No, they won’t pack your bags for you but travel agencies are increasingly factoring in the nitty-gritty to make your holiday that much easier for you.
But make sure you’re not seduced by the sales pitch. Considering the competition, travel companies are tripping over each other to make sure they hook susceptible vacationers with the right jargon. One of these oft-used phrases is all inclusive holidays.
Nothing wrong with that, really. But no harm asking all the relevant questions before signing up for a seven-night, eight-day trip to the Land of Far Beyond! After all, once you set sail, there’s no looking back.
After the travel agent pulls out his bag of tricks – usually glossy brochures and promises of discounts and the best deals, take all the information home and log into the internet.
Researching Destinations
Researching your destination, itinerary and airline tickets will tell you just how much is for real and how much is just spiel. The trouble with this is that ravel websites are usually full of the same jargon. Best deals, cheap flights, weekend wonderland, budget travel, luxury cruise at discount rates. The Internet is full of it.
But read tried and tested travel forums such as Thorn Tree in Lonely Planet and other online publications and you’re on solid ground, especially if it’s an extended holiday. There are other forums for those struck by wanderlust. Better still, sign up and ask away!
The travel community is a close-knit community and questions are always answered enthusiastically and with respect for a fellow-traveller’s needs. Question number one could be, “Just what does “all-inclusive” mean?
Then, determine the cost of each individual component from your Internet research. This would mainly include airline tickets, meals, sight-seeing and accommodation. Once you hook up with the online travel community, you’re sure to find the answers to most of these questions.
String all of these together, throw in airport transfers and drops, and come up with your own costing to see if it adds up to the deal your travel agent is trying to push. Remember, the agent must make a profit and will factor that into the rates, usually justifying it with some more sales pitch. If the figures tally more or less, it would seem, you’ve got yourself a holiday!
Booking Online
Another way to plan and book a trip is to research and book every element on your own over the Internet. AN increasing number of travellers – both first-time and seasoned – are taking this route to paradise and coming up trumps!
The downside is that you aren’t quire sure of what you’re going to get because there’s no one to ask questions and hold accountable. So if you’re booking online, it might be a better idea to do so in major cities. Chances of you being duped are less.
Of course, if specific hotels and lodges come recommended by friends, that’s one main worry put to rest.
Another way of getting round the travel agent’s spiel is to join travel groups who get discounts and who stick with a particular travel agent. That way, you can make sure an all-inclusive holiday indeed is an all-inclusive holiday!
