How do you select a travel consultant?

How do you select a travel consultant?

Like all industries there are good, bad and downright amazing travel consultants out there, but how do you select the one that is right for you? It is very important to have a consultant that understands your personal style and particular travel needs.

Begin your search close to home, ask friends and family if they have trusted travel consultant, much in the same way as you would ask about a tradie, accountant, or lawyer. Sometimes friends or family won’t have the same style of travel or priorities as you do, so this won’t be the best option. Take a look at some of the agencies near you, in these current times supporting small businesses in your local community is vitally important.

The next thing to consider, is where you want to go and what you would like to do. Like most professionals, travel agents will often specialise in a particular travel niche such as family, cruising, luxury or adventure. If the consultant you are speaking to doesn’t deal in the type of holiday you are seeking, they should be able to recommend someone who is.

So, you have found a consultant in your local area that can arrange your perfect holiday! The next step is to look at their industry qualifications and trade accreditations. In Australia it is vitally important that your consultant/agency is a member of ATAS (Australian Travel Accreditation Scheme). This means that the agency is accredited to AFTA (Australian Federation of Travel Agents), has been found to be financially secure and has a complaints resolution procedure.

One of the most important things is to make sure that your consultant understands you and how you travel. Do you travel with children? Are you into small ships? Maybe food and wine are your thing. Do you like to take a leisurely break or prefer a jammed packed itinerary with something to do every minute of the day? These are all important facts your consultant needs to know.

Lastly, and I consider this the most important: How engaged is your consultant? Do they just sit there and take the order, or are they asking questions, offering advice, making suggestions and being involved in the process? If they are not, then they may not be the consultant for you.

The author, Craig Fyfe owns and operates “Your Travel Expert”, a boutique agency based in Brisbane, Australia. Craig is a specialist in bespoke itineraries for clients who appreciate quality service and amazing experiences.

Craig can be contacted either by calling directly 0478 628 885 or email craig@yourtravelexpert.com.au.