Travel…Exciting Travel planning…NOT

Travel for most is considered a cherished event, a chance to visit unseen places and explore. Seeing how this is a once in a year kind of event for most working people, every aspect of travelling to a new country needs to be taken into careful consideration.

A well-planned trip can become a beautiful memory, however, if careful thought is not put into it, it could very well turn into your worst nightmare. With the advent of numerous travel search engines and rise in technology, there has been a shift towards a more DIY approach, with Millennials leading the charge, preferring to plan, book and negotiating everything themselves. Question is, do people have that kind of time on hand to do thorough research and strike gold when it comes to great travel deals?

Here are a couple of reasons why travel agents are probably still your best bet to ensure you get the best bang for your buck;

1 – They save you Time

Let’s admit it, life can be a struggle. Juggling work, family, friends and personal interests daily is just part of your routine and trying to constantly maintain a balance between all, well, can sometimes test your sanity. Isn’t that one of the reasons why vacation time is so very precious?

Spending endless hours surfing the internet researching places, activities, hotel and flights deals for solo travellers or GASP , a family of 4 can suck the holiday spirit right out of you even before your vacation starts. While there is no dearth of offers available it is humanly impossible to not be misguided by the so-called value for money online deals, which may look appealing on paper but what you get could be far from it.

Sadly, there is little you will be able to do about it once you have disembarked and set foot on foreign land. This is where travel agents turn out to be your biggest support. They take care of everything, right from your visas, flight, travel insurance, transfers to excursions and what have you.

2 – Travel is Complicated

You bet it is. While you may be able to get away with shorter trips, planning ones that extend beyond a week can get pretty tricky. Taking care of connections will definitely test your patience and make you question your geographical skills.  

It is only human to err but is it a risk worth taking with your hard-earned money. In the course of being bogged down by a plethora of offerings available in the market, we make ourselves vulnerable to online scams or sometimes overlook the fine print.

Travel agents are your knowledge experts, possessing the technical know-how and making sure you reach where you are supposed to. And hey, if you happen to miss a connection, they can get you on to the next available flight before you have a chance to worry or arrange for a hotel stay if there are flight delays.

3- Experience counts

Travel agents have a wealth of experience and use it for your benefit by offering you travel tips, money-saving hacks, providing suggestions on a restaurant for that special event you are planning, or tailoring a unique travel experience just for you.

4 – Value for money

It’s a myth that hiring the services of a travel agent will cost you a lot more than what you would have paid had you planned it all yourself. 

On the contrary, it really could be the exact opposite. Travel agents have access to better pricing as well as special benefits having negotiated the best deals for their clients, which might be a bit tough to do by yourself. Online travel websites provide you sweet discounts which create a delusion that you have saved money but add to that hidden costs in the form of “convenience fees” and WHAM… that travel deal isn’t so sweet anymore. 

Infact, think of them as your personal genie. Want to arrange a birthday cake for hubby’s birthday celebration, a romantic dinner for two by the beach, or hey, that room upgrade you would like to treat yourself to, you know who to call.

5 – They are always there for You

A travel agent is your go-to person should something derail on your trip. Lost baggage, missing paperwork, insurance etc., anything can happen and these are the guys who will help you get your trip back on track. 

Your travel agent will be your knight in shining armour (so to speak), who will know exactly who to call and rectify the messy situation you find yourself in, saving you the bother.

6 – They are real people

While technology has certainly enriched our likes for the better, nothing can beat the personal touch. How many times have you felt like banging your head while going through the daunting IVR menu waiting to touch base with a human on the other end? Being able to vent your frustrations on one person gives you some comfort knowing there is someone who is listening and accepting ownership of something that did not go right.

Building customer relationship is their prime focus, since a happy client will not only want to use them again but also refer them to family and friends. At the end of the day a good travel agent will go out of their way to make your vacation a memorable one and will take care of those tiny pesky details. 

Their job doesn’t end after selling you a trip. They happen to be there for you during and after the trip too. And that my friends makes it all the more worthwhile to have a travel agent in your corner.

