If you’re dreaming of a holiday you may wonder whether you should go it alone and book it yourself or seek the help and advice of a travel agent. Of course, there is a time and place for everything, but here are six reasons why we think a travel agent is the key to the best sorts of holidays.

Imagine your dream holiday.

1. Save yourself money

One of the common myths about travel agents is that they whack a chunk of money on top of all tickets and accommodation prices. This isn’t so. A travel agent with a good reputation will get their kick back from the airlines or hotels themselves so using a travel agent should not add to your bottom line. In fact, the opposite may well be true – often travel agents can advise on the best times to travel and have the strings to pull to ensure your holiday meets your budget comfortably.

2. Get help when you need it

TripAdvisor probably won’t answer your call when you want to find out which are the best family-friendly beaches or when you’ve missed your flight after spending too much time relaxing on those beaches. A recommended travel agent will be there to help you, no matter how big or small your requests may be.

Golf? Beach? Safari? What’s your dream break?

3. Save yourself time

If you’ve ever found yourself on the couch thinking you’ll just book that weekend break quickly on the internet and then find yourself, hours later, pretty much back at square one just with more options, more prices and more confusion, you’ll know the internet isn’t the quick-fix we often think it is. Using a travel agent can stop you going down a thousand rabbit warrens and will, without doubt, save you a lot of time.

4. Local knowledge at your fingertips

When is the best time to visit? Which restaurant has a view of the city? What should we see and experience that’s beyond the well-beaten tourist track? A travel agent with local knowledge is worth their weight in gold. Communicate with them, let them know what you’d love to experience and enjoy the journey.

5. Book a bespoke itinerary, just for you

You are different to that family on Tripadvisor and probably have a different budget too. If you are travelling with a large group, it’s likely you’ll have to accommodate a range of requests, from the best fishing streams to vineyards to plunge pools overlooking the savanna. Let your travel agent do the work for you – brief them well and wait for the bespoke itinerary to land in your inbox. The same applies if you don’t have all the time in the world, let your travel agent advise you on how best to make the most of your trip.

Luxury? Something more rustic? Ask your travel agent to help.

6. Have a stress and hassle-free holiday

It’s your well-earned break and you don’t need to be spending it working out when you should get to the airport, if you should be taking malaria pills or where the best place is to see the sunset. No stress, no hassles, just time to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime.

Keen to book that next African adventure? Get in touch, we would love to help.

About the Author

Richard is the Founding MD of Greatest Africa & Richard Hilton Vineyards. He lives in Somerset West with his wife and two daughters. He is passionate about the Cape, travel, global wines, wine education and sharing his experiences of this beautiful country that he calls home.