5 Misconceptions about using a Travel Agent

Not long ago I was asked what I do for a living and when I joyfully said, “I’m a Travel Agent!”, the guy looked at me with pure shock and with a not so mild laugh said, “Those still exist?!” I’ve also had scenarios where I state my profession and people immediately get uncomfortable or have a mild look of disgust thinking I’m a “sleazy salesperson.” So I want to set the record straight with 5 common misconceptions about Travel Agents.

#5 “Travel Agents are a thing of the past.” This statement should read “Travel Agents – the people you didn’t know you needed until it was too late.” At the very start of the pandemic, more trips were being canceled than booked. Our agents spent hours – and no, this is not an exaggeration – on the phone ensuring their client’s refund policy was being met or that they were able to rebook for a later date. For those that didn’t book with a Travel Agent either a) had to use their own valuable time to figure out how to get a refund or b) were unable to use their time and simply lost the money. As we move into this new era of life during/after the pandemic, travel is not going away, it is simply changing. The value of a Travel Agent is now unmatched; having someone to keep up with the ever-changing COVID protocols is proof enough that we are not a thing of the past. If anything, we are making a massive comeback.

#4 “I can find the same or better deal on my own without a travel agent.” This one always makes me laugh. I absolutely love it when a travel friend (aka my clients who become friends) comes to me saying they can find a better deal. Why? Because that makes my job a thousand percent easier! My response is always the same, “Great! Send me the info and allow me to book it for you so that you can have my expertise along the way and my support should anything go wrong.”  In addition, the majority of our travel vendors will price match! The reason we prefer to work with our vendors is that they will sometimes offer additional perks that you can’t get on your own; one of the most common being free airport transfers to/from your all-inclusive resort.

#3 “I need to have a large group or an extravagant trip in order to use a Travel Agent.” Here at Pineapple Escapes, we are a full-service travel agency meaning we can book the most simple to the most complex trips. Need a hotel for one night before a flight or a rental car for the weekend? We can do that. Trying to find time to get together with your girls in Napa, CA? We can coordinate with everyone and find the best timeframe. The number one perk of a Travel Agent is that we save you time and remove the stress of planning. You don’t have to think about what the best option is or if the hotel has dog beds, pack n’ plays, or down feather pillows. We do all of the research, narrow down options, and present you with only what we believe to be the best options for you and your travel needs. I honestly think my favorite perk that we offer is our connections with a stroller company in Orlando, FL;  for those traveling to Walt Disney World, you don’t even have to stress about lugging your stroller to/from the airport. How detailed and cool is that?!

#2 “Using a Travel Agent will cost me more money.”  In order to bust this myth, we first need to upack how a travel agent makes their money. The best analogy is to think of us as you would a property realtor. When you want to buy a house you ask a realtor to help you find a house that fits your needs. The realtor searches all available houses and provides you with the best possible choices, saving you time and making the overall process easier for you. You then decide on the house of your dreams and pay the seller. The seller then pays your realtor or in the travel world, the vendors (airlines, hotels, cruises, tours, etc.) pay us as you sip on your Bahama Mama by the pool.

Where people become confused with this, though, is that some agencies charge a planning fee in addition to what they earn from the vendors. This is because the amount of work and value that a travel agent adds to your trip is truly unmatched. For example, if you know you want to book a cruise a year from now, your travel agent will research, quote, book, prepare travel docs, add excursions, and stay up to date with all pertinent information for the entire year leading up to your cruise but will not be paid until you after you travel. The amount in which the agent is paid is usually less than 10% of the total sale before taxes. So to say, using a travel agent will cost you more money, truly depends on the type of trip you are looking for and the agency you work with. If you want a stress free planning experience with the peace of mind that a real person is looking after your vacation, then the knowledge and value a travel agent adds to your trip is worth it.

#1  “All Travel Agents are the same.” This is like saying all ranch dressings are the same when we clearly know Hidden Valley is the VIP (my midwestern upbringing is really showing through here…). We are all different, even all of us here at Pineapple Escapes bring a different aspect to the travel planning experience. It’s all about finding that connection with your agent to the point where you’re like, “Man, why did I wait so long to book with a Travel Agent?” Needless to say, if you’ve had a bad experience in the past I want to connect with you and hear about it so that I can learn from you.

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