Why you still need a travel agent like Lucie Pescatello

ORLANDO, Fla. - June 8, 2016 - PRLog -- Escapes International Travel, a leading provider of luxury travel answers the question of why you still need a travel agent

In the age of online booking sites, using a travel agent may feel like being your parents.  But agents are more useful than simply selling trips to Disney World and cruises. Many agents still provide services or have knowledge that you just can't get online -and sometimes, especially in times of crisis, working with a real live person is just plain superior.

Travel Agents are educated and have personal experiences, simply put, they know more than you. They can give you insider tips and advice, using their education and personal experience to guide your vacation decisions in a way that provides you with the best vacation possible for you and your hard-earned investment.  They have access to the personal feedback from hundreds of clients, and their own personal travel agent network, to provide insights you can't get on TripAdvisor or other social media sites.

Travel agents have clout; many travel agents develop personal relationships with individuals at the companies they sell.  They leverage these relationships to get you things you can't get on your own.   That "sold out" room or the connecting rooms you want for your extended family trip when the online sites say they aren't available.  They also have exclusive entrée to experiences you might not know are available to you.

Travel agents fix problems. In addition to getting you more on any particular trip, they can step in and fix things when your trip goes awry.  The average consumer books one or two trips per year, typically with different travel suppliers, so they have little or no leverage when things go wrong. The travel agent is constantly selling a particular supplier and has the leverage to fix things, even when the supplier isn't directly at fault.  Travel suppliers value the travel agent's business much more than any individual traveler.  They will step up to make things right or simply to make sure that traveler, and their travel agent, are happy.

Travel agents save time. Instead of searching blindly on the Internet for hours, days, or even weeks - depending on the complexity of the travel plans - you can have an expert do the research for you, with your personal needs in mind.  They do it for every component of the trip and very often do it at no cost to you.

Travel agents are your safety net. If anything should go wrong during your trip, you can rely on them to assist you.  A travel agent will suggest and arrange alternate travel arrangements, help you to deal with any travel emergency you may have, and put you in touch with the right local people to answer your needs.

Travel agents are on the cutting edge. They are on the cutting edge of what's new: Travel agents are the first to know about a new resort, cruise ship or tour.  They have relationships with their best travel partners who keep them informed as to the latest and greatest offerings they have. So if you want to travel on the latest and greatest, agents are the way to go!

Travel agents cost the same or less then booking yourself. More than 98 percent of hotels are parity priced. That means the cost is the same whether you book it yourself or have the travel agent do the work. Some travel agents even have websites that feature the same inventory, bookable in real time, as Expedia and Orbitz. The customer gets the best of the high tech world, in a high touch, environment. This parity pricing applies to virtually every travel product.

Travel agents will match you to the right trip. If you call a cruise line directly, they won't tell you that their competitor is a better fit for you and your travel needs.  Since travel agents sell everything, they focus on your particular needs, making sure you are matched up with the right trip for you.

Travel agents will always work in your best interest. A good agent is like a good mechanic. Once you find them, you'll never want to give them up. Travel could be your biggest discretionary spend in any given year, along with your limited time, so you want to make sure it's done right.  When they make that happen, you'll want them in your inner circle moving forward.

If you're looking for a travel agent consider Lucie Pescatello at Escapes International Travel

About Escapes International Travel.

I started Escapes International because several friends and relatives loved the places I have booked for myself and asked me to help them plan their dream vacation. I used to be like many people and thought I could just jump on the internet and book a trip. I quickly learned that is not always the best deal and that having a personal travel concierge to do the leg work for you and make recommendation is a far better use of one's time and resources and at no added cost to you.