Booking a trip: face to face or DIY?

Ever met an online form that’s been overseas? Chances are no, which means that, when you’re planning a trip, maybe the electronic route is not the way to go.

Sure, more and more things are being done online these days but when it comes to planning something like a holiday it might be a good idea to try some good old un-artificial, human intelligence – the kind that comes from a travel agent.

Why? Planning a holiday is emotional. You’re sitting there, imagining yourself in some of the most exotic spots on the planet. It’s going to be the adventure of a lifetime, and you’re talking to a form.

Maybe you think it’s just older people who rely on a travel agent? Well, you may be interested to hear that the so-called millennials, make up more than a third of people who use agents for their trips. Surprise, surprise. These are real tech-savvy individuals, and one would expect them to do it all online – but they’re not.

The reason is simple. According to research, the more money one spends on travel, the greater the likelihood that one will use an agent. When spending hard-earned cash on something as substantial as a holiday you want to be sure it’s for something worthwhile and, most importantly, that potential problems caused by a lack of clear communication are minimised.

So what’s the bottom line? You want to be given options by people who know the ropes. You want to know what your choices are; that you will be given the best possible experiences at the lowest possible prices.

Still thinking of going online to plan and book your trip? Let’s throw something in from left field: fake websites. Of course, many (if not most) websites are legitimate, but as professional crooks become more tech-savvy, fake sites are becoming harder and harder to tell from the real deal. Remember when lots of people lost all their money after buying online tickets for the Beijing Olympics via a dodgy website?

So, which way to go? For peace of mind, it makes sense to pick an agent like Motive Travel, which has been doing great things for travellers for nearly 40 years.

But, we hear you say, DIY is cheaper than a travel agent. Really? A reputable, accredited operator like Motive Travel has access to a myriad fare options, many of which are not available online. Just tell them what you have in mind, and they’ll take care of everything, What’s more, if you need help outside normal business hours, they have an emergency service which operates 24/7.

Take the first step by looking at Motive’s website. If you’re travelling domestically, that’s where you can make a hassle-free booking; if you’re going overseas, it’s a great place to start talking to some of the friendliest people in the business, real people who can give you real travel answers.