What Questions Should a Travel Agent Ask?

When planning a trip, a travel agent is one of the best people to engage for help with bookings and other travel essentials. Professional travel agents can help you with choosing travel destinations, booking flights and accommodations. Their job is to make sure that you have the best trip that truly meets your desires and budget. To do that, there are some questions that they normally ask clients. 

The following are some of the questions that your travel agent is likely to ask. 

Questions about Your Past Travel Experiences 

To provide the best suggestions that will make your trip better than the previous ones, a travel agent will want to know about your past travel experiences. Some of the questions that you will be asked regarding past adventures include. 

  • How do you usually prefer to travel?
  • What are some of your most remarkable or worst travel experiences and, why?
  • Where did you stay during your past three trips?

Questions about your Travel Expectations

While the reasons for traveling usually vary from one traveler to another, all travelers want something new and more interesting than their previous experiences. To enable the travel agent to clearly understand your travel expectations and offer solutions, he or she will ask the following questions. 

  • What excites you most about the chosen destination?
  • Which activities have you been yearning to try out on this vacation?
  • Do you wish to travel with a companion, family or alone?

General Questions 

Apart from the more precise questions above, there are also some general questions that a travel agent will ask to get to know more about your desires for the trip including. 

  • What do you intend to achieve from this trip?
  • Have you done any research about the trip and what did you find out?

The job of a travel agent is to make things easier for you when planning a trip. By responding to the above questions correctly, you will provide them with the right information for putting together your dream trip. 

Important Things to Know About Travel Agents

Some people think that the work of travel agents is to simply push people to buy travel packages. They assume that they specialize in compelling people to make bookings so that they can earn commissions. But, this is not true. The best travel agents are professionals that focus on giving clients the best travel experiences. Here are important things that you should know about travel agents.

Travel Agents Provide the Best All Inclusive Services

Travel agents provide vacation packages that may include hotels or resorts, and cruise bookings. Their prices include the commissions they get from convincing travelers to book hotels, resorts, and cruises. Nevertheless, the best agents provide services and experiences that are worth the value of the money spent on them by travelers. They save travelers time and hassles of finding the best travel deals.

Travel Agents are Not Expensive

Professional agents earn a living by getting commissions from the sales of cruises, hotel stays, rental cars, and sightseeing. Airlines do not pay commissions to travel agents. When you compare the amount you spend trying to book hotels, cruises, and car rentals on your own with the amount you pay agents to do the job, you realize that they are not expensive. The amount they charge is worth the work they do.

Professional Agents are Not Pushy

A professional travel agent will make a sale without being pushy. Their focus is on ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of the client. In fact, a good agent wants the client to use their services again when traveling or recommend them to relatives and friends. Therefore, they focus on making the travel experience of their clients as seamless as possible.

When you work with a travel agent, you get the information you need to go on a smooth and satisfying experience. For instance, your agent will guide you when buying travel insurance. They will also use their experience and industry relations to ensure that you enjoy a personalized travel experience. So, if you were wondering whether working with a travel agent makes sense, consider finding a reputable agent for your next trip.

Useful Tips for Camper Van Travel

Anybody that has never traveled in a camper van may not know what to pack and considerations to make before the trip. However, Art and his wife Jessie from GT Roofing of San Antonio, swear to the heart that the following tips should make your camper van travel easier even if it’s your first time to make a camper van trip.

Know What to Pack

Campervan rental can compare to a holiday apartment rental. What you should pack for the trip varies depending on the campervan type, the duration you intend to be on a campervan vacation, and the season. Nevertheless, there are common items that every campervan traveler needs to pack. These include beddings, towels and linen. If the campervan has a limited space, pack belongings and clothes in a backpack or a soft bag. Other necessities that you should pack include a torch, adapter plugs, pharmaceuticals, music, a navigation system, and DVDs. You may also buy sugar, coffee, spices, toilet paper, tee, dishwashing liquid and bin bags.  

Accommodation

Campervan travels are more flexible than other options. Depending on the weather and your preferences, you can stay at one location longer or move your camp earlier. Nevertheless, campervan travelers have three major options to consider when it comes to accommodation. These include DOC campsites, commercial camping and freedom camping.

How to Handle Wastewater

To enjoy your trip, be an environmental conscious campervan traveler. Adopt behaviors that show that you care about the environment. For instance, use dump stations to dispose of wastewater. You will find a logo of a blue dump station at most campsites. Use it to dispose of wastewater.

Driving Your Motor-home

Driving and maneuvering a campervan is relatively easy. But, if you have not driven a campervan in the past, here are tips to guide you.

