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Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Is using a travel agent worth it? 5 reasons I book with an expert
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. I am a millennial, and there was a time in my life when going to a travel agent seemed about as anachronistic as renting a videotape or calling the operator to connect a phone call. Back then, I figured that everything from flights to hotels to theme park tickets was available online at the best rate, and without paying a commission. I thought travel agents were for people too lazy to do their own research, and besides, wasn't the planning half the fun of the holiday? Then I made friends with someone who'd worked in the industry, and they clued me in to some of the perks of working with an agent. You don't have to book an hour-by-hour itinerary, but if you're smart you can take advantage of their resources and knowledge. Here's how. X Learn More SUBSCRIBER ONLY 1. Flight complexity Generally speaking, a travel agent isn't going to be able to get you a better price on a flight than what you'll find on SkyScanner, Google Flights or airline websites. What they can do, however, is line up flights in different ways. Booking multi-day layovers and multiple round-the-world-style flights can be difficult online, but is no problem for the professionals. Want to spend three days in Kuala Lumpur on your way to Paris, flying the same airline on the same ticket? Get your agent to sort it. Fancy a stopover in Kuala Lumpur? Ask your travel agent. 2. Hotel pricing and perks Flight prices might be rigid, but accommodation is where a travel agent can find you a better deal. They have access to separate booking platforms that in many cases have better pricing on hotels, and they'll potentially get you access to perks and upgrades that would normally only be available to reward program members. Even online travel agencies like Agoda and Expedia can save you money if you book your hotel as a package with your flight. 3. Suggestions and experience Even working as a writer in the industry, it's difficult to stay across all the latest developments in the world of travel. And when you're planning your own holiday it's easy to get tunnel vision. This can be as simple as suggesting the ferry instead of the bus. Or a whole new destination: who knew Ljubljana was only three hours from Venice? Here's another example. A few years ago, the cheapest flights to Europe were through Colombo in Sri Lanka. To sweeten the deal, there was a complimentary hotel for the layover. But a travel agent told me he'd recently had a client stranded there due to aviation fuel shortages. I went through Hong Kong instead, and he still got me the stopover. Beautiful Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, is just a quick trip from Venice. 4. Security Luckily, I don't have the personal experience to back this one up – but one of the key benefits of using an agent is you can rely on them if things go wrong. Large operators, such as Flight Centre, and even some smaller ones, provide 24/7 support, which means you don't have to be the one to lose your cool at the check-in desk when there's a mix-up. They can also help with changing and re-booking, and often offer travel insurance, waived cancellation fees and lost baggage tracking. 5. They can do as much or as little as you want I enjoy researching a destination, and I love playing things by ear when I get there. But when it came time for my honeymoon in Thailand, I went to an agent. They sent me various options, but in the end all I got them to book for us was a Sydney to Bangkok flight with an enormously discounted hotel included. Did I ask them to book our internal flights? No, because they were just as cheap online. Did I ask them to plan our activities? No, because I didn't like their elephant safari suggestion. Did I feel locked into a holiday someone else had planned for me? Not at all. Originally published as Is using a travel agent worth it? 5 reasons I book with an expert
Herald Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Herald Sun
Is using a travel agent worth it? 5 reasons I book with an expert
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. I am a millennial, and there was a time in my life when going to a travel agent seemed about as anachronistic as renting a videotape or calling the operator to connect a phone call. Back then, I figured that everything from flights to hotels to theme park tickets was available online at the best rate, and without paying a commission. I thought travel agents were for people too lazy to do their own research, and besides, wasn't the planning half the fun of the holiday? Then I made friends with someone who'd worked in the industry, and they clued me in to some of the perks of working with an agent. You don't have to book an hour-by-hour itinerary, but if you're smart you can take advantage of their resources and knowledge. Here's how. 1. Flight complexity Generally speaking, a travel agent isn't going to be able to get you a better price on a flight than what you'll find on SkyScanner, Google Flights or airline websites. What they can do, however, is line up flights in different ways. Booking multi-day layovers and multiple round-the-world-style flights can be difficult online, but is no problem for the professionals. Want to spend three days in Kuala Lumpur on your way to Paris, flying the same airline on the same ticket? Get your agent to sort it. Fancy a stopover in Kuala Lumpur? Ask your travel agent. 