Much like blogs are making inroads on news reporting, so too are Internet sites are having an effect on the role that travel agents play. Will travel agents become obsolete? For much of routine travel, the answer is yes. For more specialized travel, they will always have a role to play. The thing that travel agents offer that websites do not is experience in dealing with a wide range of travel services, from cruises to airlines, from visas to dangerous areas for tourists to go. It is the wisdom behind the agent that makes an individual irreplaceable.
When to use a travel agent (vs. booking your own trip online):
* Travel agents can have specialized knowledge, for example, there are those who specialize only in cruises. With all the factors complicating a cruise choice (ship size, company, cabin location, reputation, itinerary, best ports-of-call), working with an agent can help a traveler sift through a wide range of information to make the best informed choice, stick to a particular price point, and get them some extra perks as well.
* Travel agents provide great service in planning for high end trips, like safaris, round-the-world itineraries, and travel to exotic locales or locations with a history of problems for tourists (due to civil war, for example).
* Travel agents are useful for large group planning and booking, ensuring that discounts not offered online can be secured for your group. Handling multi-stop travel plans for a large group of people is best coordinated through a central planner who can seek the advantages of discount rates.
* Some consolidated tickets can only be secured through a travel agent. Ever see those tiny ads at the back of newspapers and local magazines, and wonder if they’re real? They are, but typically these are for travel agents dealing in consolidator ticketing. Working with you, they can secure ultra-low pricing for restricted conditions.
For most people, and most simple vacation planning, travel agents are a thing of the past. There are many websites that help smooth the process. The travel industry has a great stake in trying to eliminate the kickbacks to these agents, too. Yet for certain travel situations, a helpful travel agent can save you time and money.