Use a Travel Agency to Book Your Spring Break Vacation

Instead of deal directly with the airlines, has it ever occurred to you to use a good travel agency to book your spring break vacation? Airlines will quote you fares and book your flights, but that’s as far as they go. A travel agency can offer discounted fares, advice on spring break destinations, and may have a great deal or two for you and your friends. Spring break is barely two months away, so now is the ideal time to start looking for a travel agency.

If airlines are offering huge discounts to lure money-weary individuals into traveling, imagine the larger discounts that a travel agency can offer. Since travel agents purchase blocks of seats, they can pass on the savings to their customers.

There are numerous travel agencies, but there is only a fraction of those agencies that cater to the special needs of the student travel industry. Although you can use any travel agency to book your spring break vacation, why not choose a travel agency that specializes in student tours and spring break vacations?

Looking for the Right Travel Agency: Tips

Before you book your next spring break vacation, the travel agency must satisfy certain requirements. You may want to look into the following criteria:

· Full Description of Services – Does the travel agency introduce itself adequately to potential customers? Do they have contact numbers, student packages, discount programs, and do they explain the procedures for their spring break packages as well as clearly state their refund policy?

· Variety – Does the travel agency have a wide range of destination choices and do they have hotel categories that meet all budgets? Some travel agencies like to specialize in a certain number of destinations – USA, Canada, or Mexico; some cover the world! When travel agencies can book spring break vacations almost anywhere in the world, that means that they’ve been in the student travel industry long enough and are confident that they can offer far away and exotic destinations without any problems because they belong to a large network of travel professionals;

· Discounts and Deals – Does the travel agency extend discounts for group travel or do they have frequent hot deals to offer? The capability to offer great deals can mean any number of things: they have good relationships with major airlines, hotels and tourist organizations, they receive discounted rates from suppliers and they in turn offer these to student travelers, or they are booking so many flights and vacation packages that they earn free points or free miles. You could be offered a deal to the Bahamas, your destination of choice, because the travel agency happened to receive a deal from a Bahamas tour operator at the time you booked!

· Photographs – Wouldn’t it be nice to see what you are getting into? If you are going to a spring break destination for the first time, you would want to know what kind of hotel you’re staying at, wouldn’t you? It isn’t enough for the travel agency to say, “You’re booked at a 4-star hotel”. You’ll want to know the name and location of that hotel so you can look it up on the Internet or ask people about it, plus you’ll want to see the rooms, dining facilities, and recreational facilities. Some travelers have been dismayed to find out that the hotel had only one treadmill, as opposed to what the travel agency described as a “full operating gym”. Or that the travel agency said 12 tennis courts, when in fact the hotel did not have any, referring travelers instead to a sports center a mile away!

· Interactive web site –Instead of spending precious minutes on the phone asking the travel agent about destinations, packages and vacation amenities, it would be simpler to do the search yourself on their web site by giving you the option to select a city and a package. When you’ve found what you’re looking for, that is when you call and ask for details that weren’t covered on their web site.

· Flexibility – some travel agents require you to pay for their packaged vacations to be able to receive discounts, but some travel agents are flexible in that they allow you to choose only air, or only hotel, or both.

A good travel agency is well organized. This important trait is evident in the way they present travel information. For example, there are websites that are designed to specifically cater to students. They list the cities they serve with a brief article about popular attractions and then you click on a link and the screen displays what their package covers plus costs for the city you selected.

So if you’re using a travel agency to book your spring break vacation, look for an agency that’s efficient, organized and capable of offing some fantastic deals.

Jeremy Foster is a blogger and freelance writer who focuses on the travel industry and vacation tips, often discussing a particular aspect of the travel industry such as working with travel agents.

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Planning a Vacation….look for the Right Travel Agency

Formerly a British colony, Belize, the small yet magnificent Central American country, is breathtakingly beautiful with numerous activities to offer to its visitors.

