How people are travelling is changing. Previously if you wanted to see sights in a foreign country you either had to go it alone or for those not comfortable navigating on their own, join a large bus tour. Those aren’t the only options anymore. Now there are so many companies that offer personalized, private tours. These are some of the benefits:
 
EXPERIENCE: Travelers are now looking for a more authentic experience that can be achieved with a private tour. If you are in a small group of your own or even travelling solo, having a personal, local guide makes all the difference. Guides will share their culture, customs and background with anyone who is interested. This makes for a far more fulfilling tour. Of course you see all the sights and main highlights but you see them from a local’s perspective with all the interesting folklore and insider facts included.
 
FLEXIBILITY: Being in a small group or on your own gives you far more flexibility. Is the weather not cooperating at the beginning of your tour – then you can ask to leave something on the itinerary until later in the day when the weather is improved. See something along the trail that interests you – you have the option to make changes to your plan based on your own interests.
 
CUSTOMIZATION: Many tour operators will have suggested itineraries however if your tour is private it can often be customized to include other areas of interest. Since you are not dealing with a large bus load of people, it is much easier to visit additional locations where you decide how much time at each spot.
 
If you are looking to understand a destination at a deeper level than think about booking private tours.  It really can change your entire vacation experience. I specialize in creating customized experiences so contact me to ask about what options may be available for your next trip.

With the internet providing a vast amount of knowledge about destinations and many tour operators selling direct to consumers, some people are feeling confident that they can book their own vacations.  Why should you use an agent?  There are many reasons.
 
TIME -  While the internet is a never-ending source of information, it doesn’t know you and what is on your wish list.  Sifting through all the vendors out there and understanding what services they offer and to what demographic, can be very overwhelming and honestly takes hours of time. An agent will know after having a discussion with a client which vendors will be best suited to deliver their ideal trip. 
 
ONE STOP SHOPPING – depending on the complexity of a trip, you may have to use multiple vendors for flight, hotels, transportation, excursions, insurance, etc.  An agent can create a full package for you and work within your outlined budget. He will also provide costs in your currency (or identify upfront if they aren’t) so there will never be surprises with exchange rates. She will think of all the necessities and ensure you never have a piece of the trip unplanned.
 
PEACE OF MIND – if something goes wrong you have an agent to call. Booking through a website and then having to deal with an issue can be a nightmare. If your flight is cancelled and you need help, calling these online companies can be difficult and in some situations they are completely unreachable. An agent will work to resolve issues so you can continue on your trip.
 
Next time you are planning a vacation, discuss it with an agent. In most cases, it won’t cost you anything more than what you are paying online so why not work with someone who knows the industry, vendors and promotions available. Your time is precious and your money is valuable – ensure you put both in good hands.
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