When it comes to travel in 2022, it's perfectly normal (and natural) to have some confusion on where to start. We're traveling in a post-pandemic world, for starters, which brings along its own unique set of considerations. Additionally, many people are just now starting to travel again after taking a forced break for nearly two years. To say it's 'overwhelming' would be an understatement.
This has led many travelers back to the same discussion: Is it worth it to book through a travel agent and have the work taken care of, or is it still possible to plan an entire, elaborate trip without the help of one?
The answer isn't as simple as a yes or no, but planning a great vacay without an agent might be easier (and cheaper) than one might think.
Planning A Vacay Without A Travel Agent: Pros Vs. Cons
There are two sides to every vacation, right? When it comes to planning, there are some things to consider for those who are foregoing the assistance of an expert. When pros and cons are listed, it becomes clear that planning a vacation for oneself might just be the better option.
Pro: Affordability And Budget-Friendly Costs
Once another person is hired to help a traveler research, book, and plan, that already takes a chunk of money out of any travel budget. For example, according to GO Banking Rates, travel agents don't usually receive a commission when it comes to booking flights. Therefore, when using a travel agent, there might be an extra 'booking fee' added to the final tally. There's also the consideration of kickbacks, incentives, and commissions for travel agents who use specific companies or book through specific agencies, so it's not necessarily the most budget-friendly option for anyone looking to have control over their accommodation, flight, and transportation options.
Con: Confusion And Extra Research When Booking
The biggest drawback to not hiring an agent when planning a vacation, however, is probably the fact that it falls on the traveler to do all of the work. In a pre-pandemic era, this wouldn't typically be something of concern. However, with new guidelines, restrictions, test requirements, and vaccine mandates, the world of travel has become a lot more complicated. While it's not something that should deter a traveler, it does mean staying up to date until the very last minute when it comes to requirements, and ensuring that one has all the necessary paperwork, negative tests, etc., to be able to cross international borders.
- Tip: Another thing to consider is a cancellation in the event of a border closing - if tickets or bookings are non-refundable, it leaves travelers in a tough place.
So, How Can You Start Planning A Vacation Without A Travel Agent?
Consider it like this: Travel agents are great at what they do because they're familiar with a wide variety of destinations, airlines, hotels, and services. This is something that travelers, too, will need to be good at in order to plan a vacation that's worthy of a travel agent status. Here are some tips to start:
- Utilize maps. And by this, we mean Google Maps or Google Earth. These are both great resources for travelers to get a genuine feel for a place without ever leaving the comfort of their own homes - as well as the layouts of certain cities or towns. Additionally, this gives travelers the ability to see where the nearest restaurants, hotels, car rentals, and convenience stores are. YouTube videos on a destination, taken by travel bloggers, are also a great source of virtual information.
- Plan a time frame. Research hotel prices, restaurant prices, and the general costs of visiting an area based on a certain time of the year. Obviously, it's always best to go during the off-season for those looking to save money. However, these prices should also be compared to the cost of flights during that time to make sure that the off-season vacation is worth it.
- Be flexible. Sign up for alerts on airline sites or travel sites such as Expedia and Travelocity. Monitor flights for a week or more to ensure that the prices are not fluctuating drastically (a sign that cheaper flights, and fewer fees, will happen at random). And, when in doubt, secure a flight early if it's within the budget.
- Flexibility applies after arriving, as well. Nothing is ever guaranteed. An attraction might close the day before one has tickets. A restaurant might not be open during the only free spot a traveler has for a reservation. Tours might be on-hold once one arrives. Being flexible doesn't always mean being open to different travel dates and nothing else - it also means having backup activities, plans, and resources in the event that the vacation does not go according to what has originally been laid out.