2. Hotel pricing and perks Flight prices might be rigid, but accommodation is where a travel agent can find you a better deal. They have access to separate booking platforms that in many cases have better pricing on hotels, and they'll potentially get you access to perks and upgrades that would normally only be available to reward program members. Even online travel agencies like Agoda and Expedia can save you money if you book your hotel as a package with your flight. 3. Suggestions and experience Even working as a writer in the industry, it's difficult to stay across all the latest developments in the world of travel. And when you're planning your own holiday it's easy to get tunnel vision. This can be as simple as suggesting the ferry instead of the bus. Or a whole new destination: who knew Ljubljana was only three hours from Venice? Here's another example. A few years ago, the cheapest flights to Europe were through Colombo in Sri Lanka. To sweeten the deal, there was a complimentary hotel for the layover. But a travel agent told me he'd recently had a client stranded there due to aviation fuel shortages. I went through Hong Kong instead, and he still got me the stopover. Beautiful Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, is just a quick trip from Venice. 4. Security Luckily, I don't have the personal experience to back this one up – but one of the key benefits of using an agent is you can rely on them if things go wrong. Large operators, such as Flight Centre, and even some smaller ones, provide 24/7 support, which means you don't have to be the one to lose your cool at the check-in desk when there's a mix-up. They can also help with changing and re-booking, and often offer travel insurance, waived cancellation fees and lost baggage tracking. 5. They can do as much or as little as you want I enjoy researching a destination, and I love playing things by ear when I get there. But when it came time for my honeymoon in Thailand, I went to an agent. They sent me various options, but in the end all I got them to book for us was a Sydney to Bangkok flight with an enormously discounted hotel included. Did I ask them to book our internal flights? No, because they were just as cheap online. Did I ask them to plan our activities? No, because I didn't like their elephant safari suggestion. Did I feel locked into a holiday someone else had planned for me? Not at all. Originally published as Is using a travel agent worth it? 5 reasons I book with an expert
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
By 34, I thought I'd be married with kids. Instead, I just took a solo trip to my 90th country.
When I was younger, I thought I'd be settling down, getting married, or having kids in my early 30s. Instead, I developed a passion for — and made a career out of — solo travel. I love my life. I wish people celebrated my travel achievements the way they celebrate wedding rings. Growing up, I was always enamored with geography, so it's no surprise that I developed a passion for solo traveling. In my 20s, I assumed I would solo travel for a few years to "get it out of my system" before settling down. Instead, my destination bucket list grew while my desire for things that felt like societal norms at my age — kids and marriage, for example — dwindled. By 30, it dawned on me that both of those things are choices, not requirements. While some women successfully balance it all, I'm not personally willing to swap spontaneous trips for dirty diapers. My solo ventures have led me to experiences like road-tripping in Madagascar and seeing all 20 regions in Italy. Recently, they led me to my 90th country, Mauritius, where I snorkeled with colorful fish and ate street dholl puri. What Mauritius really provided, though, was a moment to reflect on all that comes with solo traveling as a single, childless 34-year-old woman. The judgmental comments are relentless, but I don't let them deter me I've built a business around solo traveling through my Instagram and blog, so I am no stranger to unsolicited comments. My earliest trips were funded through my work as a bartender, and I quickly became skilled at traveling comfortably on my budget. I finessed systems like SkyScanner's "Everywhere" search feature to find inexpensive flights, and I slept in affordable hostels. Still, everyone from strangers online to coworkers in real life constantly insinuated that a man was paying for my trips — or my parents