Living in Manitoba, somewhere around the moment we replace our flip-flops for mukluks, we begin pining for a return to the warm, lazy days of summer. It’s not that we don’t love our province in wintertime. Manitoba has its share of exotic beauty. Fresh falling snow, trees laden thick with frost, Christmas lights that emerge amidst a monochrome landscape beckoning the arrival of our favourite winter holiday.
But when the joyful sound of wrapping-paper-ripping subsides, and the beautiful snowscape takes on a grey-brown hue, we remember our summer-lust and the joy of jacketless freedom. That’s when many of us scour the internet for an escape from the mundane.
Dr. Seuss understood this. In his famous children’s tale, Oh, The Places You’ll Go!, he penned whimsical rhymes to describe our angst: “And when you’re in a slump you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.”
Dr. Seuss, it seems, didn’t have a good travel agent. Or perhaps he’d tried navigating the countless online travel sites looking for the best deal. Unless you have the time, determination, and patience to map out your own idyllic getaway, he’s right: un-slumping yourself can be tough.
Travel agents, on the other hand, can make it easy and fun—and they are more than just a vehicle to book your holiday. They’ll offer you advice on resorts you’ll love versus those that don’t give you value for your hard-earned dollar. They’ve been there and have seen them firsthand. They’ll let you know when visas are required and give you tips on safety, currency exchange, insurance, airline and resort services, gratuities, and items you may not think to bring.
A common misconception is that a travel agent can’t get you the same deal as internet travel sites. The truth is, a commission is factored into your online booking, even though you’ve done all the work yourself. Why not pay the same commission to a travel agent to do the work for you? You might be surprised that they can often get you the same price.
The added value in a travel agent is having someone to help you through the bumps and hiccups that can occur en route—missed or cancelled flights, insurance claims, passport loss, or resorts that don’t live up to their promises. A travel agent is there for you from lift-off to landing and has the pull to make things happen.
Travel agents make it their job to know the best vacation spots for romance or family fun. If you’re looking for something off the beaten trail, something with adventure, or a thrill factor, your agent can help. If they’ve never been there, they usually know someone who has.
Dr. Seuss had the right of it! “Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray, or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your [adventure] is waiting so get on your way!”
