As much as I love traveling, there are just some parts of travel I’d rather not plan. My travel advisor has often been a lifeline, saving me time, money, and my sanity more times than I can count. I’ve overheard people question why anyone would use a travel advisor when it’s so easy to book everything themselves. I’ll admit, I used to question it, too. I don’t anymore. Here’s why.
Back in March 2020, my family made the unpopular decision to carry on with our spring break plans despite the warnings from friends and family who were afraid we’d end up trapped in Mexico. “We packed lots of Theraflu and hand sanitizer,” I told my mom. “We can drive home if the flights get canceled,” I told my dad. Worst case, we’d live in Mexico for a few weeks, we told ourselves.
I think you know where this is headed.
Over our week at Esperanza, in Cabo San Lucas, the hotel guest count dwindled. By day six, we were 4 of 15 guests left on a property that could accommodate well over one hundred. Bright, cloudless, azul-colored skies belied the state of the world. We were in Mexico to escape the news cycle for two weeks. I’d be damned if I was going to let a microscopic virus ruin our family holiday.
Rising panic
That morning, we’d spent a few hours whale-watching on the Sea of Cortez. The whales were a calming, if enormous, presence—oblivious to the rising panic on the other side of the water. I felt small, humbled, and totally at peace. It’s a moment I’ll always remember. One I’ll always associate with the start of the end of the world as we knew it.
While we were motoring back to shore, a text popped up on my phone from my college BFF. Amy wrote, “The borders might close. It’s time to come home. Let me help.”
Amy works for CIRE Travel. And, while I’d never used a travel advisor in the past, I knew I needed one now. Within the hour Amy and her team had us on a flight departing the next day—a task that would’ve had me on hold with United Airlines for hours on end. Unsurprisingly, we were not the only family high-tailing it home before the borders closed.
Getting out of Mexico on the cusp of a worldwide pandemic may have been the reason I started using a travel advisor, but there are multiple reasons I continue to do so. I’m often asked why I use one. So often, that I’m going to explain it here, debunk a few myths, and forward it whenever I need to. Clever me.
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Isn’t a travel agent and a travel advisor the same thing?
I’m a proud Jersey girl. No mall in my home state was complete without a Liberty Travel storefront—its messy collage of travel inspiration plastered to the window. A peek inside showed travel agents cradling a (gasp!) rotary phone to their ear, furiously typing on their IBM computers, circa 1985.
In those ancient, pre-internet days, travel agents acted more like brokers between hotels, airlines, and travelers. Travelers often relied on agents because they had fewer options to book for themselves.
Today we have travel advisors—the most evolved form of travel agents. Modern-day travel advisors are curators and problem solvers. Their relationships with a hotel’s executive team facilitate the experience (even elevate it) with perks only they receive. Let’s face it, resorts would rather reward a travel advisor who has the opportunity to send them dozens of guests than the traveler who books only once.
Some post-pandemic stats back me up. Travelagentcentral.com’s website states, ‘After the pandemic, nearly half of travelers (44%) say they are more likely to use a travel advisor. Not surprisingly, nearly all travelers (94%) who always/often use a travel advisor before the pandemic are likely to use one after the pandemic.’
Travel Advisors are expensive
It’s a common myth travel advisors make a trip more expensive. Most travel advisors have a reasonable fee structure that’s determined by the complexity of the trip. Like any resource, they do hours of legwork for their clients. Typically, the resort or hotel pays a referral fee to the advisor which in no way impacts the pricing for the client. In fact, most travel advisors can request room upgrades, provide spa or meal vouchers, and early check-in, among other perks for their guests. They often find clients better offers and prices than they would find themselves.
By definition, an advisor is ‘A person who gives advice in a particular field’. We pay our tax advisors and financial advisors without blinking an eye—their research and expertise in an area we are less comfortable handling ourselves is invaluable. The same can be said for travel advisors. We pay for a travel advisor’s time, experience, and trusted contacts.
While I love (nearly) everything travel-related, there are many things I don’t have access to or don’t have the bandwidth to do myself. I’d rather be researching the hotel room with the best view of Lake Como than researching the best airfare. Others might love the hunt for the least expensive airfare but get overwhelmed researching hotels. A travel advisor can do any and all of the above for their clients.
What are the perks of using a travel advisor?
Post-pandemic air travel is chaos. Remember the summer of lost luggage? Remember when an hour or so was enough for pre-flight arrival? Now we need to build in even more time (and at least another 30 minutes for a cappuccino at DCA’s Starbucks). These days, delayed and canceled flights are as common as Mini Goldendoodle therapy dogs.
Things go wrong with travel. When you book with a travel advisor, they take care of the problem. Sometimes, they take care of the problem before you even know there’s a problem in the first place.
A few years ago my daughter and I were due to travel to Seattle. The night before the flight, I received a call from my travel advisor. “Your flight has been canceled.”, she said. “But don’t worry, I’ve already rebooked you.” Even a professional worrier like me couldn’t find a reason to worry. I didn’t even know the flight was canceled.
Are there other benefits of using a travel advisor?
Travel advisors leverage their perks at hotels and resorts around the world. Their knowledge of having sent guests to endless destinations makes them the ideal choice to plan an itinerary to suit one’s needs. They can help coordinate guides, transportation, private charters, cooking classes, and wine tastings, as examples.
Everyone’s needs are different and a travel advisor can help with as much or as little as you’d like. But should anything go awry, they are standing by, usually with 24/7 emergency phone numbers. This is especially critical if something goes wrong while you are in a different time zone or over the weekend.
Is it really worth investing time with a travel advisor?
Like any relationship, the one between a travel advisor and a client needs open communication. An up-front conversation about needs and expectations is a given. Allow them to explain their fee structure and how they work to make sure it aligns with your philosophy. The sooner the travel advisors know your travel style, the more seamless it will be.
For instance, CIRE knows my husband prefers an aisle seat and that I prefer the window. They know I like to do hotel research but avoid flight research like the bubonic plague. Our likes and dislikes are clear, which makes each subsequent trip we book simpler and more streamlined.
A few summers ago, I was looking into flights to Europe for our family. Four coach seats for $16,000 made me strongly consider vacationing in Cape May instead of Croatia. I quickly sent my dates and destinations to CIRE. Within the hour they’d come back with a solution. “Would you be willing to use a different airline for your connection?” they asked. “Changing from United Airlines to Swiss Airlines will save you $6,000.” The answer was a resounding ‘Yes!’
Travel advisors are just for luxury trips
Another myth worth debunking is that travel advisors only book luxury trips. This is not the case. Although my travel advisor has booked my trips to France and Finland, as an established client, they’ve also booked my North Carolina hotel for camp drop-off and an overnight in Seattle for a college visit. Each booking was treated with care and respect. If that isn’t the kind of service you’re getting from your travel advisor, it may be time to find a new one.
Advisors give the best advice
In the end, having a travel advisor is a personal decision. For me, it not only comes down to convenience but also trust. Robert, my stylist, advises me on my ever-graying hair. My daughter advises me on my clothes. My dad advises me (unsolicited, mind you) on just about everything else. I trust the team I work with to get me from point A to point B safely using their expertise and knowledge. The times they’ve saved me (money, time, my sanity) have been invaluable.
If I didn’t say it earlier Amy, thank you for getting us out of Mexico when you did. You’re not only one of my BFFs, you’re part of a team that always has my back. On reflection, we definitely didn’t pack enough hand sanitizer anyway.
If you’d like to get in touch with the CIRE team, click here or call them at 888.715.4518. My endless gratitude to anyone who tells them I am Lost and Found sent them.
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