Thanks to many popular booking sites, we all have access to a great deal of travel information. Almost everything you need is on the internet… except guidance! Knowledge of the airlines and hotels, cruises, and tour companies can make a big difference.
All the websites are advertising what they want you to buy. There is so much information it can easily confuse and frustrate you. Remember, websites are selling their information, not necessarily what is best for you. This is where I come in…..
If I ran my travel business at the whim of my clients, I would never have been in business for 26 years. It is very important that I listen to you and take care of things from your prospective. At the end of the day, a successful experience depends on my ability to manage your expectations from start to finish.
I usually only write about happy stories, but let me tell you I hear all of the others too! The first big mistake clients make is booking the wrong flights, with the wrong times, and wrong cities. Then they call me to put together an itinerary that does not go with the airline ticket schedule. This can be very frustrating.
One of the most common requests I hear is, “I want to see it all! Then I can go back for a more unique experience.” Trying to see all of Italy or France in two weeks is almost like ‘Tuesday it must be Belgium’ kind of travel. I often wonder what people remember. What do they really experience except the check in and check out of hotels. I want my clients to see, feel, smell, taste, touch, and digest where they are. This takes time and knowledge. Once riding in a train in France I met some women and I asked where they were staying in Paris. They found their hotel online and it was near the famous windmill in the red light district. For women from Indiana, that was going to be an experience! Paris has hundreds of great three star hotels; I have a favorite just behind the Louvre. Do you know your city that you are going to travel to? Do you know the neighborhoods you would rather not have a hotel reservation near? All cities have one. It is my job to know where and where not to stay.
I never promise the least expensive… but I do promise unsurpassed service and a great holiday experience!
AlwaysHarriet 