guidebook. They can help you find all the off-the-beaten-path gems, and know where to catch the perfect sunset or the best days of the week to avoid crowds. They also know how to get the best value for money, and can help you avoid all the overpriced tourist traps.

4. The better travel experiences

Trip planning can be fun and exciting- but also overwhelming at times, especially during the new era of COVID uncertainty. Scouring travel blogs and guidebooks can certainly point you in the right direction, but it often takes lots of time to do the amount of research needed to make sure your trip is fun and fail-proof. Travel advisors are there to save you time and stress by taking everything off your plate so you can just enjoy your vacation. 

Besides the ease factor, travel advisors will also make sure your experience is enjoyable. They’ll help you avoid things like an over-packed itinerary that leads to burnout, outdoor activities ruined by rainy season weather, cramped buses, hotel construction, dodgy eateries, and anything else that has the potential to ruin or disrupt your trip. 

5. The perks and discounts

Although booking with a travel advisor may be pricier than booking directly yourself, you’ll still be able to get more value for your money. Advisors are often part of a larger agency that has purchasing power and clout in the industry, which helps them to score extra perks like complimentary breakfast or room upgrades. They may also have access to flight, tour guides or accommodation discounts you can’t find anywhere else.