Is It Cheaper To Book Disney Through A Travel Agent
From time to time, Disney releases special promotional rates on hotels, dining, tickets, and vacation packages. Disney travel agents match the deals that Disney offers through its own website.
Disney travel agents get their clients the lowest possible rates. If a better discount comes along after a trip is already booked, then they will go back into the system and apply the new discount to the trip in order to take advantage of the new lower rate.
Lets investigate why its cheaper to book through a Disney travel agent.
Marriott’s Travel Agent Rates
Marriott’s travel agent rate is their blanket travel agent rate program which is available to any accredited travel agent with a valid IATA, ARC, CLIA or TIDS accreditation number. The travel agent rate varies depending on availability, hotel category, and season. , but you can typically expect less.
1. To access Marriot’s rates, travel agents need an IATA ARC, CLIA, or TIDS number .
2. To book Marriott’s rates, you can log in here.
3. Go to “Promotions” and “Travel Agent Rate Search”
The Cheapest Time Of Year To Cruise
Certain months are much cheaper than others and this depends very much on the destination and the weather that you can expect at that time of year.
The cheapest time to cruise in Europe and the Mediterranean is December and January . This is mainly because the weather is cold.
The cheapest time to cruise in the Caribbean is August, September and October. This is because of hurricane season and the risk that cruises may miss ports or be cancelled altogether due to bad weather.
If your cruise is cancelled due to a hurricane youll get about two days notice, so hopefully, you wont have taken your flight, but youll probably have packed your bags!
The most expensive time to cruise is always Christmas and New Year when prices will skyrocket to double or triple the normal price. The UK school summer holidays can be pretty expensive too.
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You Get One Person To Work With Instead Of Someone Different Every Time You Call
Don’t you hate it when you have to explain the backstory of your current issue to someone each time you call?
When you use a travel agent, you get an agent who works with you from start to finish. This means they are aware of your needs, remember the reasons why you chose what you booked, and are locked into assisting you with your cruise plans.
Save On Drinks On Board
Cruising and boozing can be very bad for your wallet, especially if you travel with one of the big US-based cruise lines. A glass of wine on board a Royal Caribbean ship, for example, will cost you at least £7.90, plus an 18% service charge.
Think you can cut costs by bringing your own drinks on board? Think again. Very few cruise lines allow this .
You can sometimes save with an all-inclusive drinks package, although the amount depends on how many drinks you plan to have.
For more tips on how to save on drinks packages and which cruise lines are priciest, see our guide onHow to work out if a cruise drinks package is worth it.
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Provide Help When There Are Issues
If I did not think it would be extremely gaudy, I would highlight and add red siren gifs to this point, because I think it is the most important thing a travel agent does that many cruisers are completely unaware of when deciding on using an agent or not.
In this day and age of mass cruise cancellations, delays, refunds and mass hysteria, a travel agent is invaluable because they are the ones that will spend hours and hours with the cruise line to sort out these issues.
Even if there is not a global health crisis, things happen on a cruise. Errors in a reservation, mechanical issues in a stateroom, hurricanes and a great deal of other unforeseen situations can occur. If they do, having a travel agent means you have someone in your corner fighting for you, and taking care of the details.
They are the person that goes back and forth with Royal Caribbean on your behalf, offers options to you, and more.
With the global cruise suspensions, travel agents can help make sense of the refunds you get back, make requests for refunds or future cruise credits, and more. It is not uncommon for the hold times with the cruise line to take a very long time, but a travel agent can be the one dealing with that.
During hurricane season, a travel agent can assist if you vacation is impacted by changing flight plans or excursions.
Do You Have What It Takes To Start Your Own Travel Business
Running a business requires dedication and the ability to learn new skills. Not only will you need to read and stay up to date on travel information, location advisories, industry trends and different travel destinations, but youll also need general business skills. Youll be wearing many different hats. After all, someone has to handle administrative duties, marketing, sales and customer service.
When youre considering starting your own travel business, be sure to ask yourself:
- Do you enjoy problem solving?
- Are you persuasive with effective selling skills?
- Do you have any help?
