Are you in Aba, Abia State and you are looking for a reliable travel agency near you? My name is Nneoma Sandra Ogbureke and I’m here to guide you.
Travelling is a costly affair that requires so much planning and spending. If you are already spending money on flight tickets and hotel accommodations, the last thing you need is to have an unreliable agent plan your trip. That’s a big regret waiting to happen.
This group of agents can leave you stranded in an unfamiliar land when the travel logistics they planned go wrong. Some of them treat your enquiries and emergency calls with disdain and won’t lift a finger to help in emergencies.
Others are simply clueless and inexperienced, making you spend unnecessarily and exposing you to bad travel experiences. Thankfully, there are a couple of genuine and reliable travel agents out who can help you plan and execute your travel itinerary smoothly. Every Moment Travels and Tours can help you. We are the most reliable travel agency near you in Aba, Abia State.
If you are among the 238.8 million global travellers planning a trip this year, we have outlined key qualities you must look out for. These qualities will help you find a reliable travel agency near you in Aba. But first, let’s talk about why working with a travel agent is important.
Why Travel Agents are a Necessity
With the recent developments in technology, it’s tempting to think that you can skip the services of a travel agent. After all, you can get on the internet and book your flights and hotels yourself.
Nice try. But there are many other things to consider. Things like booking flights, understanding visa application procedures, and securing hotel accommodations require a lot of research and sometimes you simply do not have the energy for that much research.
There’s also the time investment you need to give to this research but what if a professional who has handled travel logistics for a lot of people lends a helping hand, wouldn’t that ease up some valuable time on your side?
Since the major challenge is finding a reliable travel agent, close scrutiny will help you spot the real ones you can work with, while also giving you a clue on those to avoid.
How to Spot a Reliable Travel Agent
Here are unnegotiable qualities you should look out for in your prospective travel partner.
1. Appealing customer service
Don’t let anybody deceive you, the way a travel agency speaks to you the first time is most probably the way they are always.
It’s easy to know the quality of services an agent will offer through its customer service support. While speaking to an agent look out for their attitude and patience in handling and answering customer enquiries.
If they sound irritated and disturbed while you ask for more clarity, they will likely disappoint you in the long run.
A reliable agent will make you comfortable and answer as many questions as you ask with gusto and calmness.
2. Proven expertise and experience
If you think the travel agency industry is saturated, you may be right. There is no shortage of travel agents anywhere in the world, even in your current location. However, expertise is often the distinguishing factor.
An expert agent will have vast knowledge of the hotels, tourist attractions, and flights available in your travel destination. They know how to get you there and how to curate the best travel experience for you.
If you have to be the one doing much of the talking in your enquiry stage, they are not experienced. One of the ways an agent will show that they are reliable is that they know your travel destination more than you do.
66% of travellers believe that travel operators help people can avoid costly inconveniences and mistakes such as choosing the right airport. As you already know, only experienced agents can achieve this feat.
3. Services that cater to clients’ unique need
Travel reasons vary from person to person. With the rise in relocation awareness, a lot of people are making travel plans currently.
But that may not even be your case, you may be traveling for a conference, a seminar, a business meeting, a vacation or to pursue further studies in a foreign country. Whatever your reason, your agent should be able to make suggestions based on your unique travel purpose.
A reliable agent will take the time to understand your purpose and make recommendations based on that. They will also help you understand all the documents and documentation processes you need to have for the trip.
When they hand you your itinerary, look through it and check if the accommodation, airlines and other logistics they suggested are in line with your purpose of travelling.
4. Ability to secure good deals
Travel agents often have a vast network of partners who may not be accessible to you on a personal level. They often have partnerships with hotels, airlines, travel operators, and local guides.
What’s great about this is that they can get you good deals with these partnerships. In fact, according to a recent report, agencies can save customers on average $452 per trip as they have access to promotions and deals from suppliers that travellers do not.
They might be able to secure coupons for free breakfast and a discount on plane tickets which you wouldn’t ordinarily find online if you made the arrangements yourself.
In essence, a reliable agent should know where and how to get you the best deals, not only because they have insider information, but because they understand that part of their service is to provide you a fulfilling travel experience.
5. Reliable emergency support
Have you ever called someone during an emergency only to have the phone ring out several times with no answer? That’s a terrible experience that could ruin your travel.
When travelling to a new place, things may not always go as you expected – your flight can get cancelled, and your hotel may be overbooked. You might even experience hiccups during check-in at the airport.
Who do you turn to in times like this? Your travel agent, but that is only if they are reliable. A professional and reliable travel agency near you in Aba should understand all the unforeseen circumstances that might occur. Beyond that, they should on standby to address and rectify such situations.
So, to endeavour ask if they have a 24/7 helpline that can help you rebook flights or find alternative accommodations in case of disruptions. Their answer will tell you whether you should trust them or not.
6. Clear and transparent communication
One of the major ways to spot a great travel agency is through their transparency. When interviewing a travel agent, watch out for how they communicate.
If they are genuine and legitimate they will lay all their cards on the table. They will inform you about the latest updates and new immigration laws. They won’t hold back other important details about the destination you are planning to travel to.
Most importantly, they will give you a clear rundown of expenses you will incur on different logistics aspects – flights, lodgings, activities, tourist attractions, chauffeur, etc.
They will also explain their service charge upfront. Since it’s not uncommon to meet hidden fees and surcharges along the line, find out if the fees they charge are fixed. Genuine travel agents will explain their fee structure clearly.
If they sound vague concerning their fees or the expenses involved in your travel plans, that’s your clue to take a walk.
7. Relevant certifications and associations
No man should be an island, especially not travel professionals. With the volume of legal and immigration updates that happen in destination countries, it would be unwise to trust an uncertified agent.
Though getting certified is not compulsory, but when a travel agent has garnered relevant certifications and belongs to relevant associations, their chances of getting juicy travel information is much higher.
Plus, a travel agent that went to the length of getting certified shows that they take their business seriously. Such an agent can be trusted to plan client’s trips professionally.
Look out for certifications and associations from The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and The International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) if you are in the United States.
Apart from the U.S., also ask your travel agent if they belong to the travel agency associations in their locality. These associations are important as they ensure that travel agents meet specific standards for their clients.
Conclusion
In the midst of scams and subpar travel services in the industry, it’s possible to get a reliable travel agent. A reliable travel agency near you in Aba is one that has the required expertise, and gets you good deals. Such an agency is always there for you whenever the need arises.
Whether you are going on a solo-trip or planning a vacation with your family, you need a professional travel agent. A travel agent can help you book your hotels and flights and help you with immigration information. Generally, they can help you keep your mind at rest throughout the planning and travel period.
Remember that your travel agent is like a travel organizer, so don’t just hire the first person that comes your way. Therefore, take your time to study different agencies and go with the one that best meets your requirements.
If you need a reliable travel agent in and within Aba, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can schedule a consultation meeting with us to discuss your travel plans today.
