Why You Need A Trip Designer

 

Many years ago you couldn’t book a vacation without a travel agent. You needed someone to physically write your tickets. Then the internet became ubiquitous and apps like TripAdvisor made booking vacation not only possible but enjoyable.

Then… the internet became overloaded with resources and opinions.

Now it can be overwhelming to wade through all of the options, reviews, and opinions.

TripAdvisor has realized that their visitors are inundated with information and are no longer enjoying planning their vacations. They have also realized the value of Travel Advisors (especially in light of the changing travel climate). And more importantly, finding the RIGHT Travel Advisor.

That is why I am SO EXCITED to announce my partnership with TripAdvisor.

Reco is a service aimed to connect travelers directly to “travel designers” to plan and book their trip.

The service which is currently a beta test in the U.S. will be available through desktop as well as a smartphone app, currently available for Apple devices.

To use the service, travelers will need to share their trip requirements like destination, budget, adventure, etc. Upon analyzing this information, Reco will connect them to a variety of expert travel designers to choose from.

The mission of Reco is to match the traveler with the right advisor. You may have heard me talk about that on the Vacations Mavens podcast or in this blog post. 

There is a magic that happens when you find the right advisor. I love it when I feel that click with my travelers. Working with the right people makes you excited for the next call, or the next step in the process. My goal is to get to know someone on a level that lets me anticipate their needs and make a spot on personalized suggestions or recommendations before they even ask. 

Why do you need a travel advisor if you can just book it online yourself? 

Planning Guidance

Have you ever decided you wanted to visit somewhere, start researching and get completely overwhelmed with your options? You start looking for a vacation package and three hours later you are looking at brunch menus? A travel advisor will walk through the process step by step so you always know how to get started. 

Personalized Recommendations

TripAdvisor has millions of reviews. They are extremely helpful if you know how to use them and filter out people who love to complain for the sake of complaining. With an Advisor, you have recommendations and tips delivered to your inbox to save you hours of reading conflicting opinions on the web or in Facebook Moms Groups.

The Best Value 

You work hard for your vacation dollars. You want a comfortable experience but you want to make sure you are not paying more than you should or wasting your money on something you are not going to like. Agents make sure you are getting the best value for your hard-earned vacation dollars. Personalized industry and first-hand knowledge help to ensure you don’t waste a penny on a vacation you don’t absolutely love.

Custom Touring Plans and Itineraries 

You could easily go online and find a package that has accommodations, transportation, activities, and dining included. But it may not hit everything on your list, or drag you to destinations you have no interest in. Every traveler is unique and every vacation should be as well. An advisor will create custom touring plans and itineraries to optimize your time so you can do everything on your wishlist. 

Travel Tips and Tricks

Most advisors will send you resources and reminders along the way so you don’t miss anything. From final payment reminders to visa requirements and packing lists so you don’t forget to pack socks… again your agent is there to support you. 

Customer Service 

Speaking of support… The past few months have proven the value of travel advisors. Border closings and lockdowns had many travelers scrambling to change their travel plans. They spent hours and hours on hold trying to get refunds or credits only to be told to call back later. Travelers who booked with an advisor received proactive phone calls from their advisor who then spent the time on hold and only involving the traveler when they found a solution. For issues smaller than global pandemics let your advisor know when a problem arises so you don’t have to worry about everyone for a change and you can get back to enjoying your vacation sooner.

Many fear that using a travel advisor means that they will lose control over their vacation. That couldn’t be further from the truth, your advisor is involved in the planning as little or as much as you decide. Some suppliers do require the agent to process all changes or payments but you simply dictate what you would like done. Ultimately, it is your vacation and your advisor will work with you to make sure you have the planning and vacation experience you want. 

Besides, the benefits far outweigh that tiny little drawback.

Imagine: 

• Piece of Mind knowing you are making the most of your vacation time and dollars

• Not needing to add vacation planning to your CVS receipt long to-do list

• Quality time with your family, laughing, learning, and making memories

• Time to enjoy a quiet moment and a glass of wine BY YOURSELF 

• A vacation you can enjoy instead of worrying about everyone else for a change 

Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?

Are you ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, but are starting to feel overwhelmed with the amount of choices you have, as well as the time it takes to research these choices? Travel is one of the best ways to get away from daily routines and reconnect as a family, but with so much to see and experience, it can be difficult to narrow down the best options for your family. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize, and book your trip. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.

  

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