  • Always bear in mind the height of a campervan especially when packing under shelters or trees.  
  • Check the speed limit all the time.  
  • You drive on the left but you are always at the middle of a road.  
  • Be prepared to be overtaken on the left while driving on a multi-lane road.  
  • Acceleration and braking distance in a motor-home may take longer.  
  • Be cautious when driving in a windy area because the vehicle is higher than passenger cars.  
  • Extend and respect safety distances.  
  • Town driving can be complex because there is less space and more people.
  • Opt for an automatic campervan if unfamiliar with manual driving.  

Check the Campervan before Driving

Always check the campervan before you drive to ensure that your kitchen ware and belongings are secure. This enables you to ensure that you don’t end up having all items on the floor after turning a corner. Check drawers and cupboards to ensure that they are shut securely. Additionally, if you use a power cable, disconnect it before you drive and tidy the campervan before you hit the road. Similarly, check the gas cylinder to make sure that it is closed safely.

Follow these tips and your campervan travel experience will be more enjoyable and memorable.

Why You Should Travel with Friends

Why You Should Travel with Friends

More people are becoming travelers every day. That’s because people are realizing that this is the best way to discover the world and self better. When you travel, you explore the universe. But, though traveling alone can be liberating, there are benefits of traveling with friends.

These include the following:

Better Memories

You make better memories when you travel with friends than when you do when you travel alone. That’s because the people that you will relive the memories that you create with will also enjoy the experience. According to a close friend I have out in Texas, when you have friends by your side during a trip, you have company and this makes the adventure better. If there are bloopers, there will be some drama. These are part of the travel experience that you will share long after the trip, especially if you throw in some nightlife action. If your ever in San Antonio, Texas feel free to check out my friends website which offers memorizing elite nightlife experiences, the best in Texas. https://www.hotelhideout.com

Numbers have Safety

When you travel with friends, you feel a bit safer. This is particularly important when you travel with trustworthy friends. In case of trouble, you always know that someone has your back. The people that you travel with become your family. If you feel sick, these are the people that will help you. These will ensure that you get all the assistance you need to get back on your feet.

Easy Trip Planning

It is acceptable to be overexcited about your upcoming trip. The experience is better when you plan it with your friends. That’s because everybody can suggest activities that you can try out during the trip. If you are not good at planning, some of your friends can be excellent planners that will help you.

Lose Direction Together

Being lost with friends is better than being lost alone. You won’t be scared the way you would be when you travel alone. In fact, you can end up enjoying how the trip turns out when you have friends by your side.

Sharing Expenses

This is one of the major advantages of traveling with friends. You share travel expenses including food bills and accommodation fees. Provided you have a similar mindset when planning and budgeting, your travel experience will be smooth and amazing.

If you have friends that you can go on a trip with, consider suggesting that you travel together. This will give you a chance to enjoy these and other benefits of traveling with friends.

Tips for Solo Travels

Tips for Solo Travels

When it comes to solo travels, many people have their doubts. That’s because traveling solo has pros and cons. However, there are more pros of solo travels than cons. For instance, when traveling alone, you have the freedom to do what interests you. You also eat when and where you like. Essentially, you are in control and independent when traveling alone.

However, there are downsides of traveling solo. For instance, you might not have a dining companion. What’s more, solo travels are expensive because you don’t share costs. Nevertheless, if you opt to travel alone, there are tips that will make your trip more enjoyable and successful.

Plan to meet people

Loneliness is one of the major challenges that solo travelers encounter. To overcome thisa challenge, plan to meet people during the trip. For instance, spend your rest time in hostels instead of hotel rooms. This will enable you to meet and interact with people of all ages. Additionally, walk around the city to meet new people. When staying in hostels, make sure that you check message boards regularly. Some hostels organize group tours during which you can meet and connect with new people. You can also meet solo travelers via social media. Don’t be surprised to find solo travelers that are headed to your destination.

Eat out

Some travel destinations have cuisines that are fun for solo travelers to enjoy with other travelers. Additionally, consider self-service cafes when traveling alone instead of formal dining. Essentially eat in crowded places where people share tables. If you are staying in a hostel with other solo travelers, ask them whether they can join you for meals.

Go out at night

Walk along properly lit streets at night. Go to crowded entertainment joints where you feel their companionship. Take advantage of concerts, puppet shows, folk dancing, and movies. There are cities that provide after dark tours. Take advantage of such options to enhance your night travel experience.

Basically, these are basic tips for solo travels. Follow them to enhance your experience during your next solo trip.

