When your car starts making a funny noise and pulling toward the left when you brake, what do you do? Call your mechanic. When your child runs a fever and goes from their rambunctious, happily noisy self to a listless lump on the sofa, what do you do? Make some soup, kiss their forehead and … call the pediatrician. When you are ready to renovate your kitchen, you collect a folder of ideas from magazines and websites, and talk to your friends and family about their own kitchens. But then you call an architect, a designer, or a carpenter. You call a professional. 

The same is true for your vacation planning. Before the internet, everyone had to call a professional travel agent when they were ready to head out on vacation. Nowadays, the internet has many of us thinking we can just do it ourselves. The web  is a vast and wonderful place to learn all sorts of information, and to get inspiration. It’s easy enough to book your own trip, so who needs a travel agent anymore? 

You do. Here’s why:

1. Industry Knowledge

A true travel professional, such as the agents at FTM Travel and Fairy Tripmother, has the training and knowledge of the industry to be able to guide you into the vacation that fits your dreams to a tee. This training includes coursework and certifications from the destinations our travelers want to visit. It also includes time spent touring and researching destinations in person in order to provide the most up to date information. 

2. Attention to Detail

Though it might seem simple to just click a button and buy a vacation on a web browser, there are so many small things to consider.  Some of these small details, if missed, could cost time and money, and add unnecessary stress to your life. Room size, location, and amenities make such a difference to your comfort, and your travel agent will be sure that you know what you’ll be getting. No unwelcome surprises!

3. Personal Relationship

By working directly with a real live travel agent, you’ll have the opportunity to share with them all about your preferences and specific needs. They will then use their expertise to ensure that the your getaway is exactly what it needs to be. Not only that, but if weather, mishaps, or schedule changes create unexpected hiccups to interrupt your vacation bliss, you have someone to turn to. If you bought your trip through a website, who can you call for help? With a travel professional by your side, you have someone to guide you through the entire process. 

So, where do your vacation dreams take you? The team at FTM Travel is waiting to hear from you!