Do you believe travel professionals are extinct or unnecessary? The advent of on-line booking engines has made it very easy for consumers to reserve and pay for air, hotels, cars, etc. And, honestly, for many basic pieces, it makes perfect sense to do-it-yourself.
But what about when things are a little more complicated? Your long-awaited trip of a life-time, the 50th anniversary celebration for your grandparents, or your book club’s “DaVinci Code” tour? Do you need a professional to help you out or should you DIY?
Everyone has a different level of expertise and what works for you may not work for another. Here are six instances when you probably won’t need a travel professional’s services:
1) You love spending hours and hours of your time researching prices, locations, amenities, inclusions/exclusions, added fees, hours of operation, etc. You enjoy trying to figure out if the farm to table cooking class includes tasting or a full meal, if a small group tour means 6 people or 60, or if the hotel you selected is hosting a middle school cheer-leading competition.
2) You think it’s an adventure when you arrive to your hotel, B&B, apartment at 1 am, jet-lagged, and find it non-admissible, non-habitable, or just non-existent.
3) You realize everything on the internet is true. All reviews are legitimate – no competitors posting negative feedback, or employees/owners praising their own cuisine or accommodations. All tour operators, guides, apartments, drivers, restaurants, hotels, and experiences are exactly as depicted on the web.
4) You appreciate that the on-line review sites never block, restrict, or manipulate feedback. Of course, all the restaurants, sites, etc. being reviewed actually exist. You think I’m kidding? “The Shed”, a non-existent restaurant, became London’s highest rated on Trip Advisor a few months ago.
5) You’re more interested in lowest price than value. You scored the cheapest room with a nice view of the HVAC unit next door. Never mind that you might get more bang for your buck if you upgrade your room to an ocean-view and combine it with a spa/golf/breakfast/whatever package.
6) You enjoy wasting time. What difference does it make if you spend 2-3 hours of your vacation everyday commuting to/from the city center because you didn’t realize the hotel was a suburban property? Spending that extra time cruising along the Seine, enjoying a spa treatment, or biking through a vineyard is not as significant as the money you maybe saved.
OK, this is a little snarky, but my point is there is way more to a travel professional’s expertise than just booking airline tickets. If you don’t need to save money, time, avoid headaches and heartaches, know someone has your back if something does go awry, as well as ensure you get the custom experience you deserve, then you should definitely DIY.
Are you ready to start planning your next vacation? I’d love to help. Call 888-429-1929 or email travel@sevenwondersgrouptravel.com to schedule a complimentary planning session.