 

Enjoy Quality Entertainment in Nightclub San Antonio Venues

Enjoy Quality Entertainment in Nightclub San Antonio Venues

San Antonio boasts for having a fusion of Hispanic and American cultures. This city has a variety of festivals and galleries that showcase Latino arts and history. What’s more, this popular Texas metropolis offers a variety of places where visitors and locals dance nights away to great music. It has clubs that serve as casual venues where popular bands play live music and sophisticated clubs that play the latest beats.

Popular Party Hotspot

My friend that owns Nightclub San Antonio tells me that the metropolis is now a popular party hotspot. With a bustling sandy beach, a picturesque harbor, and a palm-lined promenade snaking from the Calo des Moro beach to the other bay side, this city is more than an amazing holidaymakers’ resort. It’s a popular clubbing scene for both locals and visitors.

In fact, my friend tells me that locals and visitors descend to the clubs in this city every weekend and evening to spend quality time in its amazing restaurants scene. He adds that this metropolis is a great entertainment scene even for couples and families.

Amazing Entertainment Joints

San Antonio has an extensive range of clubs, restaurants, and bars. It also has waterfront clubs, open-air pool party venues, and champagne-popping venues. Generally, you will find a venue for any event that you wish to hold in this city.

Perhaps, what makes this city a favorite entertainment spot for many locals and visitors is the fact that it has many venues where different kind of music is played every weekend and evening. These are places where clubbers go to dance to great music or even listen to music while sipping their favorite drinks or having great meals.

Clearly, San Antonio has amazing nightclubs and a nightlife that makes it a perfect place for locals and visitors to enjoy quality entertainment. Plan to visit this metropolis and join thousands of holidaymakers that visit San Antonio every year.

How to Get the Best Deal on Travel Insurance

How to Get the Best Deal on Travel Insurance

Travel insurance gives you the safety net that you need to go out and explore with confidence. Nothing feels great that traveling to renew your spirit. Changing the scene provides a chance to adventure, let go, and get a fresh perspective. But, there are risks that are involved in traveling. When you have the right travel insurance, you will be reimbursed or get appropriate services if something goes wrong during a trip.

Here are tips on how to get the best deal on travel insurance:

  • Decide on the travel insurance to buy before you start the search

The travel insurance cover that you choose should depend on several factors. These include your travel destination and items that you intend to carry. A comprehensive travel insurance policy will cover your medical expenses and belongings or baggage. Therefore, decide on the insurance cover to purchase depending on your coverage needs.

  • Be reasonable about excess

Excess refers to the amount that the policy holder is required to pay towards a claim. For instance, if the claim amounts to $600 and the excess are $150, your insurer will pay $450. A cheaper policy comes with high excess. However, this might not be worth having. That’s why you should conduct extensive research first.

  • Check what your bank or home insurance covers

In some cases, home insurance includes personal possessions insurance when the holder moves away from home. That means you can save money by opting out of a baggage cover. You can also have a current account or credit card that provides travel insurance. Therefore, check first to determine whether the cover caters for your specific needs.

  • Consider how often you travel

Get an annual travel insurance policy if you travel more than three times a year. Such a policy will most likely cost less than purchasing separate policies for individual trips.

  • Get comprehensive coverage

Many travel insurance policies do not include risky activities. Risky activities may include scuba diving, mountain climbing, jet skiing, and hose riding. All these are adventurous activities. It’s therefore important to ensure that your policy covers all activities that you are likely to engage in when you travel. For instance, if you go on a skiing trip, ensure that your travel insurance covers winter sports comprehensively.

Following these tips, compare the available travel insurance policies to find one that provides the most comprehensive coverage at the most reasonable price.

How to Enhance Productivity While Traveling

How to Enhance Productivity While Traveling

Business travels can be enjoyable and fun. They provide an awesome way to meet new people and experience different cultures of clients, coworkers, and partners. When you travel for business, you see the world and learn more. But, business travel can be a major drain on productivity especially when you are not ready to travel. Fortunately, there are ways via which you can travel and stay productive.

Here are tips on how to enhance productivity while traveling:

Set up an out-of-office message or email auto-response

If you are always on the road, you can be tempted to ignore this. However, you can funnel inquiries to a coworker or an assistant using an effective auto-response. That way, the coworker or assistant will respond to the inquiries faster than you. What’s more, this approach enables you to meet the expectations of the people that contact you and free the urge to respond to their queries immediately.

Stay connected

Don’t make it hard for your contacts to reach you. To stay in touch, carry your Ethernet cable. That way, you won’t gamble on the Wi-Fi that the hotel provides. This is very important because the hotel Wi-Fi might not be sufficiently strong. It may also be slower making it hard for you to keep in touch with your contacts. However, if your hotel room has an in-room Ethernet port or a wired connection, you will have a faster, reliable, and stable connection. What’s more, a long Ethernet cable will enable you to create a more comfortable working environment.

