2022 is gearing up to be the comeback year for travel (once this Omicron wave subsides). January and February are often referred to as wave season in the travel industry. However, fall 2021 felt like the traditional wave season, so this wave season may turn into a tsunami! If you want to travel in 2022, you need to start making plans as soon as possible, but where do you even start the process in the ever-changing landscape of travel during a pandemic? A travel advisor would be a good place to start!
You may be wondering about the term travel advisor. Yes, it is a fancy term for travel agent, but it is also more than that. A travel agent was considered a booking agent in the past, basically, an order taker that booked what a client wanted. Once travelers had internet in their homes (and then on their mobile devices), there really was no need for a booking agent any longer. Many agents saw the need to evolve, and the term travel advisor was born.
Being able to hire any service provider is inherently a luxury, which is why today’s travel advisor focuses on luxury travel brands and highly customized travel experiences based on clients’ interests. Travel advisors have access to a network of travel contacts around the world which not only elevates the travel experience but also can help clients out when they are in a jam.
Even before Covid, travel is not always straightforward. Things can go wrong, but working with a travel advisor means that someone has your back when it does. Their service is invaluable in this age of border closures, Covid testing, health questionnaires, QR codes, and flight cancellations/reschedules. They keep track of current travel trends which means less research for you.
Many of us lead hectic lives, so finding the time to plan a trip seems impossible. For others, the sheer overwhelm of choices in a destination was hard enough to deal with prior to Covid. With trips taking longer to plan than ever before due to things like availability restraints and the overwhelming task of interpreting travel restrictions, it makes more sense than ever to use a travel advisor. After all, peace of mind is priceless.
For others, using a travel advisor in 2022 will be about getting the best possible experience after putting travel on hold in 2020 and 2021. Revenge travel is real. People want to ensure that their vacations leave them wanting for nothing. Working with a travel advisor that is affiliated with a luxury travel consortia ensures that you will be treated like a VIP because these agents are able to offer exclusive amenities at the world’s leading hotels, resorts, and cruise lines.
Travel advisors are destination experts, organizers, concierge service providers, and an extra layer of security for your travels. They help clients understand the risks associated with traveling in the current environment and mitigate those risks as best they can which allows clients to release some of the anxiety they may feel about traveling again. Unlike the internet, they will answer your call before, during, and after your trip. For a travel advisor, your trip is more than a transaction; it is a building block in a relationship with someone who is learning your travel style, where you have been, and where you want to go.
Recent travel trends suggest that travelers continue to be attracted to private accommodations and experiences, particularly those in nature, as they navigate traveling the world during a global pandemic. A travel advisor is invaluable in giving clients access to unique lodging and exclusive experiences that can not be found on google. Villas, private resorts, and sailboat charters are just some of the elevated experiences that a travel advisor can arrange.
Whether you are looking to travel with your significant other, your family, your friends, or even for your business, it only makes sense to talk to a travel advisor. Travel will remain complicated in the near future, but that does not mean you should avoid it. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Putting off that trip might mean that you never get to take it. If you have the ability to travel in 2022, just go! And if you want to have the best experience possible, use a travel advisor (preferable me!).
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Read more about the Club Med Amazing Family Program at Club Med Miches, especially the manager – Edwin!
A recap of my favorite moments on the remaining islands from our summer tour of Greece 2021.
