When a holiday can be booked at the click of a button, many consumers might not realise what they are missing out on when they don’t use a travel agent.
There are more travel products on the market than ever before – new resorts, new airline fare categories, once-in-a-lifetime experiences – and the world is constantly changing. Is it safe to visit the Middle East or has the Caribbean recovered from Hurricane Maria? Like any professional advisor, a travel agent really does know more than you do.
Having a professional help with holiday planning and logistics can have a big impact on how much you spend on, and how much you enjoy, your trip. Also, when it comes to luxury travel, the relationships and industry experience possessed by specialist advisors can open up doors to exclusive destinations, offers and tailor-made packages that can’t be found elsewhere.
If you want VIP tickets to a sold-out sport or music event, or a sought-after luxury New York hotel room on New Year’s Eve, a good agent might just know the right people to make it happen.
‘There are many good agents, locally and nationwide, that offer luxury travel, but don’t necessarily specialise in it,’ explained ASMALLWORLD Travel’s Gary Hudson, a luxury travel expert of 30 years’ experience.
‘For true luxury sales experience, clients should not only be made to feel welcome and comfortable dealing with their agent choice, but that agent should hold a plethora of luxury travel knowledge. This could be either all-round luxury knowledge or a specialism such as cruise, winter sports, beach retreats or experiential travel – the in-vogue travel amongst the wealthy, currently – where clients immerse themselves in local culture, but retreat to their luxury accommodation.’
ASMALLWORLD Travel is the only travel business in the Channel Islands that is a member of the prestigious Virtuoso worldwide network of luxury travel agents. Being part of this group means the agency can offer clients experiences and value-added benefits that they would be unable to enjoy if they went it alone.
‘When our clients travel with, or stay in, Virtuoso recognised airlines, cruise operators and resorts, they often receive added Virtuoso incentive. This can include room or ship stateroom upgrades, complimentary in-room gifts, on board credit or hotel resort credit, late check out / early check in at no charge and more,’ said Gary.
‘As a trend-setting business, we also create our own specialist tours such as the Virgin Voyages 2020 Mark Ronson On Deck summer package or, for example, in December 2019, we are offering the opportunity for clients to journey on the Regent Explorer, as seen on TV. It’s the most luxurious cruise ship afloat and at up to 25% discount, packaged from Jersey to cruise around the Caribbean and Mexico, we can offer extreme luxury that is also value for money.’
If you’re in need of inspiration, short of time, and looking for that next big adventure, here are just a few things that your travel agent can do for you:
Travel advisors know what’s new and exciting
If you’d like to see The Passion Play at Oberammergau, the Tokyo Summer Olympics, or watch Mark Ronson perform on board Virgin Voyages in summer next year, travel professionals have access to the best tour packages and exclusive events, and they understand how to navigate the logistics.
They offer convenience
Planning a trip is hard work and shopping around for the right deal, most convenient flight times, best hotel, and organising transfers, is time consuming and stressful. Time is too valuable – so why not let someone more knowledgeable do it for you, for little or no extra cost?
Added value
Travel agents have access to resources that the average consumer does not. They can get you a better seat on an airplane, added amenities at hotels, room upgrades, event tickets, and plan activities for you. They can enhance your travel experience in countless different ways.
Personalised travel
A good agent will listen to what you want and will be able to match you with a better product than can be found elsewhere because they know the market better than you. They can often customise a trip to suit your needs.
Travel agents have your back
From bad weather to acts of God, if something goes wrong on your trip, a good agent will advocate on your behalf.
- ASMALLWORLDTRAVEL is offering an exclusive package departing from Jersey on 4 July 2020, including BA flights and luxury South Beach Miami accommodation before and after the cruise, with tours. Scarlet Lady will sail from Miami on 5 July to the Yucatán Peninsula, culminating in a private beach club experience in the Bahamas, with performances from Mark Ronson.
- For more information, telephone 01534 710956 or email [email protected].