A Simple Way To Start Your Own Travel Business That Works For Experienced Agents And Newbies Alike
Whether youre new to the travel industry, or youre an experienced agent looking to strike out on your own, but dont know where to start, consider affiliating with a host agency. If you dont have travel agency experience or otherwise cant meet certain eligibility requirements, you wont be able to obtain industry accreditations, making starting your own business more difficult. A host agency can provide you with some of the resources to make your job easier, such as global distribution system licences, ARC and IATAN accreditation or handling your personal commission payroll and taxes.
Some Essential Characteristics to Look for in a Host Agency Include:
- The length of time the agency has been in business
- Ongoing training and support provided
- Help generating leads
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Do People Still Use Travel Agents
More travelers than ever leverage the expertise and assistance of travel agents for their vacations. Lets look at some quick facts:In fact, according to ASTA ,
- In 2021, 27% of travelers always or often used a travel advisor before the pandemic, and at 44%, nearly half of respondents overall said they are more likely to use a travel advisor once the pandemic has passed
- In 2016 year 22% of leisure travelers from households earning at least $50,000 used a travel agent up from 14% just three before.
- Millennials seem the biggest fans of using travel agents, with over 30% having used an agent in the last year.
- They seem satisfied: in 2016, 59% of millennials indicated that their trips planned with agents were better than trips planned without agents. This compares to 53% and 58% for gen x-ers and baby boomers, respectively.
So yes, more people use travel agents each year, and the majority feel their trips were enhanced by using a travel agent. We cruise many times a year, and we get great service and often, better deals. You can get a free consultation from the same great folks that help us!
Finding A Cruise Travel Agent
So, you’ve decided to go on a cruise — perhaps your first venture on a vacation at sea — and you’re a little overwhelmed. You have to consider how much you’re willing to pay, whether to book an inexpensive inside cabin or splurge on a suite, and which cruise line and ship are right for you. Add dinner seatings, shore excursions and cabin location to the list, and planning a relaxing getaway suddenly seems like a second job.
With everyone attached to their phones, laptops and tablets, many people assume that online is the only way to book travel. But, as booking online can often be confusing, a travel agent might be just what you need.
One of the most important things to know is that agents — in particular, cruise specialists — have been onboard the ships and can really give you firsthand advice about different cruise options. They have done a great deal of research through familiarization trips and cruise line seminars, so you don’t have to do the work yourself. Even better, agents often have access to special discounts or perks — or know best where to find them — and as the cruise lines pay their commissions, you don’t pay more for their services and expertise.
Still undecided, or unsure where to find an agent to help you? Here are a few tips to get you started.
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Thats Great But I Like Doing The Research And I Dont Want To Give Up Control Of My Booking
Me too! According to another ASTA study, the biggest reason people say they dont use a travel agent is that they want control. While it is true that when you book with a travel agent youll see certain changes arent available to you online or on the phone , that doesnt mean you dont have control. Many of these changes can be a pain to understand, or require waiting on hold for a cruise line to do it. Let your agent wait on hold and figure out these changes.
Many other arrangements, such as booking shore excursions and specialty dining can be handled directly wih the cruise line if youd like, but your agent can take care of them for you as well, and in many cases, is able to help with things that might leave you stuck online, such as finding out your desired dining time is booked an agent may be able to get you waitlisted, or even work some magic on his or her side. In some cases, a travel agent can even help you skip to the front of a waiting list for a sold-out sailing or other tour.
In the end, youre not relinquishing any control, in fact, youre making it so you have slightly more control, potentially less waiting on hold, and you have a single point of contact for all your travel needs.
Want to have more control but with less work? Use a travel agent.
+ Travel Agent Discounts You Should Know
Theres a rumor going around that travel agents can get access to free or discounted travel. Its true! While some of your favorite, comped travel experiences are offered only periodically by vendors, there are many standard discounts available to travel agents everywhere. Here are over 30 travel agent discounts our Centrav staff members have discovered and enjoyed in the past.
Please note, discount availability and requirements are subject to change. Please reconfirm the requirements of all TA rates prior to booking. If you are unsure whether a travel agent discount is still available, be sure to contact the vendor directly for more information!
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How To Become A Disney Travel Agent Selling Disney
To become a Disney specialized travel agent you first need to join an authorized travel agency that is registered with Disney as a seller of travel. Park Savers is one of the easiest companies to join online as they typically get you started training same-day and ready for booking within 24-48 hours.
They are an approved agency with Disney and have been trained agents for over 10 years. Their program is easy to join, has friendly and helpful team managers, and most importantly, on-time with their commission payments.
