If you’ve ever sat down behind the computer to plan a vacation, you’ve probably experienced that moment of fear as you make your final purchase. Did I get the best possible value out of every decision? Did I do it right? With artificial intelligence and ever-more online resources promising easy do-it-yourself travel planning, you may be wondering whether travel consultants provide value anymore. There are plenty of advantages, and this week we offer a fresh perspective on the “why” behind what we offer.
Your time is valuable. While AI can be a useful tool, it still requires time, effort, and factchecking. Americans leave an astounding 662 million hours of earned vacation time on the table each year. If our everyday demands of home and work equate to not even taking a vacation, what makes you think you’ll actually have the time to plan one? With a dedicated travel consultant taking the reins, you can focus on your busy schedule and let us worry about filling in the details.
Handcrafted experiences. AI can certainly recommend scores of properties with infinity pools, palm trees, and ocean views. But what it can’t do is suggest curated and unique experiences we know you’ll love based on years in the travel industry. Maybe there’s a lesser-known property that’s a musician’s hangout, or a hidden local café that has word-of-mouth notoriety. The fact is, there is plenty that AI doesn’t pick up on that you’d miss without a human touch.
Specific considerations. Instead of adjusting your vacation criteria to the options shown from AI or an online booking site, using a travel consultant allows you to construct a vacation based on the parameters you set. Do you have specific dates you’d like to travel, are you wanting a specific domestic or international destination, or do you prefer flexible days or scheduled ones? These are all topics we’ll discuss before the planning begins, making sure it’s within your travel budget.
Experience and connections. Technology is certainly a valuable tool, and one we use often to keep up with trends and maintain smooth travel for our clients. At the same time, it’s our years of experiences and local connections that create the personalized experiences that travel is all about. We know about off-the-beaten path destinations or how to score those front-row tickets, because oftentimes we’ve actually been there and know the people to get it done. This translates into real and one-of-a-kind experiences for you, rather than a vacation based on outdated or misleading data that AI relies on.
Genuine human touch. While AI tools use algorithms based on what’s most likely going to open your wallet, travel consultants still offer the real-world human touch that creates the most meaningful travel. Here at SV&TP we emphasize the “stress free” services we offer. So, when things don’t go as planned, you can rest-assured knowing you have an advocate to help resolve sometimes complicated situations. Online travel agencies’ work is done once you’ve made your purchase, and AI can only get you so far when you get into a bind.
Value versus price. Price is what you pay, value is what you get. They are not the same thing! Simply getting a low price doesn’t mean you’ll be satisfied with your accommodations or experiences in any way. Instead, it’s the vacation’s value that makes a difference. AI and online booking tools emphasize the price, because that’s the most popular thing that drives the demand. Plus, when you factor in the time savings for you, you’ll certainly come out ahead by hiring a travel consultant, ensuring you’ve spent your hard-earned money wisely on a vacation that exceeds your expectations.
AI can certainly be a useful tool but when seeking genuine experiences, crafted to your tastes, for the value you expect, travel consultants will be here to take the reins for years to come.
My goal is to simplify travel-planning through an equal exchange process where I acquire your ideas and expectations for your trip relieving you of the worry, hassle, stress and time that accompanies Do-It-Yourself planning.