10 Reasons to Use a Family Travel Agent in 2022

“What will my next family vacation look like? Where can the kids and I go?”

If you’re struggling with these questions, you’re not alone. Planning a family vacation is a careful balancing act between potential savings, safety, and the inclusion of meaningful experiences customized to the ages and interests of each family member.

Because you’re reading this blog, I know you’re also dedicated to sustainability, travel that benefits local communities, and activities that allow you and your kids to connect with the destinations and cultures that you encounter. Add to these factors, the complications of sorting through post-COVID-19 travel regulations and restrictions, and travel planning might leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Fortunately, you don’t have to sweat the small stuff (or big stuff!) when you use a family travel agent to plan future vacations. Want to find out more? Read on for ten ways a family trip advisor can help you plan a dream vacation with kids.

1. Navigating New Requirements

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If you’re like so many families, you had big trips planned for 2020. And then you found yourself spending countless hours on hold or listening to pre-recorded messages. Interspersed with this were “fun” activities like begging for refunds or credit. Yikes! Based on these experiences, I am sure you can appreciate the extraordinary value of a travel advisor.

As travel restrictions continue to shift and travelers head out on exciting adventures, we have new considerations for travel and tourism to navigate. Depending on the destination you visit, you must handle different COVID-19 testing, quarantine, and proof of travel insurance coverage requirements. You’ll also want extra safeguards in place to ensure you and your family’s safety in terms of where you stay, transportation during your trip, food options, and more.

2. You Need an Advocate

While going DIY might seem tempting from a financial perspective, when it comes to travel planning, you risk bigger, more expensive issues in the long run. Even the best-laid plans sometimes get a kink in them, and problems can be hard to resolve, especially when you’re in the midst of international travel.

And if you stop and think about it, is that really how you want to spend your vacation anyway? Instead of going it alone, it’s time to savor the benefits of working with a top notch family travel advisor.

They’ll ensure you get the best deals while still enjoying luxurious amenities. They can also handle any issues that arise before, during, and after your vacation. It’s important to have an advocate on your side no matter what crops up. There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing somebody has your back and your best interests in mind during every step of the travel process.

3. Travel and Tourism Is Increasingly More Complicated

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We will continue to see family travel blossom back in 2022. This is fantastic news. That said, it’s important to acknowledge that planning vacations is now more complicated and requires expert advice. Gone are the days of straightforward DIY travel planning because of the pandemic’s unpredictable impact on travel plans.

Fortunately, family trip advisors keep their fingers on the pulse of travel. They have access to up-to-the-minute information, and an invaluable network of trusted partners and suppliers . They can also facilitate everything from refunds to cancelations. So, even though there’s more uncertainty today than in 2019, a travel professional can help you navigate it with ease and expertise.

4. Travel Advisors Specialize in What’s Exciting and New

Whether it’s swimming with whale sharks in Baja, taking a sumo wrestling lesson in Japan, or an intrepid cruise to Antarctica, travel advisors can put you in touch with what’s new and exciting. Travel planning with the right professional also translates into experiential travels that authentically connect you and your family with local cultures and people.

These one-of-a-kind experiences are hard if not impossible to replicate without the networks and people on the ground that advisors rely on to bring meaningful family trips to life. Family travel advisors have access to the best and most innovative travel packages and exclusive events. What’s more, the best small tour specialists understand logistics and how to bring bucket-list items to life.

5. Save Time and Avoid Stress With a Family Travel Consultant

There’s nothing like reading up on a destination you’d like to visit. The same goes for listening to music from that location, cooking recipes inspired by its cuisine, and watching movies to channel the right cultural vibe. That said, DIY travel planning is another matter. It’s hard work, especially when you don’t have access to the knowledge, connections, and special deals available to the best family travel companies and agents.

6. Put the Fun Back in Family Vacations

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When you work with a travel consultant, you enjoy the fun part of travel planning, while benefiting from customized experiences and activities. Why? Because vacation professionals travel the world, considering every detail of a destination for the sake of their clients, from the size of rooms on cruise ships and in hotels to dining options both on-site and nearby.

In situations where they haven’t had the chance to visit a destination, they cultivate contacts who have, making sure every experience is carefully vetted. This thorough research also means they can answer your questions accurately and rapidly. Family trips don’t come with do-overs, so guarantee you get it right the first time with a travel agent.

7. Family Travel Advisors Offer a Personal Touch

Travel professionals have two primary concerns, their clients’ satisfaction and happiness. They work hard to ensure every trip they offer is chock full of adventurous activities that inspire lifelong positive memories. The right professional listens carefully to what you have to say before offering suggestions and adjustments to meet your ultimate objectives.

In the process, they become friends who remain with you before, during, and after your family vacation. And when an unforeseen situation crops up? I think we can all agree that we’d prefer to speak to someone we know and trust instead of relying on search engines, pre-recorded messages, or waiting on hold indefinitely.

8. Travel Professionals Provide More Value

Travel agents provide more value for a variety of reasons. Not only do they offer a personalized experience that caters to your needs, but they also provide discerning clients with unique services. After all, the best opportunities belong to those who know the right people. Chances are, your travel advisor will know these people. After all, it’s part of their job.

Because so many resorts, cruise ships, and small tour operators get the bulk of their business through travel agents, these companies provide agents with special perks. These perks then get passed on to an agent’s clients. It’s a win-win for you and the travel professional.

9. A Changing World Requires Constant Vigilance

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Many different events can impact the travel and tourism industry in a specific destination. These include everything from changing pandemic numbers to natural disasters and political upheaval.

Staying on top of these evolving events is a full-time job and one that a travel agent relishes. They discover, experience, and research the places they offer to their clients. And they do this many times throughout their careers.

10. Vacations Don’t Come With Do-Overs

We’ve already mentioned this point, but it’s worth reiterating and expanding on. Family vacations represent once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you save up for and dream about for months, if not years. You devote valuable vacation time from work, which you can’t get back again. That alone is enough reason to hire a travel expert. They’ll handle everything from choosing the best hotels to sitting on hold with short-staffed airlines so you don’t have to.

A travel advisor will also act on your behalf as an advocate when unexpected events take place. Whether it’s an earthquake, volcanic activity, or delayed flights, a travel agent will go the extra mile to keep your vacation from getting derailed. Whether you have issues with getting to your destination, returning home, or something else, it’s nice to know you have a friend you can call to salvage a potential problem.

Why You Should Use a Family Travel Agent in 2022

There are many compelling reasons to use a family travel agent when planning family vacations in 2022. Working with a professional represents the antidote to feeling overwhelmed by complicated travel planning. You also gain a friend and advocate when you find a trusted professional to work with.

At Our Whole Village, we remain committed to help families take meaningful vacations that allow them to escape everyday life, show their kids the world, and make incredible memories every step of the way. Best of all, because of our commitment to sustainable travel, local communities, and the environment, you can rest assured your travel investment makes the world a better place.

Where will 2022 take your family? Click below to get started.