on: Best Business Bureau
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Every year, consumers spend billions of dollars on travel. With the convenience of the internet, it is sometimes difficult to find a trustworthy third party travel service.
Sometimes well-known names are spoofed or scammers trick users into thinking they are dealing directly with a hotel or airline.
Recognition of a good travel agent:
- Take the time to learn about your travel needs, preferences, tastes, budget, and personal limitations such as health conditions or phobias.
- Makes comparative purchases to find the transportation, lodging, attractions and services that bring you the most satisfaction at the best price.
- Stay up to date with new developments in the travel industry that you may find useful, such as price cuts and special offers on flights and hotels.
- Knowledgeable about attractions and local customs at popular destinations and can provide tips to help you choose between options and make your trip a smooth one.
- Be aware of any travel restrictions or warnings that may come up and affect your trip.
How to find a good travel agent:
- If possible, contact your local travel agency. Heed the advice of friends and business associates who use an agent they trust, and always check business profiles on BBB.org.
- Visit or call several agencies to find the one that best suits your needs.
- Consider everything from the look of the office to the agent’s willingness to listen and answer questions.
- Ask about the specific agent’s professional experience. For example, what kind of training or education they received.
- Contact the American Society of Travel Agents to check if the travel agent you plan to use belongs to this organization.
Find a travel agency near you. Go to BBB.org/travel for more tips. To report a scam, go to BBB.org/ScamTracker.
