As The Weekly’s Travel Editor, I am often asked “Should I use a travel agent?”. My answer is yes!
Using a travel agent could have prevented the following tale from occurring. For her 40th birthday, my Brazilian friend Adriana splurged $5000 on her first overseas holiday. She was travelling from Săo Paulo to Switzerland via the US, all booked by herself online to save money. But she didn’t know she needed a transit visa in the US. And so, she was barred entry and made to buy a one-way ticket home. Her dream trip went instantly down the drain.
What I wanted to say to her in my most exasperated tone (but didn’t so as not to rub salt into her wounds) was: “Adriana! Why didn’t you use a travel agent?”
Modern travel is complicated. There are reams of ticketing conditions and regulations to decipher. Freak weather patterns and political tensions are increasingly disruptive. Travel agents can help you get off to a smooth start. And the really good ones will come to your rescue should you be stranded.
Here are the top reasons why you should use a travel agent to book your next holiday.
A travel agent can help you avoid visa issues

What happened to Adriana happens regularly to Australians too. “Not knowing which visas are required for travel, including for transit, is a common mistake we see, even from the most seasoned of travellers,” says Jo McCauley, the CEO of Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI). Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand are other destinations that require transit visas.
“We don’t cover the cost of flight cancellations or changes to journeys that have occurred due to the traveller failing to have the right visa for entry.”
Travel agents know the best time to book

And that time is as soon as possible!
“The earlier you do so, the more likely you are to save,” says Edwin. “For Aussies interested in travelling to Europe during summer, ‘early bird’ deals kick off in September and October. Cruise month is in October, and there are also great deals and exclusives to be had across many cruise lines as a result.”
Travel agents can provide insurance advice

Failing to disclose pre-existing medical conditions (PECs) can result in denied insurance claims. The most common PECs declared by Southern Cross Travel Insurance’s customers are high blood pressure, asthma, anxiety and hypertension.
Bonus tip! The feel-good factor

There are psychological benefits to booking holidays early too. Research commissioned by Carnival Cruise Line found a strong connection between early bookings and improved mental health. The majority of Australians feel happier (87 per cent) and more confident (69 per cent) when they have a holiday to anticipate.
It adds zest too. 59 per cent feel more productive in their personal life when there’s a holiday looming.
Tops tips from travel agents
- Aussies going to Canada need a visa waiver and eTA (electronic travel authorisation). However, Flight Centre airfare expert Edwin Jungwirth recommends getting the US visa waiver, ESTA, too. “Emergency landings on the way to Canada will often be in Hawaii. Without a valid USA visa or ESTA, passengers will spend time in US custody.”
- Flight delays and missed connections are common, so try to buy flights with transit on a single ticket. That way, he says, the airlines involved will be responsible for checking through your baggage and re-accommodating for delays and missed connections.
- Get insurance as soon as you book accommodation or flights. “This enables you to have cancellation and amendment cover for your trip if there are any unforeseen circumstances that mean you’re unable to travel,” says SCTI’s Jo McCauley.