FAQ's
1. WHY SHOULD I USE A TRAVEL ADVISOR?
In today’s age of technology, booking vacations online is an easy choice for travelers. So why should you use a travel advisor? Well, consider this: there are two trips advertised online, same price and the same destination. One is a dream come true, the other a nightmare. Do you know which is which? Exactly.! This would be a good time to call your travel advisor.
Below are 10 reasons why YOU still need a travel advisor:
- Accountability – As travel advisors, our job is on the line with every vacation (pre-, during, and post) that we plan. We are accountable to you, the client. We are able to advise and assist you for ALL of your vacation needs. In addition, it really is nice to have an actual person with whom to talk when things go askew in the middle of a journey. How often will the internet return your call?
- Knowledge – At W&W Destinations, we advisors have been in the travel business for years and speak from experience. Is this your first time going to Europe or even to a specific country? How do you know where to go, or stay, or what to see? Is your entire vacation based on anonymous comments from a website? Isn’t it a much better decision to talk with people who do this for a living and know about what they speak?
- More for Your Money – Do you have an unlimited income? Unfortunately, most travelers do not. Often, when you’re booking a vacation, you want to see and do everything. We at W&W Destinations can ensure that your travel dollars are well spent. We take what is most important and send you on an amazing experience. Perhaps you are thinking of one specific cruising company or a specific brand-name hotel for your vacation; however, we advisors know of many cruising companies and hotels and are able to show you the one that best fits your pocket-book, activity level, needs, and life-style.
- Setting an Itinerary – There are not many people who “wing-it” through everyday life; therefore, why would you try that on a vacation? Let W&W Destinations plan a concise itinerary for every day and keep clear records for you of what is included in your vacation. In addition, we know not to schedule something every minute of every day. You need time to enjoy and experience the places you are visiting. Vacationing often involves relaxing, and we know the places that are well-suited and meet all clients’ lifestyles – for those who are fast paced, as well as those who want time to “smell the roses.”
- Budgeting – How much does the vacation cost? Are there hidden fees such as resort tax? Does the excursion include lunch? Should you purchase excursions in advance? Is this particular all-inclusive a good deal? (By the way, all all-inclusives are not created equal!) How much should one tip? You may or may not know the answer to these questions, but we nearly always do (or if we become stumped, then we know where to obtain the answers).
- Insurance – Stuff happens: luggage gets lost, people get sick, and vacations need to be cancelled due to illness. We at W&W Destinations can suggest insurance in a number of different ways to cover anything that may arise on your vacation. And we ensure that you have the correct travel documents so that the “ship doesn’t sail without you” or the train doesn’t start before you’re ready to board! When things go wrong, we have the resources and the contacts to get you to the head of the line. Remember, when you’re stranded, the internet still won’t return your call.
- Resources – Here at W&W Destinations, we have an amazing set of resources at our fingertips. Of course, you, too, have the internet; but how much time do you have to do the research? And do you know if what you read is reliable?
- Exclusivity – Want to be treated as a VIP … maybe go to the head of the line? How about obtaining a seat upgrade on the plane? Would you like to book a room at a brand new hotel or have dinner reservations at a special restaurant? We travel advisors know the new destinations and the new places because we receive information daily that keeps us abreast of everything vacation-related . Through preferred partnerships, W&W Destinations’ advisors often are able to obtain freebies for our clients that range from a free drink, a room upgrade, or even an exclusive admission to a restaurant or to a show.
- Time Savings – We advisors at W&W Destinations ask each client about what type of experience he or she is hoping to have, as well as his or her likes and dislikes. We put together an entire custom vacation for you, our client! We spend hours and weeks (if needed) researching each client’s perfect vacation. Why should you do all of that work … and wonder if a certain establishment can be trusted? Remember, this is what we do for a living.
- Leverage – W&W Destinations has spent years developing long-term relationships with our suppliers, and we understand how
important repeat business is to them. Because of this, advisors have leverage when it comes to obtaining what we want for our
clients. If you’ve ever tried to add a last minute addition to a vacation and all the tours are booked, then you will have wished
you had a travel advisor.
Bottom Line …
We travel advisors at W&W Destinations save time. We take the guesswork out of researching and evaluating the many options that are available to travelers, saving time and the hassle that often come with vacation planning. We travel advisors at W&W Destinations provide expert recommendations. Because of our knowledge, we make
personalized recommendations and offer tips on destinations … what to see and do while on vacation, the best and worst times to travel, and much more. therefore, do you really know which group tour or ocean cruise or river cruise is best for you … or are you merely going by what is advertised or what you may have “heard”? Remember, what works for one person, may not be the best for another.
We at W&W have been there and done that. We advisors are well-traveled, having visited the destinations and experienced the
vacations we recommend to travelers.
W&W Destinations’ travel advisors reduce stress. We help with all the details … advising travelers on everything from passport
renewal and requirements, to recommendations for obtaining an International Driving Permit and completing required country
entry forms before traveling overseas, which takes the stress out of the process.
We advisors help with the unexpected. Between weather delays, natural disasters, flight cancellations, lost luggage, and much
more, quite a bit can happen on vacation. We act as the traveler’s advocate in the event that something does go wrong by helping
our clients navigate the challenges of making any necessary itinerary changes.
No. We don’t charge a fee, per se – unless you want us to plan a very complicated vacation, which would be discussed. If that is
the case, then we may charge a fee to compensate for an extensive research and development service. However, for nearly
everything, our suppliers pay us for placing you on a specific ocean or river cruise, in a specific hotel, or on a specific tour, etc. However, if clients wish to book flights only (or to book flights not available when booking other components), then we reach out to our consolidators, who do charge a fee; therefore, if the consolidators charge us to use their services, then we will pass that fee on to you. Please note that we do charge a “kill fee.” If we do all of the research and lay out a plan for your vacation, and you decide that you will not to use it (for whatever reason), then we do charge a fee on a sliding scale. Typically our “kill fee” ranges from $225.00 to $300.00, depending on how much time we have spent working on your vacation.
Nearly all of our suppliers do price match – IF comparing apples to apples for every entity. However, we typically save our clients
15 to 35 percent more than what can be uncovered on the internet. In addition, many of our suppliers offer “best price guarantee.” Therefore, if a special sale materializes after you have purchased your vacation, then we are alerted that savings is available, and we will be able to reduce your vacation Cost to match the sale.