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Travel Talk
Plenty of myths about the travel industry
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
There are plenty of myths about the travel industry. One of the biggest is that travel agents and their agencies have gone the way of the dinosaur – in other words become extinct. Actually, that thinking is as archaic as the dinosaur, and that was recently pointed out by Christopher Elliot, National Geographic Traveler's ombudsman, in his article "Four secrets for finding the right travel pro". In it, he stressed that "a competent travel advisor can be your greatest asset when you're planning a trip".The staff at Vellinga's Travel/Cruise Holidays debunks the "dinosaur" myth every day. As a service to the Chatham Kent area, we offer you the Top 5 Reasons to Plan Your Next Vacation with a Travel Agent:
Expertise – Particularly when looking at a cruise vacation or a land based vacation, there are a infinite number of combinations of resorts, ships, itineraries, costs, dates, and excursions. Travel experts can sift through the endless options and design the vacation you are dreaming about. Ultimately, travel planning isnít between places, itís between people. Itís about the right vacation for the right person.
Savings – Some consumers have been lulled into believing the internet offers access to all prices and discounts. The best deals, are often through travel agents who have access to special incentives and travel industry partner discounts and net rates that are not available to the general public.
Customer Advocate – travel agents are there for their customers before, during and after a trip. When the unexpected happens, and sometimes it does, travel agents are your safety net – they've "got your back". With that comes peace of mind.
Local and Personalized – You aren't dealing with an individual sitting in a call centre halfway across the country or halfway around the world. You are planning a trip with a travel expert in your local community. The planning is tailored and personalized – not a one size fits all method. The relationship travel professionals build with their customers allows for this very personal and individual approach to travel
Value – Price without service is not value. The knowledge and expertise travel agents have, particularly those with Vellinga's Travel / Cruise Holidays, can save you time and money, and can help you avoid hassles that are possible with travel planning. We have been there or are educated in the places you want to see and explore. Is a dirt-cheap rate worth it if your vacation experience is dismal? Perhaps the old axiom. "You get what you paid for" is true.
There was a time when some predicted the Internet would replace travel agents. Quite the opposite has happened in large part to the knowledge, expertise and personal service travel agents can offer. Travel agents are the ace in travelerís back pocket.
We take great pride in our relationship with our customers and the exceptional service we provide to travelerís whether they are a first-time customer or a long-time client. We love travel and cruising and it is our aim not just to justify our customer, but to exceed all their travel planning needs.
We welcome your feedback to this column or to any other travel questions you may have. We will respond to comments and question in a future column. Please e-mail your comments or questions to graced@ciaccess.com
Vellinga\'s Travel / Cruise Holidays is a full service travel agency taking great pride in our relationships with our customers. We love travel and cruising, and it is our aim not just to satisfy our customers, but to exceed all their travel planning needs. We have been providing excellent service for over fifty years to the Chatham Kent area.
