Agents provide services or have knowledge that you just can’t get online – and sometimes, especially in times of crisis, working with a real live person is just plain superior.

1. They are educated and have personal experience
   Simply put, they know more than you. They can give you insider tips and advice, using their education and personal experience to guide your vacation decisions in a way that provides you with the best vacation possible for you and your hard-earned investment. They have access to the personal feedback from hundreds of clients, and their own personal travel agent network, to provide insights you can’t get on TripAdvisor or other social media sites.
   
   
2. They Have Clout
   Many travel agents develop personal relationships with individuals at the companies they sell. They leverage these relationships to get you things you can’t get on your own. That “sold out” room or the connecting rooms you want for your extended family trip when the online sites say they aren’t available. They also have exclusive entree to experiences you might not know are available to you.
   
   
3. The Fixer
   In addition to getting you more on any particular trip, they can step in and fix things when your trip goes awry. The average consumer books one or two trips per year, typically with different travel suppliers, so they have little or no leverage when things go wrong. The travel agent is contantly selling a particular supplier and has the leverage to fiz things, even when the supplier isn’t directly at fault. Travel suppliers value the travel agent’s business much more than any individual traveler. They will step up to make things right or simply to make sure that the traveler, and their travel agent, are happy.
   
   
4. Cost-Savings
   The best travel agents have unique access to benefits that can save you a lot of money and rovide you with a better experience: free room upgrades, spa credits, food and beverage credits are just a few of the things that agents can get, that you can’t. Add in hard-to-get restaurant reservations, exclusive or priority access to attractions, added amenities, and you will have a lot more value for your travel dollar. (Ever wonder why the couple in the cabin next to yours got champagne and you didn’t? They probably used a travel agent.)
   
   
5. Time-Savings
   Instead of searching blindly on the internet for hours, days, or even weeks – depending on the complexity of the travel plans – you can have an expert do the research for you, with your personal needs in mind. They do it for every component of the trip and very often do it at no cost to you.
   
   
6. Safety Net
   If anything should go wrong during your trip, you can rely on them to assist you. A travel agent will suggest and arrange alternate travel arrangements, help you deal with any travel emergency you may have, and put you in touch with the right local people to answer your needs.
   
   
7. On the Cutting Edge
   They are on the cutting edge of what’s new: Travel agents are teh first to know about a new resort, cruise ship, or tour. They have relationships with their best travel partners who keep them informed as to the latest and greatest offerings they have. So if you want to travel on the latest and greatest, agents are the way to go!
   
   
8. You Pay the Same Anyway!
   More than 98 percent of hotels are parity priced. That means the cost is the same whether you book it yourself of have the travel agent do the work. Some travel agents even have websites that feature the same inventory, bookable in real time, as Expedia and Orbitz. The customer gets the best of the high tech world, in a high touch environment. This parity pricing applies to virtually every travel product.
   
   
9. You Get Matched Right
   If you call a cruise line directly, they won’t tell you that their competitor is a better fit for you and your travel needs. Since travel agents sell everything, they focus on your particular needs, making sure you are matched up with the right cruise experience.
   
   
10. An Ongoing Mutually Beneficial Relationship
    A good agent is like a good hairdresser. Once you find them, you’ll never want to give them up. Travel could be your biggest discretionary spend in any given year, along with your limited time, so you want to make sure it’s done right. When they make that happend, you’ll want them in your inner circle moving forward.

1. Bring noise cancelling headphones
They are a lifesaver when you are seated next to a group of friends, young children, or want to sleep through the barrage of pilot announcements.

2. Check-in 24 hours prior and select your seats
Most airlines allow you to check-in online for your flight(s) 24 hours prior. You will be able to look at the seat map and select the seats you want free of charge! You know you want a window seat, but if there is a row where the aisle seat is selected but the middle and window are free the chances of someone choosing the middle seat are lower.

7. Check if your airline has a downloadable entertainment app
More airlines are adopting an app-based entertainment system versus the seat-back screen. You may not be able to watch the on-board entertainment without the app on your device or tablet.  Plus, you won’t be able to download it once you have boarded because you will need an internet/wifi connection to download it. Check before you leave home or at the very least once you are in the departure lounge at the airport.

1.  All-Inclusive Getaway
Hop on a flight here, get off there, get whisked away to your resort, and leave your wallet locked up for the week! For the ultimate convenience and relaxation look to an all-inclusive getaway with direct flights from Vancouver!

2.  Cuba Cruise
Combine the convenience of direct flights from Vancouver with a 7 day, all-inclusive cruise aboard the Celestyal Crystal. Experience the Cuban culture firsthand while you circumnavigate Cuba with 2 days in Havana and stops in Maria la Gorda, Cienfuegos, Santiago, and Montego Bay! You can also extend your holiday and enjoy a 1-week all inclusive resort stay in Varadero before or after your cruise!

3.  Sailing by Catamaran
Take a journey through the Canarreos Archipelago islands on a sailing catamaran with G Adventures. Your skipper and guide will help you navigate the bustling streets of Havana, search for an untouched beach, and truly experience the Cuban Culture. The 79 ft catamaran accommodates 14 passengers and a crew of 3, and still allows plenty of interior and exterior space to lounge around when you are not out exploring!

See full trip details here!

4.  Sailing by Yacht & Explore by Land
Sail on a two-masted yacht that accommodates just 44 guests, and explore by land on a comprehensive 11 day tour with Lindblad Expeditions. Be immersed in the Cuban architecture, culture, landscape, and wildlife! Stops include Havana, Cienfuegos, Bay of Pigs, Cayo Largo, Trinidad, and the Gardens of the Queen.

5.  Land Tour
Travel with a group – small or large – for an in-depth Cuban experience! Discover a place filled with friendly people, distinct culture, art & architecture, and world-class beaches. Visit villages, farms, lush mountain coffee plantations, and snorkel the colorful coral. Stops can include Havana, the Vinales Valley, Maria la Gorda, Soroa, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Baracoa, Bay of Pigs, and more!

6.  Cycling
A cycling trip with G Adventures is sure to get your blood pumping!  Explore the hills of the Guaniguanico and El Rosario mountain range, tour a tobacco plantation, and see a side of this island that few get to know. Stops include Havana, Las Terrazas, La Palma, Cayo Jutias, Vinales, and Soroa.