Joining an agency like Park Savers takes little to no travel skill at all. This is because all your training is provided at the time of joining. The only skill you need to posses is a desire to book Disney vacations. A background in sales and customer service is always a plus.
The biggest thing that helps any new agent is if they have been on a vacation before to one of Disneys resorts or on a cruise. If you have found yourself wanting to go back again and again, this job is probably right for you.
Youll also want to have a dedicated workspace for when you do get started. Training and booking in a quiet place whether at an office or home is desirable. You dont want to be booking a clients vacation while your dog is barking or kids are hitting you with pillows .
You always want to sound and be professional when it comes to booking so having a place to go is something youll want to make sure you have.
So How To Choose The Right Vacation For You
Picking the right vacation is a decision with many variables: which hotel, cruise line or tour company is right for you, which destinations interest you, what are the demographics of fellow travelers, what are the service standards, what activities are available, and most importantly exactly what do you desire from the experience. We want you to make an informed, intelligent buying decision where you get the best value for your money! We work with our clients to ensure the vacation or cruise they choose is right for them and those traveling with them.
The world awaits you and we look forward to assisting you in choosing the exact right adventure on the waters or land for you and your companions!
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Disney Worlds Website Vs Disney Travel Agents Which Is Cheaper
The internet has made it easy to book your own trip and Disney vacations are no exception. You can just go on Disneys website, sort through the Disney hotels, select your ticket, and make all your arrangements in one sitting. Its as simple as that, right?
As easy as that may sound, I wouldnt recommend just winging-it like that.
When it comes to Disney World vacations, theres a lot to consider. Its a vast resort, with 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, dozens of hotels, and restaurants galore. There are Extra Magic Hours, Advanced Dining Reservations, FastPass+ selections, Disney After Hours, Club Level at Disney World, stroller rentals, and the list goes on. Disney vacations are much more complicated than meets the eye!
If you want to do Disney properly, I wouldnt recommend going it alone, especially if its your first or second time.
The most magical Disney vacations are well thought out. You should have good touring plans and your reservations should be in place way ahead of time. Otherwise, you wont know what to do and see, and you wont be able to just the lines at the most popular rides or eat at the best restaurants.
A Disney travel agent can walk you through every detail of a Disney World vacation. They can give you tips on where to stay, which rides to prioritize, where to dining, the best location to watch the fireworks, and more.
Bonus Secret: You Can Transfer Your Reservation To A Travel Agent Within 60 Days Of Booking
Did you read all of this and realize you now want to transfer the cruise reservation you made directly with Royal Caribbean to a travel agent? Good news, there may be time for you to do so!
Anyone can transfer a Royal Caribbean cruise reservation to a travel agent as long as you are within 60 days of the initial booking.
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Can Travel Agents Get Better Deals
But travel agents, believe it or not, have access to information unavailable to you to get better deals. They obtain much of their information from the same sources as the booking sites we use. Travel agents also can make phone calls and have direct communication with resorts and hotels to bargain for better deals.
Five Myths About Travel Agents
Mention the phrase “travel agent” to many travelers, regardless of age, and they can’t imagine why they would ever use one. It’s easier and faster than ever to book a hotel, airline ticket or car rental online, and there are user reviews everywhere, so why would anyone need an agent? We found out when we looked at some of the myths about how they work.
1. I can easily book the same trip on my own without using a travel agent.
Sure, you can book a trip yourself, but it may not be the same trip that you’d get through a travel agent.
“If they book it themselves, they’re just a credit card number” to a travel supplier, says Anne Morgan Scully, president of McCabe World Travel, a Virtuoso agency in McLean, Va. “I make a point of knowing the general manager of the hotel where they might be staying and I usually call the GM the night before one of my clients arrives and see if they might be upgraded. If they book with a good agent, they’re known on arrival.”
Agents are especially useful on specialized trips, whether it’s a honeymoon, a cruise or an adventure travel vacation.
Much of Haraty’s time is spent working with honeymoon clients and helping them decide which resort is right for them.
“They can read all of the hotel and resort reviews on the Web that they want,” he says. “But will they really be happy at an all-inclusive resort? Do they plan to go out every night? What kind of room do they really want? The answers aren’t readily available on the internet.”
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