This small land consists of inhabitants coming from diverse backgrounds ranging from Creole, Mayan, Garifuna, Hispanic, Mestizo and Middle Eastern. There is the world-renowned barrier reef, dense rainforests, beaches, mountains, along with island adventures, Mayan ruins, jungles, exotic wildlife and lots more to explore in Belize.

With so much to explore and experience in Belize, you would not want to miss even a single delight. Therefore you need somebody who can guide you throughout this enchanting country.

A travel agency well versed with Belize can easily arrange the accommodation, tours etc. for you. Travel agents can guide you throughout your journey, suggest the most exotic places to see and look after your needs.

But finding a good, reputed travel agency is not that easy. You need to check certain things before you let any travel agency to take care of your travel plans.

The following tips will help you in choosing a travel agency which can make your vacation productive and satisfying:

Check out the certifications

The travel agency should have the licensed certificates of some approved travel authority. Check out whether the agency is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents. An ASTA certified travel agent is reliable, as the world's largest association of travel professionals. There are many stringent rules and requirements to become a member of the ASTA.

Contact Information

A reliable travel agent is the one who can be contacted physically and not just over e-mails. If the address of its office is not mentioned on the website, then it is a cause of worry.

No hidden charges

A reliable travel agency won’t charge you any hidden fees for their services. They would mention right in the beginning the entire expense of your tour and won’t ask extra money for the services they have not delivered.

Personal assistance

If you manage to find a travel agency which can assist you personally at your destination and throughout your journey, then you may have the agency you need. A good travel agency is one which not only provides impeccable services at best prices but also gives advice and adds value to your vacation.

Agents can put you in the right group

The kind of people who are traveling with you in a group make a lot of difference to your trip. For example, if an older couple is made to travel with a group of honeymooners, then quite naturally they would feel a little odd. Hence, tell the agents what your preferences are. They can help you join the people of the same age group and areas of interest.

Recommend according to your budget

Travel agencies typically enjoy a wide network of contacts with hotels, resorts, restaurants, companies offering snorkeling and diving gear and other equipment. They can recommend places and accommodation based upon your budget and requirements. Suppose you want do snorkeling or diving. A travel agent can guide you to the place, such as Ambergris Caye, Hopkins or any other place where you can indulge in your favorite activities set in your budget. Similarly, if offbeat tours such as Belize jungle vacations or adventure tours is what you like, it is always better to let the agency chalk out your itinerary according to your budget.

Plan early

The earlier you start planning, the better. If you wish to visit Belize and its popular islands (called cayes) during the month of Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Year, book as early as possible. The sooner you contact a reliable travel agency, the better accommodation you are likely to get. The peak season to visit Belize is between the months of December to April. Therefore, contact your travel agency and book in advance for your Belize jungle vacations or Belize adventure tours to avoid the rush.

Edward Wilson is a well-known travel journalist based in Belize. He has written extensively on Belize jungle vacations and Belize adventure tours which are a tourist’s delight.

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Exclusive Travel Agency Vacations

With the flurry of online travel booking and Do-It-Yourself travel sites, many people have lost sight of the fact that a trip can easily be booked through a travel agency - and that there are benefits which can only be found through one of these agencies. It is important to think about the various deals that you can find only through a travel agency before you begin to plan your trip. Before you start to try to do it yourself, and before you spend too much money with online travel sites or Do-It-Yourself travel sites, think about using a travel agent.

The Best Deals

Many people believe that the best deals can be found by doing the booking and the arranging of their trip on their own. However, they are forgetting that this technique can lead additional fees and taxes which travel agents will not add. They also forget that travel agents are real people, which means that you can talk to him or her about your exact needs for the trip, including any special needs you have, and they can make sure that you are taken care of. Even if a particular company advertises the best deals, when it comes right down to it, the best deals are only found through travel agencies.