Pick your hotel carefully

If you want to maintain higher productivity while traveling, don’t book a hotel with an amazing on-site sauna or pool. Instead, look for a hotel that has a dry cleaning service, a great on-site office center, and other business-centric amenities. Such amenities will enable you to work properly and feel relaxed throughout the stay.

So, if you intend to travel and stay productive while traveling, follow these tips when planning your trip.

Combining Leisure Travel and Business Travel to Save Money

Combining Leisure Travel and Business Travel to Save Money

Combining leisure travel and business travel is a trend that is gaining increasing popularity. Younger professionals that travel for work want to add some leisure travel days in their schedules. This trend is definitely enabling individual professionals to save money. But, to make sure that you merge leisure travel and business travel without troubles, follow these tips.

Check the Corporate travel policy of your employer

In some companies, employees are allowed to book individual travels at discounted corporate rates. Depending on the company, these rates can be better than those offered on hotel websites. It’s important to bear in mind the fact that employees are responsible for paying for the nights that they spend away. However, this yields greater savings especially when they book popular hotels.

Switch hotels

If you don’t have the option to negotiate corporate rates for leisure travel, switching hotels mid-trip might be worthwhile. Often, a weekend rate of a hotel is lower, especially in cities that are less leisure-focused. Switching hotels can imply going to a suburb. That way, you are likely to get reduced leisure rates.

Explore nearby

Apart from switching hotels, you can explore the nearby cities as long as they are within the range of your business trip destination. For example, you can rent a car then drive to the nearest beach then drive back to catch a flight out. That way, you will explore the destination and save money.

Use loyalty perks wisely

Most hotels have loyalty programs. These include amenities like free fitness center access, spa treatment discounts, in-room Wi-Fi, and free nights in some cases. Make sure that you sign up or register your company or business travel with the loyalty program of the hotel. This might end up getting you a free night or room upgrade if you extend the stay.

If you plan to travel for business, use these tips to merge leisure travel and business travel to save money. I recommend Orbitz.com for all your bookings.

 

Great Beaches near Charleston, South Carolina

You see, to some of us, an ideal vacation must include spending some time on a warm beach while enjoying the sun. Charleston, SC is not only one of America’s most beloved cities but also home to some of the most beautifully distinct beaches in the country. If you’ve traveled to this city before, you’ll agree to the fact that getting here has never been easier and more affordable. The beaches of Charleston, as well as the surrounding barrier islands, offer visitors and residents with a Southern charm and magic while giving them a chance to escape the city. Here are some of the great beaches you must visit when in Charleston, South Carolina.

Folly Beach

The Folly Beach in Charleston, South Carolina is probably the most laidback of the local island scene. Why not come here with your friends or family and watch surfers line up in the Washout or even take a surfing lesson? If you’re a pro, all you need is to get started. The island features cafes and beach bars, miles of beaches, a fishing pier, and more. Now you know why this place is affectionately referred to as “the Edge of America.” It’s time you relaxed in the natural beauty that’s distinct.

Sullivan’s Island

Also known as the “Poe and Paddle, the Sullivan’s Island is ideal for visitors and locals who love stand up paddle-boarding. It features an in low to medium tide and an inlet right off the beach which allows individuals to balance easily on the board without necessarily having to fight the ocean waves. If you have no idea what this is all about, you can take a one-hour class from the Air and Earth Shop before getting started. Coming here will give you the opportunity to lounge barefoot alongside millionaires.

Isle of Palms

If you’ve ever been to a destination with live music on those long sandy beaches accompanied with crazy bikini contests, you have an idea of what you can find at the Isle of Palms. It’s known for being a family beach. You get to interact with other visitors as well as residents. There’s always a balance here. Some of the activities you can do here include surfing, golfing, paddle-boarding, shopping, and more.

Kiawah Island

Head to Kiawah Island and find one of America’s best beaches. Kiawah Island is an oasis of natural beauty for travelers and families seeking to have a luxurious beach experience. The 10,000-acre barrier island is also home to residential properties, an acclaimed resort, and world-class golf. The beaches here are among the most dog-friendly in America and Charleston. The Island is located about twenty-one miles from downtown Charleston.

Seabrook Island

Just about a half an hour from Charleston, SC is the Seabrook Island, an oceanfront community with pristine beaches, serene marshes, and lush maritime forest. Travelers from across the country come here to explore over three miles of pristine beaches, enjoy some horseback riding on the bright sandy beaches, or go kayaking through the marshes. Don’t forget that there are beautiful dining spots where you can dine overlooking the ocean after a busy day on the beach.