were. I was taken aback by how frequently people asked how I could afford to travel, when I would never dare ask how someone could afford to raise a child. I received other nosy questions, too. Whenever I dated someone, people asked if my partner was mad that I traveled alone, or said it was nice that he "let" me go on trips without him. It made me wonder how often solo-traveling men are told it's nice their partner "lets" them travel. Naysayers aside, solo traveling has led me to a community of like-minded people In my experience, it's much easier to meet people when you're traveling alone since you're not stuck in your own group. Solo traveling has led me to plenty of friends that I've met naturally in hostels, bars, and even on airplanes, and through my online community via social media. Although solo travel — like babies and marriage — isn't for everyone, I have found my footing in this world because of it. For me, it's empowering to be in an unknown part of the world with nothing but myself to rely on. Even as a seasoned traveler, I still learn something new on every trip, whether I'm dismantling negative stereotypes about places I'd been taught were unsafe or reminding myself I don't need to wait for a partner to enjoy typical honeymoon destinations. Solo travel has fed my curiosity, opened my mind, and given me the gift of enjoying my own company. I wish that my life, passions, and career were celebrated in the way that marriage and kids are If you had asked me when I was a kid where I saw myself in my 30s, "solo traveling the world" would not have been on my radar. I assumed my life would consist of a stable career and a house in the suburbs with my husband and kids. However, looking back, I don't know that I ever actually wanted kids — rather, it was something that was simply expected of me. Now, I know that I don't have the desire to have children, although I'm still open to marriage or a long-term partnership with the right person one day. I recognize that for many, having a family is a dream come true. My dream life, however, is the one I'm living right now. Perhaps that's why it's disheartening that my accolades, like visiting 90 countries alone, will never be celebrated by society the same way having a baby or a ring on my finger will. Knowing this, I threw myself an "Antarctica send-off" party the night before leaving for my final continent — because, if nothing else, solo travel has taught me to be my biggest supporter and my own best friend. Read the original article on Business Insider Solve the daily Crossword
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business Insider
By 34, I thought I'd be married with kids. Instead, I just took a solo trip to my 90th country.
When I was younger, I thought I'd be settling down, getting married, or having kids in my early 30s. Instead, I developed a passion for — and made a career out of — solo travel. I love my life. I wish people celebrated my travel achievements the way they celebrate wedding rings. Growing up, I was always enamored with geography, so it's no surprise that I developed a passion for solo traveling. In my 20s, I assumed I would solo travel for a few years to "get it out of my system" before settling down. Instead, my destination bucket list grew while my desire for things that felt like societal norms at my age — kids and marriage, for example — dwindled. By 30, it dawned on me that both of those things are choices, not requirements. While some women successfully balance it all, I'm not personally willing to swap spontaneous trips for dirty diapers. My solo ventures have led me to experiences like road-tripping in Madagascar and seeing all 20 regions in Italy. Recently, they led me to my 90th country, Mauritius, where I snorkeled with colorful fish and ate street dholl puri. What Mauritius really provided, though, was a moment to reflect on all that comes with solo traveling as a single, childless 34-year-old woman. I've built a business around solo traveling through my Instagram and blog, so I am no stranger to unsolicited comments. My earliest trips were funded through my work as a bartender, and I quickly became skilled at traveling comfortably on my budget. I finessed systems like SkyScanner's "Everywhere" search feature to find inexpensive flights, and I slept in affordable hostels. Still, everyone from strangers online to coworkers in real life constantly insinuated that a man was paying for my trips — or my parents were. I was taken aback by how frequently people asked how I could afford to travel, when I would never dare ask how someone could afford to raise a child. I received other nosy questions, too. Whenever I dated someone, people asked if my partner was mad that I traveled alone, or said it was nice that he "let" me go on trips without him. It made me wonder how often solo-traveling men are told it's nice their partner "lets" them travel. Naysayers aside, solo traveling has led me to a community of like-minded people In my experience, it's much easier