1. You’re a Control Freak
​Look, no judgement, it takes one to know one! I am a control freak, that is why I chose this work! I love planning and controlling all the details. If you are someone who enjoys researching every minute detail and handling all the reservations and components: that is great and understandable. That may have swayed you from using a travel agent in the first place. But hear me out: it STILL may be a great value to book the main part of the trip with a professional (the pre-planned group tour or cruise) because we usually get perks that you won’t get by booking direct. You can still plan the rest of the trip and I will hand off the duties to you! 

​2. You Want the Cheapest Thing
Again no judgement, being frugal is not a bad thing! I have plenty of budget conscious clients. But what I offer is not cheap. I hate to break it to you but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Thems the breaks! You can often get a great early booking discount, promotion or last minute deal on a cruise or tour, but in general, for premium and luxury travel brands, they don’t like to heavily discount close to departure if a date is not sold out. This devalues the product and de-incentivizes folks who book early (like a year out) who may end up paying a lot more than someone who booked 3 weeks prior for a last minute deal. They know you all will end up talking on the trip because for some reason people love to brag how they got such a great price! How do you think that makes the person who paid double feel? Pissed! And the cruise line and travel advisor will surely hear about it when the clients return home. While the service and options that I offer will almost never be the cheapest, I ensure you’re getting the best VALUE and EXPERIENCE. This is why my clients return to me trip after trip, year after year. They don’t want the cheapest thing, they want the best. We all know that the lowest price is not the same thing as the most valuable. Now, if you’re booking a short domestic trip or something basic/bare bones like flights and an Airbnb in Paris, I can book your flights and travel insurance for a small fee, giving you peace of mind (see sister blog, link below). 

3. You are Good with the Same, Status quo Travel Experience 
I know some people who book their trip with the same cruise line or tour operator year after year and are satisfied with the experience. They know how it works and they are comfortable with the booking process and travel experience. They simply aren’t pulled by the desire to try something new or different. I definitely understand this, it’s the same reason I don’t change my home & auto insurance provider! It seems like too much work to switch and there is also the loyalty factor. However, you could be leaving upgrades, perks and elevated services on the table (in which don’t cost extra). If you have credits with a tour operator or cruise line, usually travel agents can utilize them, you don’t have to book direct. Contact me to learn more. 

Thanks for reading! If you missed it, here is the sister blog: 5 Reasons to Book Your Trip with a Professional Travel Advisor

Yes, travel agents still exist; our industry is thriving! In an era of search engines and Ai tools, there are highly valuable, overlooked reasons to enlist the help of a qualified, experienced travel professional. Here are the top 5 reasons my clients return to me trip after trip, year after year:

1. Access to Exclusive Perks & Amenities. But what does that really mean?
"Exclusive" means admitting only a carefully selected group. Through my privileged Virtuoso perks, I have access to amenities you simply cannot get by booking directly with the tour company, hotel or cruise line. These are things like shipboard credits, room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, resort credits & more. These elite benefits are negotiated with the travel companies specifically for our clients. This also means that our elite, vetted travel suppliers are THE BEST OF THE BEST. They offer our clients perks because our agency and advisors are also the best of the best! These travel vendors can do so because they are spending less money on advertising and in return they can give back to you as the traveler therefore offering higher levels of service and creating elevated experiences. 

2. Personalized, High Touch Service
My service is highly personal and meticulously detailed. I am your partner during each step: from the initial trip idea, to researching and evaluating/comparing options, the entire reservation and booking process, back-up support while you’re traveling, to recon on your return. As my clients often mention in their reviews, I strive to be "perfectionist-level" in my planning, ensuring every facet of your trip is planned, confirmed and executed. I am in constant communication with you regarding each piece of the trip. This extends after you return. Something unsatisfactory and you are due a refund or credit? I chase it with the travel companies. Have to file an insurance claim? I help you manage the process and become your advocate with the insurance company. Have you ever dealt with an insurance claim before? If so, you know how valuable it is to have help. 

3. Human Safety Net - Ai Can’t do it! 
Things happen. I’m there to assist you when you have to cancel or change your plans. I handle the time consuming tasks of calling, emailing, accessing multiple internet sites or platforms to update your travel arrangements. Flight delayed or cancelled? I have an entire air team that handles all of this on your behalf. The airlines constantly change your flight schedule and don’t automatically book you on the best alternative flights. Humans monitor and process all of that. Think about how much time you’ve spent on hold calling an airline. God forbid a medical emergency happens before or during your trip: I supplement the travel insurance’s help - but at a much higher service level. You know what it’s like to deal with call centers often in foreign countries. With more than 20 years in the travel industry, I have extensive experience managing issues and fixing problems. Most trips go off without a hitch - but you had that peace of mind that if something did happen, I’ve got your back. 

4. Special, ‘Ungenerated’ Experiences
Aside from cruises and pre-packaged group tours, the extensions and itineraries I plan are ‘un-googleable’ and Ai simply cannot replicate the relationships myself and my network have cultivated. By leveraging my industry expertise and global connections, I provide the most amazing, worry-free, value rich experience you didn’t know you should be expecting. Google and Ai tools do not have the privileged access to the best suppliers and perks like I do. Travel should be a personalized experience and if value and experience are important to you, it is crucial to have a human by your side. 

5. Total Peace of Mind
​My ultimate goal is to elevate your travel experience by handling all the details and making the entire process easy and stress-free so that you can spend your valuable time elsewhere. My clients frequently report that I "take all the potential stress out of a trip," leaving them free to simply relish the moment and focus on what is most important to them (like soaking in the awe of experience and connecting with loved ones). Check out the reviews and testimonials from my happy clients (scroll down and click reviews & recommendations): https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/betts/advisors/15743050/amber-betts

Ready to find out what you’ve been missing? Contact me to start planning your next trip. 303.359.2140 [email protected]

FOLLOW UP BLOG: 3 Reasons Why You Should NOT Book Your Trip with a Professional Travel Advisor
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