Why Book With a Travel Agency?

I have worked in the travel industry for a long time, and I have managed a travel agency. I’ve seen so many people fall into the trap on booking their travel arrangements on-line rather then with an agent. They don’t want the agents to get the commission and rather save the few dollars extra they would have spent with an agent. I say few because it really is!

What the average person doesn’t think about when they book their arrangements on-line is, when things go wrong they don’t have anyone to go to. They will be listening to “You’re number 52 in our queue but please hold, your query is really important to us”. You have to remember the cheapest tickets that you get are the least flexible ones. They may be able to save you a few dollars, but are unlikely to be changed if you need them to be, if they are this can usually be done for a fee that probably isn’t as small as you’d thought it would be.

In some instances I think the Internet, is a good tool to book travel. Let’s say that you urgently have to go on a domestic flight the following morning, you will then be very sure that you are in fact going how many people will be traveling together etc.

This is the only instance I would use the Internet to book tickets. I can safely say that most airlines don’t really give agents that much commission. The margins in this industry is unbelievably tight, you would really be surprised if you know how little commission of your payment the agent gets.

The most important reason why I would discourage anyone from booking on-line if it can be avoided is, the terms and conditions when you book on-line, is the tiny writing that people usually ignore. All the details the agents will tell you, if you ring them or go into their store. They will qualify you, and give you the choice but at least you would’ve been told. Truth is the travel industry has never been as bad as it is today, the economy is bad in a lot of countries which results in an average family may go on a cheaper holiday then usual and agencies commission percentage keeps decreasing. Due to this fact most agents would try to sell you the cheapest options, at the moment they need to aim for the repeat business rather then the commission per single sale. Another thing to keep in mind is, most hotels will charge a client what is called “rack rates” which is usually a higher charge then the agents will sell to you. The agents have access to wholesale rates which is usually even with their fees added cheaper then the “rack rate”.

I don’t think that the use for travel agents will ever disappear, I think what has happened instead is that people don’t use travel agents for domestic fares but for international travel rather.

— By Elin Takitimu

Solo Travel In Central America

Here is a story from Claire Saylor, the owner of Panama vacation :

My recent decision to move to Panama for four months sounded quite a bit like my decision to move to Costa Rica for six months, or to Chile for five. I made all the travel arrangements on my own, including a stopover in Costa Rica to see my boyfriend. But when it came time to say goodbye after spending three weeks with another human being at always by side, I felt a sudden unfamiliar anxiety about venturing off on my own to a new country.

Traveling alone comes with many ups and downs. In our daily lives we rely on friends, family and co-workers to get us through our days. We often overlook how interwoven our actions and accomplishments are, and how our surroundings define who we are.

As I was sitting alone at the bus terminal in San Jose during the two hours that the bus was delayed, I started having fears of crossing the border alone with my life packed away into two large pieces of luggage. I wondered how I would find my to-be-co-worker in an unfamiliar bus stop the next day; and how would I pass 16 hours on a bus alone? Longing to crawl back to the warm, protective arms of my boyfriend, I boarded that bus and watched as my decision to put 16 hours of time and space between us became a reality.

At the Albrook bus terminal in Panama City, Panama, I stared in awe at my surroundings, which stared right back at me. “What was this little American girl doing alone in such a big place?” they questioned. I was obviously not an intimidating sight, and found it quite simple to get help from others. A taxi driver dialed my friend’s phone number on a public phone for me, a guard watched my bags as I used the restroom, and a fellow passenger offered me a ride to my new home.

Luckily, I was able to decline that offer as my new boss rolled up, as if on cue, to where I was standing in his white ford explorer with a huge smile on his face despite the early morning hours. And I knew that everything was going to be okay.

Best friends or recent acquaintances, we are never on your own in this world unless we choose to be. Traveling “alone” may allow you to forge your own unique path, but there will always be someone nearby for you to fall back on. You just have to get used to accepting the varied forms in which these people come. You never know your own limits, until you take yourself out of the comfort zone, forge new paths and let yourself rely on a stranger.