to meet people when you're traveling alone since you're not stuck in your own group. Solo traveling has led me to plenty of friends that I've met naturally in hostels, bars, and even on airplanes, and through my online community via social media. Although solo travel — like babies and marriage — isn't for everyone, I have found my footing in this world because of it. For me, it's empowering to be in an unknown part of the world with nothing but myself to rely on. Even as a seasoned traveler, I still learn something new on every trip, whether I'm dismantling negative stereotypes about places I'd been taught were unsafe or reminding myself I don't need to wait for a partner to enjoy typical honeymoon destinations. Solo travel has fed my curiosity, opened my mind, and given me the gift of enjoying my own company. I wish that my life, passions, and career were celebrated in the way that marriage and kids are If you had asked me when I was a kid where I saw myself in my 30s, "solo traveling the world" would not have been on my radar. I assumed my life would consist of a stable career and a house in the suburbs with my husband and kids. However, looking back, I don't know that I ever actually wanted kids — rather, it was something that was simply expected of me. Now, I know that I don't have the desire to have children, although I'm still open to marriage or a long-term partnership with the right person one day. I recognize that for many, having a family is a dream come true. My dream life, however, is the one I'm living right now. Perhaps that's why it's disheartening that my accolades, like visiting 90 countries alone, will never be celebrated by society the same way having a baby or a ring on my finger will. Knowing this, I threw myself an "Antarctica send-off" party the night before leaving for my final continent — because, if nothing else, solo travel has taught me to be my biggest supporter and my own best friend.
Daily Mirror
03-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Incredible European beach city where beers cost 65p and flights are just £34
Taranto, Italy, offers an incredible getaway for Brits keen to make their money go further while enjoying a seaside location under the glorious Mediterranean sunshine An incredible European port city bursting with personality could make for the perfect getaway with beers costing as little as 65p and bargain flights also on offer. Why compromise on cheap beer and a beach holiday when you can have both? Taranto in southern Italy offers a great option for those who fancy a seaside view while sipping on some bargain pints. The city's history stretches back to the ancient Spartans who colonised the coastline as far back as the 8th century. Fast-forward to the modern day and the city will require a different type of Spartan if they want to take on the scandalously cheap pints that have been said to be among some of the cheapest in the entire world. The city pipped not only the UK, the Czech Republic and many other nations to offer the biggest bargain for a beer. "Beer in Taranto in the region of Puglia in Italy was 11.5 times cheaper than the world's most expensive bottle of beer, which the study claimed could be found in Darwin, Australia, and was £7.48," The Drinks Business website said. "The town was also top of the list for the cheapest bottle of wine, coming in seventh with a price of £3.87 per bottle, although it was beaten by another Italian city, Rome, where an average bottle was just £2.80." Taranto somehow beat many other cheap tourist destinations where the cost of a beer was less than 75p. The list, almost entirely dominated by German cities, landed Taranto as the cheapest city in the European Union with a beer going for 6p cheaper than second-placed Wuppertal, Germany. But a cheap beer is not the only thing Taranto has to offer with the city offering a host of cultural institutions that demand to be explored by any visitor. The Aragon Castle was built during the closing decades of the Middle Ages to protect against raids from the expanding Ottoman Turks. The Old City retains the same street layout from 967 with its narrow passageways being a delight for any traveller who wants to get lost in the deep history of the place. Taranto also offers some delicious seafood for foodies wanting to tuck into a slice of the local cuisine. Mussels are are an important ingredient in the local cuisine and are typically seasoned with garlic, olive oil and parsley. Those wanting to visit Taranto will need to consider the following before booking a getaway. There are no regular direct flights to Taranto from the UK, instead travellers will have to make their way there via the closest airports in Brindisi and Bari which are 43 and 55 miles away. Those wanting to jet off to Brindisi can do so for as little as £34 on May 7 and May 13, according to SkyScanner. Alternatively, those wishing to make their way to Rome first can take a train down the boot of Italy with Taranto being one of the destinations.