Package Deals

Even though many travel companies claim that they can get you package deals - such as airfare, hotel, and car rental, in reality most of these companies are just finding deals on these three things and then sticking them together in a package that looks appealing but may not be a “deal” at all. On the other hand, travel agencies really do have contracts or agreements in place where they work with corporations that are mutually beneficial. They can actually get you a better deal on car rentals if you stay in a certain hotel, or get a better deal on airfare if you are renting a car from the right company. These are not just individual purchases stuck together, like on the travel sites. They are actual connections which are made with the travel agency through various companies for flights, car rentals, and hotels. Therefore, when you do book a package deal with a travel agency, you are getting a better deal than you would get doing it yourself.

Tour Deals

Another thing that Do-It-Yourself travel does not afford you is the benefit of getting a tour deal that a travel agency could give you. If you want to travel abroad, for example, where your vacation may cross borders into several different countries, you might have considered planning your own tour. However, if you do this, you have to worry about each individual thing - travel from one place to another, lodging, and sightseeing in each area. If you do not want to worry about all of these details, you probably want to look for a good tour deal. The only place to get a good tour deal is through a travel agency. Through a travel agency, you will be able to book all of the components of your vacation. You can tell them where you would like to go, and then the travel agency can take care of all of your arrangements. They will book your flights, your travel between each place you are going, and all of the things that you will do when you are in each town or country. They will also reserve your hotels, all of the other types of accommodations you are going to need, and take care of any other things that come up.

Group Tours

It can be really hard to book your own travels online or through each individual company by yourself. However, it is harder if you are trying to book flights, accommodations, and sight seeing packages for lots of people. Travel agencies are still the only places that can help you book group tour deals. The agencies have contracts with bus companies, hotels, restaurants, and airlines so that they can truly get you better deals when it comes to travel for a lot of different people. You can talk to a travel agent about your specific needs when it comes to group travel, and they will take care of the entire booking process for you. This means that you can book a tour for your family, your company, or your fundraiser quite easily through a travel agency.

It does not matter which type of trip you are booking or where you would like to go. A travel agency can make sure that you get there quickly and easily, as well as affordably!

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Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who covers the travel industry, often writing about specific topics such as vacation destinations and travel deals offered by a travel agency.

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How to Pick a Travel Agent

You will find that there is a lot of time and effort that has to go into planning a vacation. You will want to get airline tickets, hotel reservations, and make up a itinerary. You will find that it can be too much for someone. You will want to get the help of a travel agency.

The agency will help arrange, but you still should do your own researches so that you have an idea of what you would like. If you think about hiring a travel agent to help you plan your vacation, you will want to look around on that too. You will want to get the best person for the job so that you can make the most for your money.

As for the benefits that you will see from picking to deal with a travel agency, you will want to keep in mind that it will make things go a lot smoother in the end. In the end you will find that they will help you to get some of the special deals that will make your budget work for you.

You will be able to get the special deals for things like the airfares, reservations, and maybe even dinner tickets. You will be able to find bargains where you, yourself, couldn't. You will find that the travel agency will help show you how convenient that traveling could be and should be. You will want to get a travel agency to plan all of your vacations once you see just how much they work for you.

If you would like to find a good travel agent to help work with you, you will first want to rely on the word of the ear. Ask some of your family and friends to help you to find an agent or agency that is known to work for you and your budget, not work against your opinion and budget. You may also want to go online and find someone locally. You will also want to take inconsideration what some of the other customers are saying. Remember, if they really liked the travel agency then you will spread the word around town, however, if you didn't like them, you'll tell anyone and everyone who asks about the agency.

You will also want to keep in mind that there are some travel agencies that work as part of the American Society of Travel Agents. You will want to think about the members of this society because they will have all the experience that is needed to make a great vacation.

You will want to make sure that you check out some of the references before you choose the travel agent. When you check out the references they will tell you rather or not you have had a good time with their arrangements and that will give you an idea of rather or not to use the agent.

Being really interested in Costa Blanca in Spain and rental villas in Spain, Kurt Schefken is authoring large numbers of reports on this particular subject. His contributions on costa blanca in spain can be found on his web pages.

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