Traveling to Europe and getting around to see and feel its beautiful cities and fascinating attractions is on the list of virtually every traveler or tourist. With so many historical and dazzling places to visit, planning a trip to Europe can be very daunting and exhausting.
You are like showing to find yourself head-deep in series of questions like; how long can I stay in Europe, how much is the trip going to cost, where do I visit, how do I move around and what are the accommodation options available and so on.
If these questions have crossed your mind, the chances are that you are contemplating whether to hire a travel agency or not?
To help save you the headache of overthinking the matter, we have put together a list of the pros and cons of traveling Europe through a travel agency.
Hopefully, our list will help you decide on which option offers more convenience.
Pros
1. Travel Assistance: Advice and planning
Using the services of a travel agency helps you make an informed decision before you set out on your trip. It's their job to gather information and help you plan your travels around the most convenient time.
Sometimes, planning your trip by yourself may occupy you so much that you forget to enquire about prevailing conditions in your host country.
It is not unusual to hear travelers complain about running into risk or crisis of some sort and would have to cut their trip short. A travel agency can help you avoid such events as they would have done their assignments and determine if it's safe for you to travel at that time.
2. Price
Often, business travelers or tourists tend to worry much about the cost of hiring a travel agency to plan and schedule their travels.
Contrary to general opinion, engaging the services of a travel agency doesn't cost a fortune, most of their payments come from referral fees or commissions.
Your travel agency can even get you a great deal on your travel tickets and cut significant costs on your credit card or budget.
All you need to do is to keep an open mind during negotiations and be realistic in your demands - you can always reach a compromise, and you will be surprised at how flexible they can be.
3. They Have Access to Amazing Deals
Regardless of whether you are traveling to Europe for the first time or not, a travel agency is in a better position to help you secure fantastic deals on accommodation and transportation ahead of your arrival.
They are able to do so because they have extensive contacts in your choice location and they are privy to certain information and privileges from hotels and resorts that could win you reasonable discounts and make your trip a lot more fun.
4. They Let You Have A Stress-Free Vacation
Making arrangements for local transportation in a foreign country can be very frustrating and can cause you to miss out on a lot of events and activities that would've made your stay memorable.
For instance, if you are planning a trip to Portugal, Triptile can help book your reservations and plan your Portugal trip without disappointments. You should check them out!
Getting a travel agency to plan your transportation and make a list of places you should visit will help you enjoy your stay to the fullest - and they would dazzle you even more so you can use their services for your next trip.
Perks
In addition to saving your time and money and also making you happy, a travel agency will save you from unpleasant surprises like missed connections, finding your lost documents or personal effects, and dealing with last-minute changes in your itinerary.
Also, if you are planning a special occasion like a surprise proposal or anniversary, a travel agency can help your stay that up and keep things hush-hush. You can also get a fee waiver, room upgrade, and VIP reservations at popular and exotic resorts or restaurants.
Cons
Having seen the Pros of using a travel agency, let's look at some possible disadvantages of engaging one for your travel to Europe.
1. Using A Travel Agency Doesn't Guarantee Cheap Airfare
Hiring a travel agency doesn't guarantee that you will get discounts on your travel fee. You can always explore other options, like going online for your bookings. Who knows, you may end up getting low-cost airfare and superb offers.
2. Your Travel Agent Isn't You!
The fact that travel agencies have your details and can get you to wherever you want to go in Europe doesn't mean they understand your taste.
Handling your travels by yourself allows you to explore your options and let you decide on what picks your imagination, from your accommodations to tours and reservations.
3. You Are Independent
One thing about booking your travel is that you get to do your thing at your own time. You don't need anybody to give you directions on where to go and where not to go. Most importantly, you don't have to wait on someone to return your call or mails before your start to make preparations - you are as free as a bird!
Lastly, if you are the type that likes to make plans on the go, then a travel agency isn't right for you!
Sometimes, you may want to try a restaurant you stumbled upon, and you can't afford to start calling your agent to make reservations when you can walk in and sort things out.
If you decide to plan your trip to Europe by yourself, you should have important information at your fingertip. Information like train schedules will make your tours easier. You should always have access to transport schedule like this Prague-Vienna train timetable for your travel across Europe.
There you have it; hopefully, you can now weigh your options and decide whether you need a travel agency or not. If you decide to use one, ensure you opt for a travel agency with a stellar reputation. We wish you safe travels as you storm Europe!
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