33 Travel Safety Tips You Should Know

Traveling to unfamiliar destinations can bring to you the sort of troubles you do not want to experience while on the road namely: robbery, rape, or murder. Tourists often fall prey to perpetrators because they do not prepare properly before embarking on a trip. Let’s examine some things you should do to prevent your travels from becoming a tragedy:

1. Never list your home address on the luggage tag. If on business, put the company’s address on the tag; if visiting friends you can list their address. Use covered luggage tags as well.

2. Stay with your luggage until the luggage is checked. If you must put your bag down, keep one foot on the handle.

3. Carry important papers with you; NEVER check anything that you simply cannot afford to lose. Photocopy your passport, driver’s license and credit cards.

4. Bring a small flashlight. You never know when you’ll suddenly be “in the dark” and find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. At night, keep your flashlight by your bed.

5. Make sure that your prescription medicines are filled properly and labeled accurately. In some countries certain prescription medicines are forbidden.

6. Never wear anything that projects affluence. No gold chains, expensive watches and rings, luggage, or other paraphernalia should be in easy view. Better yet: leave your jewelry at home.

7. If possible travel with only one or two credit cards.

8. Women particularly should never accept a drink from a stranger. Keep an eye on your drink at all times.

9. Vary your schedule; try not to come and go at the same time everyday.

10. Only stay in a hotel that uses cards to open room doors and make sure your room has a peephole and a deadbolt lock. Secure the chain and secure the door by pushing a rubber stop under it.

11. Stay in a room near a stairwell. Never take the elevator if a fire or smoke is detected. Always stay in a hotel where the doors enter the hallway and not directly from the outside.

12. Do not wear name tags in public.

13. Do not use unmarked taxi cabs.

14. Sit behind the driver so you can see him, but he cannot see you.

15. Pay the driver upon arriving at your destination and while you are still sitting in the vehicle.

16. If you must rent a car, rent only from a reputable company. Any operating problems that occur could signal sabotage.

17. Be aware of ‘staged’ car accidents meant to catch you off card.

18. Back into your parking spaces to facilitate a quick exit.

19. Park only in well lit and well traveled areas.

20. If your cell phone does not work outside of the country, consider renting one that does for the duration of your trip.

21. If detained for whatever reason by an official, ask for identification. If in doubt, tell them that you want to see his superior. Keep your emotions in check.

22. If traveling with children, bring along an updated photograph of each child in the event that you become separated from them.

23. Write your child’s name and your hotel number on each card; include a close friend’s or relative’s contact information on the card. Give a card to each child which they will carry with them as long as you are away. Destroy once home.

24. Discuss with your family what they would do in event of an emergency while away from home, e.g. whom to call, how to contact emergency personnel, etc.

25. Do not discuss travel plans, your room number or any other personal information in public within earshot of strangers.

26. Bring along a basic first aid kit with bandages, iodine, mosquito repellant, sunscreen, alcohol packets, dramamine, pepto bismol, diarrhea medicine, etc.

27. Familiarize yourself with train and bus schedules before traveling. Have an alternate plan in place in the event your transportation plans change.

28. Do not flash your passport in public. Discreetly show important documents to officials only.

29. Consider purchasing portable alarms that emit a loud sound.

30. Watch for scams on the street. Children working with adults are notorious as pickpockets.

31. Never flash your money in public. Exchange funds with reputable and recognized exchangers only.

32. Have tips ready in advance for service personnel.

33. Consider renting an escort [security] service if traveling in areas where crime is high.

The key to safe traveling in any area is situational awareness. Distractions because of luggage, children, hotel personnel, strangers, etc. can put you at risk. Know your surroundings and stay in control of every situation.

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Thanks for Matt, the owner of www.corporateflyer.net.

Welcome To Travel Them

Welcome to Travel Them, a blog talking about travel! I will share my experience of travel with you and I am planning to give you some advice on how to take wonderful travel. Hope it will be helpful for you!

Don’t you want to take a travel? Oh, of course you do. You do dream of traveling. So what you need to do is take action immediately.

So stay with me and I will please you, I am sure.