How to Work with a Travel Advisor – A First Timer’s Guide

You’ve found the perfect travel advisor, and now’s the time to put them to work on your dream trip! If you’re new to working with a travel agent, here are a few things that you can do to help make the process run smoothly.

Having been described as the travel industry’s ‘matchmakers’, a great client-travel advisor relationship is worth its weight in gold. From personalized attention everywhere you go. Perks and upgrades that only come with being the client of an esteemed advisor. The benefits of using a travel advisor are significant, but how do you go about building that valued relationship? Need help planning the perfect trip for you and your family? Then you may consider getting help from professional travel agencies like Gaba Travel.

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Be Honest About Budget

Of course, you want your dream trip, with all of the bells and whistles. However, it does both you and your travel advisor an enormous disservice to not be upfront about your actual budget.

Going one step further, once you establish your budget, identify what’s high on your priority list. If you are focused on your accommodations, your travel advisor may recommend Marriott Timeshare Rentals. You would prefer to have mind-blowing travel experiences in every destination you’re visiting. You may also discuss with your travel advisor your transportation preferences such as an airplane charter or car rental. This helps your travel advisor not only build your dream trip but decide how and where to allocate your budget.

Trust Their Expertise

A travel advisor’s job is just that – travel. While the photos on a hotel website may have you ready to book, your advisor may know that it’s on a congested motorway or next to noisy construction. Trust them.

Great travel advisors go out of their way to familiarize themselves with destinations. Know the properties, and various tourism suppliers the world over. It’s our job to get to know you and match you with suitable experiences that just fit.

Collaborate

As a travel advisor, I am here to save you time. If you have a dream destination, experience, or property in mind – tell me! A great trip is a collaboration between enthusiastic clients and a knowledgeable travel advisor.

In the vein of saving time and collaborating, don’t be afraid to ask that I look into a particular property. Research specific activities for your family, or even work on restaurant reservations. At the end of the day, I am working for you!

Accept Advocacy

For those of us with can-do self-sufficient attitudes, this can often be a hard pill to swallow. As your travel advisor, I am your advocate, especially when you’re traveling on the journey that I built for you.

If something goes wrong, accept help and grant me the opportunity to fix it. This may mean biting your tongue at the hotel manager if something goes wrong, and waiting on your trusted travel advisor to work some magic. It will be worth it in the end. Try to remember, travel advisors have valued relationships with hotels and tourism suppliers. You can request to stay at your preferred Flagstaff hotels.

Build Your Relationship

Let your travel advisor get to know you. The more that you and your advisor connect on a personal level the better your trip can be tailored precisely to you.

Unique, personalized trips are where travel advisors shine. By opening yourself up and sharing parts of you (and your family) with your travel advisor, you’re only improving the chances for a beautiful, custom-made journey. Remember, the best relationships only get better with age. A long-term travel advisor is someone you will want in your corner for years to come.

Are you ready to start working with a travel advisor to plan your dream trip?

Contact me today to get started

The Best Travel Apps

Let’s face it, technology has changed the way we live, work, and travel. While there’s an app for just about anything, for every useful app there are a dozen or more not-so-useful ones, simply taking up space on your phone for no good reason. Before you embark on your next trip, consider downloading these (actually useful!) best travel apps to help make your planning and the journey itself run smoothly.

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Packpoint

Travelers who hate packing, rejoice! Packpoint takes the guesswork out of packing and shows you what to bring based on the length of your journey, the weather in your destination, and the activities you have planned.

Lounge Buddy

Regardless of which airline or class you’re flying, Lounge Buddy offers access to premium airport lounges around the world. When you enter your trip details, the app advises which lounges you have access to based on the airports you pass through, and how to purchase access if you don’t have it already.

Timeshifter

Traveling through different time zones? Timeshifter will help you avoid jet lag long before you take off, as well as offer in-flight and post-flight suggestions. The app itself relies on neuroscience and circadian rhythm research and creates a personalized plan for you based on your age, gender, sleep patterns, and specifics surrounding your travel plans.

Calm

One of the most popular meditation and sleep apps on the market. Calm offers an array of themed meditations, sleep stories, and music. Meditation topics run the gamut and include self-awareness, calming anxiety, breathing, lowering stress levels, and happiness.

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XE Currency Converter

The XE Currency Converter app will keep you from getting swindled on those exchange rates the next time you’re abroad! Providing live up-to-the-minute rates that you can store and view off-line. You’ll be glad you had this techy travel companion to keep track of your funds.

Google Translate

Easy to use and navigate, Google Translate allows users to translate over 100 languages while typing. You can access 59 languages off-line, and translate bilingual conversations into over 70 languages. It’s fast, it’s free, and it’s convenient for travelers who want to get around and communicate with those around them.

TripWhistle

Safety is paramount when traveling, and TripWhistle is built around just that. Users can map their location to send to loved ones, along with GPS coordinates. TripWhistle also offers emergency numbers for firefighters, police, and medical personnel in over 200 countries. Don’t forget, 911 is just for North America.

Want to chat about all things travel, tech, and more of the best travel apps?

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Explore The Beaches Of Antigua

There are 365 beaches in Antigua, you can choose one for each day of the year. Antigua’s coastline is 95 miles of superb Caribbean beaches. The islands are known best for their friendly and welcoming people. Pink and white-sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and the most enjoyable climate in the world are waiting for you.

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The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are the perfect place for your romantic beach escape. A place for dream weddings and honeymoons. A selection of hotels provides the perfect romantic setting for couples looking to celebrate. One of the top 25 resorts in the Caribbean as voted by Conde Nast Traveler, is Galley Bay Resort. Three romantic open-air restaurants and lounges will welcome you. Live entertainment, cocktail parties, and barbecues will fill your evenings. There are complimentary watersports and optional excursions. Relax by the dramatic cascading waterfall and swimming pool. There are jogging trails, bicycles, and tennis courts for the more energetic guests. Relax at the spa in serene gardens overlooking the calming waters of a natural lagoon.

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You will find a new era of luxury at Hammock Cove Antigua. Hammock Cove Antigua features 42 villas with a focus on gastronomy and personalized service. Entering your villa, you will be greeted by vast views of the ocean. Each villa features a plunge pool, modern amenities, and a contemporary design. The Executive Chef brings a Michelin-starred experience to both classic and creative dishes at the resort’s two restaurants.

To start planning your visit to explore the beaches of Antigua, reach out to me to find your place in the sun