Why use a travel agent?

The first question we have been asked since we told people we were opening a travel agency is "Why would people use a travel agent when you can book online?". A few others did not even know travel agents still existed! Well we are here to confirm that there are plenty of reasons to still use a travel agent.

The first reason, and the reason we have used travel agents ourselves, is that you are looking to book a trip to a destination you are not familiar with. You could spend hours (and hours) doing your own online research, relying on (often conflicting) reviews from people you don't know. Or you could rely on those in the travel industry to do the hard work for you! We have the expertise, knowledge, training and industry contacts to find the best options for you.  

Additionally, there is a common misconception that using a travel agent will cost more money. However, with very few exceptions, you will either pay the same or less using a travel agent as you would booking your own travel online. We know the true costs of your travel (not all all-inclusive resorts were created equal; this will be a future blog topic!). We will make sure you get exactly what you are looking for, without any surprises. We take into account what truly matters to you, taking into account specific factors that aren't found in a drop-down option.

The final, and hopefully most obvious reason, is customer service.  If you had an issue and had to make a change in your itinerary last minute (including a delayed or cancelled flight), how easy would it be to get a hold of someone from one of the online booking giants? What level of customer service would you receive? Do they have your best interest in mind? Because we do. Our business will only succeed by giving our clients the best possible customer service. We are not in business to book a customer once. We are here to gain clients for life.

-Marshall, Owner of Clear Water Travels