What does a travel agent do?
Your travel agent is trained to guide you through the entire process of planning a trip, whether for business or leisure. At 5 O'Clock Somewhere, we take classes, participate in seminars, specialize in specific destinations and join professional associations in order to ensure that your travel experience is personalized, convenient and memorable.
We also have access to exclusive pricing and package deals that are most times not available to the public. Travel agents have more leverage in helping out in situations such as hotels claiming to be booked, when in fact they may still have rooms available that are on hold for travel agents reservations. So when everyone else is telling you “No,” we can help turn that to a “Yes.”
Travel agents can also arrange car service, personalized tours and activities, in addition to all the basic travel services we provide. We are excellent sources of information concerning good restaurants, good sites to see and tips on what to pack.
How much does a travel agent cost?
Booking a trip with a travel agent shouldn't cost you any more than booking through any other means. Travel agents typically get a commission from the airline or hotel - and that's where we make our money. While some travel agents charge consulting fees, wedding coordinating fees, hotel booking fees and airline booking fees, 5 O'Clock Somewhere Travel & Cruise does not. It is important to remember that a lot of online booking sites, such as Orbitz and Expedia, charge a booking fee as well. The only added cost that 5 O'Clock Somewhere charges is $30 per person for domestic airline flights and $100 per person for international airline flights. Assistance with destination wedding planning is always included when the couple purchases a travel package.
Does anyone even use travel agents anymore? Isn't this a dated service?
Actually, no. Travel agents still sell 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels.*
What if I find something cheaper online?
Tell us about it and we'll see what we can do to match it - or at least explain why the package you found might be cheaper than what we can offer. As your travel agent, I know the ins and outs of different itineraries. While you might find one that is a little bit cheaper online, that cheaper itinerary might involve a whole slew of headaches. For example, longer waits at the airport and odd travel times. I will be looking to get you the best value for your money which usually includes the most direct and time-friendly itinerary I can find. If layovers and odd time-of-day flight times are not an issue for you and you're really just looking for the cheapest option, let me know and I'll adjust my search parameters! Also, during travel crises, the Internet can't replace a human being who will persist to help a client.
*Source: American Society of Travel Agents
Still have questions? Contact me!
Your travel agent is trained to guide you through the entire process of planning a trip, whether for business or leisure. At 5 O'Clock Somewhere, we take classes, participate in seminars, specialize in specific destinations and join professional associations in order to ensure that your travel experience is personalized, convenient and memorable.
We also have access to exclusive pricing and package deals that are most times not available to the public. Travel agents have more leverage in helping out in situations such as hotels claiming to be booked, when in fact they may still have rooms available that are on hold for travel agents reservations. So when everyone else is telling you “No,” we can help turn that to a “Yes.”
Travel agents can also arrange car service, personalized tours and activities, in addition to all the basic travel services we provide. We are excellent sources of information concerning good restaurants, good sites to see and tips on what to pack.
How much does a travel agent cost?
Booking a trip with a travel agent shouldn't cost you any more than booking through any other means. Travel agents typically get a commission from the airline or hotel - and that's where we make our money. While some travel agents charge consulting fees, wedding coordinating fees, hotel booking fees and airline booking fees, 5 O'Clock Somewhere Travel & Cruise does not. It is important to remember that a lot of online booking sites, such as Orbitz and Expedia, charge a booking fee as well. The only added cost that 5 O'Clock Somewhere charges is $30 per person for domestic airline flights and $100 per person for international airline flights. Assistance with destination wedding planning is always included when the couple purchases a travel package.
Does anyone even use travel agents anymore? Isn't this a dated service?
Actually, no. Travel agents still sell 51 percent of all airline tickets, 87 percent of all cruises, 81 percent of all tours and packages, 45 percent of all car rentals and about 47 percent of all hotels.*
What if I find something cheaper online?
Tell us about it and we'll see what we can do to match it - or at least explain why the package you found might be cheaper than what we can offer. As your travel agent, I know the ins and outs of different itineraries. While you might find one that is a little bit cheaper online, that cheaper itinerary might involve a whole slew of headaches. For example, longer waits at the airport and odd travel times. I will be looking to get you the best value for your money which usually includes the most direct and time-friendly itinerary I can find. If layovers and odd time-of-day flight times are not an issue for you and you're really just looking for the cheapest option, let me know and I'll adjust my search parameters! Also, during travel crises, the Internet can't replace a human being who will persist to help a client.
*Source: American Society of Travel Agents
Still have questions? Contact me!