A personal note from Ales!
I first started working in the travel industry in Germany many years ago and one of the main income sources used to be selling airline tickets. It was very common to get commissions paid for every ticket sold.
Over the years this has all changed and airlines no longer or only in very rare cases pay travel agencies to sell seats on their flights.
Even other service providers like cruise lines and hotels have limited the distribution of commission payments.
Looking at this different scenarios it would be easy to think that travel consultants are no longer needed or even used but nothing is further from the truth.
In many ways this whole process has weeded out travel agents who are just order takers, from agents who are truly experts in their fields and offer exceptional service to their clients.
These kind of travel professionals are well thought after and needed more than ever in a time where travelers are being flooded with so many options, reviews, sales offers and special deals.
In this month’s newsletter I like to share some thoughts on why using a trusted travel consultant will take the stress out of your travels from the moment you start planning the trip of a life time.
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I specialise in customized travel all around the world and it is not uncommon to create itineraries which include multiple destinations in different countries and include detailed arrangements such as dinner reservations, VIP entrance tickets to sites so that you don’t have to wait in long lines and specialized private tours.
If you are arriving at a destination on your birthday or anniversary, you might get a nice surprise with a bottle of chilled champagne waiting for you in the car when your private driver picks you up from the airport or train station. 🙂
It is important to understand that if you were to create a complex trip yourself, it would take you hours of research alone and even then you might not have opted for the best options available in any given destination which a good travel consultant will be able to suggest and include in your itinerary.
Most of all, you would not have the support of someone if anything were to go wrong.
One misconception is that if you do it all yourself, you’ll be able to get it done cheaper but, if you think about all the time you spend creating the itinerary and putting it all together, your trip might end up costing more than it would had you used a professional who can expertly create the best possible trip for you.
In addition to saving time, a travel consultant will be able to share information and advice about your destination, which you would not find anywhere else. I am a member of a group of certified travel agents which allows us to exchange up to date information on destinations, hotels, resorts, tour guides and all other services related to travel.
I believe in delegating to people who are best qualified to do a job and in the end it comes down to how much you value your own time.
I could do my income taxes on my own by using one of the many programs available online but I rather pay may accountant, who by the way is amazing, and let him do the work because he is the expert and in the end always gets the best outcome for me. It would take me hours to do it myself and I much rather spend that time doing something I love and enjoy doing.
To end this month’s newsletter, here is a good example of what a difference having an agent work for you can make:
I had a honeymoon couple travel to Italy on Air France last year. Just a few days before their departure, Air France went on strike and cancelled all their flights out of the US. My clients were flying out the next day early in the morning with all their flights cancelled and no way for them to get to Florence in time for their honeymoon.
That evening I spent hours, late into the night, on the phone with the airline to get my clients re-booked on other airlines, needless to say, they arrived in Florence in time to begin one of the most memorable journeys of their lives.
Here is what they wrote:
We had never used a travel agent before, but decided to use one because we thought it may be a little easier. Thank goodness we found Ales Struna with Journeys of the Spirit.
We had initially received quotes from a few other travel agencies. One never replied to my questions and the other told us that our requests were unreasonable.
Not Ales, he made it happen, this guy was amazing. Days before our departure, our airline went on strike and when every other passenger was stranded because their travel agent didn’t stay on top or even inform them of what was going on, Ales was up until the wee hours of the night talking to the airlines to find us an alternate route.
He booked us incredible rooms, answered every email within minutes and made sure every detail was perfect. He even sent us a great packet of information for every city we visited with restaurant recommendations and must visit sites and included very nice maps of every city. We had not one issue. We will only use Ales from now on for all of our travel.
I usually don’t write a lot of reviews but we are so appreciative of all of the time and attention he spent to make sure our honeymoon was fantastic. And he did it within the budget we requested without compromising quality. I can’t imagine a better travel agent whose is more dedicated to making sure your trip exceeds your expectations. With our deepest sincerity, thank you Ales!
Brian & Yvonne C., Linwood Kansas
Wishing everyone happy travels – Ales
About Ales
I’ve been passionate about travel ever since I can remember. Having had the opportunity to travel all around the world for many years it’s my greatest desire to enrich peoples lives in a profound way by creating unforgettable journeys, and give each of my clients the amazing experiences I’ve had throughout my travels.
By allowing me to design your journeys, you can be assured that you will be taken care of from the moment we start planning your vacation until the moment you return. Contact me and let me know where you would like to go or let me help you find the destination that will give you the experience you are looking for.
May all your travels stir your soul and change your life forever – Ales.
