How Working With a Travel Agent Makes Emergencies Easier to Navigate
Crisis and emergencies- while these are something that none of us ever want to experience, the truth of the matter is that they’re inevitable. But what happens when a crisis or emergency intersects with a vacation that’s been planned for months if not years? How do you navigate the challenges that arise, when you have emergency logistics and travel or trip logistics to manage? While working with a travel advisor doesn’t instantly solve all your problems, it can greatly decrease the stress, overwhelm and frustration you might encounter if a crisis impacts your vacation.
Understanding The Client
In my initial consultations, I ask questions that help me get to know and understand how you personally hope to experience vacation. I discover what’s important to you and allow that information to guide the planning process and use the information to provide suggestions. The same is true when it comes to handling an emergency. Once I learn that we have a crisis on our hands, be it the death of a loved one, a medical emergency, or some type of large-scale disaster, I can jump into action and use my knowledge and understanding of you, along with my experience managing crisises to begin finding solutions for the issues at hand. Also, depending on the challenge we’re facing, there may be guidelines in place that I’m aware of and can share with you to offer peace of mind.
The Importance of Travel Insurance
As I’ve mentioned before, no one is eager to experience an emergency- especially, when it affects their vacation or travel plans. However, things do unfortunately happen which is one of the many reasons I always encourage my clients to invest in travel insurance. While the hope is that you won’t need to use it, it offers peace of mind should something go sideways.
For those with food allergies, mobility challenges, or other medical needs, this can be even more essential. While we hope that everything goes swimmingly, one helpful tool to navigating emergencies well is anticipating them and developing contingencies should they occur. Part of a strong emergency contingency is a travel insurance policy. While it might not be the most fun or exciting vacation purchase you can make, buying travel insurance can provide tremendous benefits should you need to make use of it. This is why I strongly recommend a travel insurance policy for all of my clients.
The Value of Travel Agent Expertise, and Experience
As I mentioned earlier, part of my job is knowing and understanding my clients. What stresses you out, causes you to freeze, or frustrates you and what can I do as your advisor to help you move through that so we can put a plan in place to mitigate the emergency at hand. One of my biggest roles as your travel agent in an emergency is to serve as a member of your support system and handle logistics, challenges and stressors so you don’t have to.
A major impact of crisis that tends to set in quickly is decision fatigue. This is something I can help with by providing limited options and helping you process what’s most important to you. I’m also able to do research to determine what your options are so you can spend time focusing on what matters most in the moment- your personal well-being and the well-being of your loved ones around you. If there are specific logistics that need to be handled, such as cancelling trip components, or re-booking things for future dates, these are all changes I’m happy to assist with and take some logistics off your plate. As an agent, I myself have experienced challenges and had to think through, and process the right next steps to take. I’m quite equipped at being able to help you take things step by step so that you don’t end up being completely overwhelmed and frustrated. While the overall process may be overwhelming, taking things and breaking them into bite size pieces is an incredibly helpful way to approach these situations and something that I- as your advisor am more than happy to help you do.
Handling Natural Disasters
Up until this point, most of what we’ve touched on applies more to how a travel agent can assist in a personal crisis, tragedy, or emergency. However, in natural disasters, having a travel agent on your side can be incredibly beneficial. Because travel agents like myself specialize in specific destinations, I also make sure that I stay up to date on rules and regulations that apply specifically in situations like natural disasters.
Not only am I able to help you navigate them should they arise, I’m also able to make expert recommendations beforehand so that you’re well prepared should something occur. For example, hurricane season spans from June 1 through November 30th. Does this mean you shouldn’t schedule any cruises, or vacations to Florida during this time? Absolutely not. What it does mean however, is that I’ll be able to advise you on decision making factors and things to consider should weather be anticipated during your vacation period. Furthermore, this knowledge will inform my recommendations throughout the planning process, so that we ensure you’re prepared and equipped for situations that may come your way.
Not only am I able to help you navigate them should they arise, I’m also able to make expert recommendations beforehand so that you’re well prepared should something occur. For example, hurricane season spans from June 1 through November 30th. Does this mean you shouldn’t schedule any cruises, or vacations to Florida during this time? Absolutely not. What it does mean however, is that I’ll be able to advise you on decision making factors and things to consider should weather be anticipated during your vacation period. Furthermore, this knowledge will inform my recommendations throughout the planning process, so that we ensure you’re prepared and equipped for situations that may come your way.
Saving You Time, Energy, and Resources
While I’ve talked about how working with a travel agent in an emergency can save you stress and overwhelm, what I haven’t discussed yet is the time, energy and resources working with an agent can save you. One of the most important things you should know about travel agents is that we love to be savvy travelers. We know the ins and outs, and ways to do things to really maximize your experience. The same is true when it comes to handling an emergency. We want to handle things efficiently to save you time, but we also want to help you maintain the energy you need to do what you need to do. As a savvy travel agent, this may mean I’m on hold handling one thing on your behalf while working on an email to handle something else. Once things are handled, I may briefly send you a text message while I’m on hold to handle another logistic. Whether we’re trying to get you home expeditiously, change your plans, or get you to safety, I’ve mastered efficiency and will handle things in the quickest and most efficient way possible.
Conclusion
While no one wants to experience an emergency that affects their vacation, it happens all the time. However, working with a travel agent who can help, reduce stress and overwhelm, while being familiar with the area and save you time and potentially money is incredibly beneficial. Want to learn more about what it’s like to work with a travel agent? Visit us on Facebook and Instagram.