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Travels - Tips to Find a Good Travel Agency

How to choose a good Travel Agency

- Must be a member of NATAS (National Association of Travel Agents Singapore). Why? NATAS travel agencies have to keep to certain standards and practices setup by NATAS. They would most likely have "high" ethnical and disciplinary standards. NATAS members also work closely with airlines and ther travel bodies. NATAS also provides specialized training for it's agents.

- Get advice and recommedations from friends & relatives. Since they have been with a travel agent, they should know what kind of standards these travel agencies provide. And their comments and reviews are probably fairer and unbiased. You should also visit forums and travel sites to read up on what others have to say about this or that particular tour agency.

- Look carefully at your needs, and see whether the travel agents have the ability to to fulfil that need. Some travel agencies are good for travels to certain countries, where they recieve better rates, or they have more contacts there. Try to find out what their niche and capabilities are. Some are more experienced in business travels, some are perhaps better suited for leading tours in certain countries. Some even provide specialized tour packages. Adding to that, you may have some special needs, like dietary requirements or even sitting arrangements.

- Compare rates. You should go around different agencies and check out their prices. Although not two packages are the same, you should be able to guage the elative prices of each agency. As a rule of thumb, travel agenices usually get better rates than others from their suppliers. That includes hotel rates, airline fares, transport and so on. So their prices should be lower than if you travel yourself. Do not be fooled if they charge you more for planning and so on. Some travel agencies even get commision from each sale they made.

- Experience. Yes, it's all about experience in this industry. Everyone makes mistakes, and an experience tour agency will avoid those mistakes. So you should try to see how long your travel agency has been in this line. You certainly don't want your holiday turning into a diaster due to some inexperienced travel agent or poor planning, right?

- If things go wrong. Well, keeping your fingers cross, what happens if things go wrong? What if Disneyland shuts down due to strikes in Japan? What if the roads to that ski resort has frozen over and it is too dangerous to go? Will they compensate you? Or will they find an alternative for you? I am pretty sure you don't want to be stuck in a hotel for your entire trip right? A good travel agency should know the "risk" and plan ahead if something goes wrong.

- Travel agents themselves are also very important. Since they are the ones leading the group, a experienced, patient and understanding travel agent with contacts in different countries can really improve your travel experience. So if you find know a good travel agent, stick to him/her, assuming that you know what his/her niche is. Sometimes a good travel agent is more important than the travel agency itself. An experienced travel agent can make your trip a smooth one, however do not discount younger travel agents. These young travel agents can be more eager to please and should be more accomodating to your requests.

Good luck to finding your perfect holidays!

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