Why Work in Travel?
I love the world and the various cultures that dot the map. Humanities have always fascinated me, and I thrive on learning about new places and their traditions. It is the reason I was drawn to Japan in the first place, and later Taiwan. There is something truly special about the way some traditions can transcend time, technology, innovation, and evolution to keep people close to their roots despite their ever-changing environment. Growing up in the United States, there are many people of different cultural backgrounds but very little to call our own. But in East Asia, these countries have grown with the times while still remaining true to their origins, continuing to honor their ancestors and keep a rich heritage alive.
For me, selling travel isn’t about giving people lavish vacations or booking resort stays where you never leave the grounds – I want my clients to go out and explore the world around them. Selling travel isn’t what I do, it is a service I offer. My true passion is in exploring and teaching. My blog is my way of expressing my interest in new places and sharing my knowledge with anyone who is willing to listen. And if they want to go see some of these places, great! I am here to help along the way.
Why Should I Use a Travel Agent?
It’s the question on everyone’s minds when considering if they should use a travel agent to book their trip. For many, with the digital age making plan tickets and hotel bookings readily accessible to everyone, what is the point of booking through someone else?
But the truth is, especially when it comes to booking hotels, online booking through services like booking.com, Trivago, Hotwire, etc. may offer great deals but it comes at a cost. Travelers through these agencies are flagged as budget travelers, meaning that the service quality provided is minimal. You will not be booked with the best available room, your amenities will be limited to their basic fare, with little care given to your overall experience.
Booking a hotel through a travel agent signals allows hotels to book rooms for you with additional perks provided by our suppliers. Hotel perks may include but aren’t limited to:
- Room upgrades
- Hotel Vouchers or credits
- Complimentary services
- Meals
- Early check-in/late check-out
- Personalized service
In addition to getting better service and special perks through hotels, having a travel agent provides security if anything goes wrong. Your travel agent is there for you if your hotel overbooks, you miss your flight, you experience delays, or any other number of things that can turn your relaxing vacation into a stressful nightmare.
If It Doesn't Cost Me More, How Do You Make Money?
Typically, a travel agent makes their money off commissions from hotels, tour companies, and destination management companies. The commission does not meant you pay more, as it has already been calculated as a potential expense into the overall cost.
That being said, if you want your agent to plan out an itinerary for you, book your plane tickets, make reservations, and create awfully customized experience just for you, most will charge an additional fee for their time. Smaller suppliers, museums, restaurants, and other attractions often do not offer commissions to agents, but putting these plans into your agents hands frees your time that would be spent planning and stressing so you can relax and get ready for your upcoming trip.
While Airlines used to offer commissions, most no longer offer them to agents on economy tickets. And while it may seem simple, plane tickets can get complicated quickly when it comes to special requests and accommodations and unforeseen events. As a result, most agents will advise booking your own air travel or take on the responsibility for an additional fee.
What About Travel Points? Can I use Them With a travel Agent?
The short answer is no. However, it really is more complicated than that. If you are using points, your agent will not earn a commission for booking you. If they are already working on other commissionable aspects of your stay, they may be willing to help you book with your points. Most agents will advise that, if you have points to use, you apply them to your air travel. You often get better use of your points through the airlines, and your agent won’t be losing their commission on other bookings.
What Else Can You Help Me With?
As your agent, I am there to make sure things go as smoothly as possibly for you during your trip. If anything goes wrong, I am available to help. I can negotiate for later arrivals with your hotel, ensure your hotel takes care of you if they overbook, assist with moving plans in case of unforeseen events, and plenty more. I can do everything in my power to ensure your trip runs smoothly.
My favorite part of this job is planning. I can set up an itinerary based on your interest and give you a customized experience that caters to your desires. My goal is create a vacation that is right for you and your family.
I can help you fit within your budget (within reason). I may work with salespeople every day in my day job, but I am not a salesperson. I work in customer service because I want to make people happy and I want to do so within their limits. As much as I want you to have the perfect vacation, I don’t want you to have to breathe bank to do it. Set realistic budgets that are appropriate for your destination but don’t exceed your means, and I will make sure we stick to it and give you a memorable experience.
Tour Packages in Taiwan
Taiwan is an incredible country with plenty to offer. Exploring on your own can be a great adventure, but it may not be for the less-experienced traveler. That is why tours are an immensely popular option for those who want to see what Taiwan has to offer, without having to struggle so much against language barriers and zero guidance.
Tour activities vary slightly, but largely follow a similar itinerary. you will get the opportunity to make scallion pancakes in Yilan, explore the history of Taiwan at the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall and Gardens, cruise across Sun Moon Lake, and hike through Taroko National Park.
For those looking for a more personalized or off-the-beaten-path experience, private tours are also available.
Tour Packages in Japan
Japan has a diverse cultural landscape, from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo’s ever-busy streets to the serene, traditional atmosphere of Kyoto. The country has plenty to offer, and particularly in recent years they have been making an effort to improve accessibility for English tourist. English signs are being implemented more and more, and most popular tourist areas have English-speaking staff to help guide you.
But even as Japan strives to make navigating the country simpler for foreign visitors, there are elements of Japan that are still difficult to master.
For example, Tokyo is not built with a grid system in mind. Furthermore, addresses work differently in Japan and many streets do not have formal names. This significantly complicates things four tourists visiting on their own when trying to find a specific restaurant or shop.
Working with a tour group can help eliminate some of these pain point as you will be working with locals who know the lay of the land.
Tour packages in Japan vary greatly in length, type, and size. There are seemingly endless options for both private and group tours.
Tours can range from a standard location-based tours to themed tours. Food and agriculture tours are popular options.
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