She set out to embark on a journey into the unknown, and realized that some of life’s journeys are best explored alone.

Have you ever toyed with the idea of gallivanting across the world, magically transporting yourself (in your head of course) to backpack across the European continent? Travel through the idyllic countryside of the UK, or set off to explore exotic countries in the Far East, to experience their culture and taste their delectable cuisine? However the very thought of venturing out without the comfort of a companion gives you cold feet and sweaty palms? Well my friend, I think we have all been there, some of us, sadly, still are.

We want to see the world, explore new lands, experience life outside of our comfort zone. But then ever so often are either held back by our fears of venturing into the unknown or end up waiting helplessly for the availability of a companion who could provide the much-needed security we “think” we need. And that’s the reason why our plans never take flight. Oh the irony, coz neither do we.  

You may have read a lot of blogs where women have raved about their adventures and couldn’t help but whisper to yourself “Oh the brave hearted, if only I was one too”. You get inspired for a split second and then sadly those chicken legs start stepping back, convincing you that just because they could do it does not mean you can too. Safety issues, travel blunders, itinerary hiccups, boredom, unpleasant situations are all thoughts that continue to deter you from taking the plunge. But the fact that they claim that a solo trip has been the most enriching experience of their life can’t help but call out to your inner adventurer. 

What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you FLY?

We often underestimate our capabilities to deal with difficult situations and are unable to shake off the inane feeling of meeting with failure. In the bargain we let go of our only opportunity to rediscover and reconnect with ourselves. Being yourself, doing things your way, making decisions at the spur of the moment are all things that will invigorate your mind and soul and all you need to do, is take that first step.

So let’s talk about the Perks of Solo Travel:

1 – You are the Big Kahuna, the master of your Itinerary. Right from the country you visit, to the cuisine you eat. You decide which path to choose, the often tread one or the offbeat one. A relaxing day in or a jam packed itinerary. You get to plan your day, your way, something you would miss out on trips with family and friends. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for travelling with companions which can be a lot of fun, provided you share similar interests and enjoy like-minded activities. Unfortunately, more often than not you are obligated to work with “moods”. Thereby bowing down to the whims of others purely to avoid an argument. Fitting your personal interests in a schedule where other people have a say, well, is not always easy.

2 – You decide to take that walk to explore a new city without being dragged off to go souvenir shopping, or tick a clichéd must do activity off your friend’s bucket list.

3 – You choose to sit in that cute Café with a cup of coffee and read that book you have been meaning to but haven’t had the time.

4 – You make new friends. “Sometimes the greatest adventure is simply a conversation.” This holds true for random conversations that could start anywhere. I personally met my now best friend in a one-day workshop on time management where we were paired together for an activity and ended up bonding over our mutual love for dance and animals. I still don’t think we manage our time well enough though, the very purpose of the training we actually met for. LOL! Venturing out by yourself gives you the opportunity to learn about people, their culture & way of life, making this experience truly enriching.

5 – Your mistakes, well, are your mistakes. Advice (especially unwanted) is free and you will hear too many “I told you so’s” from well-meaning naysayers. The fact that you no longer care about what others think prepares you for a liberating and enlightening trip. Laugh over any blunders that happen along the way, make the best of it, move on and enjoy your time.

6 – You get time to reflect. The time and space that solo travel offers you is unparallel to any other. It allows your mind to wander and take time off from the daily stressors that affect your life. Your time away from a high-flying corporate job that may be paying for your trip but ironically is also the reason “WHY” you need that trip. A 2×2 cubicle could never give you that freedom unless of course you want to get fired. You get to think about where you’ve been, where you would like to be and what exactly you need to do to get there.

The takeaway here: 

Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show. I mean, that branded bag you got on your last trip is bound to reach its shelf life eventually. But your crazy adventure stories, now those will live on forever. All you need is a positive attitude, an open mind and a street-smart swag. So get moving already!

Fill your life with adventures, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show. I mean the branded bag you got on your last trip is bound to reach its shelf life eventually. But your crazy adventure stories, now those will live on forever. All you need is a positive attitude, an open mind and a street-smart swag. So get moving already!