We’ve written before about a few of the many reasons it’s valuable to work with an expert travel advisor, and a new study has just revealed one more: a third of people who book their own travel online end up making crucial errors that can end up: 

• costing you money,
• creating unnecessary stress during travel or worse –
• losing your trip altogether!

It’s all fun until you accidentally book a trip to Austria rather than Australia or Haiti instead of Tahiti! 

It’s no laughing matter! Mistakes just like those happen more often than you think. And booking errors can lead to missed flights, denied boarding, and thousands of dollars in wasted, non-refundable costs. 

Some new research points out the most common pitfalls of self-serve booking on travel websites: 

• Flights booked too close together: 13%
• Incorrect travel dates: 10%
• Missed visa or entry requirements: 9%
• Wrong passenger details: 8%
• Wrong accommodation: 7%
• Wrong destination entirely: 2% 

The easy button you think you’ve taken by booking online could end up costing you your trip. 

Some people may be catching on: the survey also shows a renewed interest in professional advice for travel planning and booking, with almost half of survey respondents saying they believe they get the best travel experience with professional assistance, as opposed to just 30% who feel confident relying solely on websites. 

Does this sound like you? The biggest trend is travelers researching destinations online, then consulting a professional travel advisor, merging the convenience of using technology in your pajamas with reliable human expertise.

So we can add avoiding costly booking errors to the other reasons we recommend working with a travel advisor to book your next trip: 

• Expert and Professional Knowledge: Travel advisors have in-depth, insider knowledge of destinations, accommodations, and activities - including options you’ve never heard of  - but will love!
• Time-Saving: Planning a trip can be time-consuming. Many travelers like to do their own research, but travel advisors can take it from there to ensure all the details are covered and everything runs smoothly.
• Exclusive Deals and Discounts: As you may have noticed already, advisors often have access to exclusive rates and promotions that aren’t available to the public, potentially saving you money you can use to treat yourself while on vacation or upgrade your travel experience.
• Personalized Service: Advisors offer customized itineraries tailor-made to your specialized travel circumstances, interests, and needs.
• Support During Travel: If the pandemic taught us anything, it was the importance of having a human at the other end of a phone if any issues arise during your trip. Just one more way advisors offer peace of mind to travelers before and during your travels.

START YOUR TRIP!

Image: Getty

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