Lurklotgd.net » Agent

Becoming a Disney World Travel Agent

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:37:04 +0000

Certified Disney Travel Agents are registered travel agents that are recognized by Disney for their expertise in planning and booking Disney World destination trips. Only travel agents who successfully register and complete an online course can state to clients that they are Disney Travel Agents. Travel agents may also be able to receive commissions from Disney for successfully booked trips and have access to a secure website with special offers and continued learning courses.

Log on to the “Disney Travel Agents” resource website. The link is available in the Resource section of this article. If you have not accessed the site before,click “Register Now.”

Create a user name and password. Enter your name, e-mail address, and your travel agent I.D. number. Agents are required to have a IATA or CLIA number when they become a licensed travel agent in the United States. Select your job title from the drop down menu below the I.D. number text box.

Click on the “Register” button. Locate the “College of Disney Knowledge” link on the main page and click on it. Follow the prompts to complete the online course. The College of Knowledge teaches travel agents about Disney hotels, park details, and planning each day at the parks.

Print out your Disney certification when you successfully complete the online course. Download brochures and request literature and labeling from the Disney Travel Agent website to display your Disney expertise to potential clients.

Visiting the various Disney resorts and parks can increase your knowledge and provide your clients with first hand information.

Disney Travel Agent Log In:http://www.disneytravelagents.com/portal/site/dta-domestic

Information on IATA numbers and Disney Travel Agent Training: http://www.homebasedtravelagent.com/FAQ.htm#ARC Number

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/252075_becoming-a-disney-world-travel-agent

The Advantages of Using a Travel Agent To Help You Plan Your Wedding

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:41:30 +0000

Increasing numbers of people now research and book their vacations on the internet which is having an effect on the number of people the travel agent sees. It is not only because you can book your vacation from the comfort of you home but generally, it will be less expensive as well. I still like using a travel agent as it is nice to speak to someone face to face but I still go online to research the place I am traveling to. Checking out the destinations online can be fun, educational and it is easy carrying out virtual tours before you go plus by the time I actually visit the travel agent I have all the details I need. I certainly don’t want to spend my time, or their time, looking into trying to find a travel deal that I can afford if I already know that I cannot. If you are planning on international travel, they can advise you of things you need to know and you can find out what some of the laws are that might affect you. They can make recommendations of places that are particularly interesting, if there are any fees for entry into specific countries and laws relating to driving that can be easy to fall foul of. These people are there to make your life easier and ensure that your vacation needs are completely taken care of, something the internet cannot do. Don’t get me wrong, the internet is great but it is not caring and it is always reassuring dealing with a real person. You can book all of your flights and hotels through the internet but when it comes to complaining or trying to resolve an issue, suddenly a website cannot be of assistance whereas travel agents are there to assist you. Seeing a travel agent in person became much more important when my husband to be and I decided to get married outside of America and we needed a great deal of help with booking the whole vacation and wedding. The lady was very pleasant and couldn’t be more helpful so after a half hour chat I had a good idea where the best place for weather on our wedding was as well as a range of other services we might need. The pricing was obviously at the top of our priority list but she was even able to help there giving us plenty of options and contacting other companies for information on our behalf. It was this help that enabled us to book the wedding and our vacation almost immediately which was not something we had planned on but there wasn’t anything else left to do. You can always count on travel agents being there for you, even if things go horribly wrong. Kathy Street is an author and wedding consultant. She operates several websites that have information on wedding chair covers and how to buy cheap wedding chair covers

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/102391_the-advantages-of-using-a-travel-agent-to-help-you-plan-your-wedding

8 Reasons You Should Consider Using a Travel Agent For Your Honeymoon Vacation

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:44:59 +0000

When you are planning your honeymoon vacation you can research and book your honeymoon vacation yourself or you could choose to work with a travel agent and let them do the work. Before you make this decision, consider the following benefits of choosing a travel agent for your honeymoon vacation.

1. Travel agents can tell you the best days to travel
Travel agents book tons of vacations each year and they know what the best days to travel are from the perspective of one’s budget as well as from the perspective of time. If you are able to supply the travel agent with some flexibility in travel dates, they can find the least expensive and most hassle-free choices for your honeymoon vacation.

2. Travel agents can save you money on your honeymoon vacation
When you chose a travel agent to book your honeymoon vacation you will get the benefit of discounts on flights and hotels because travel agencies can purchase tickets in bulk and pass that savings on to you.

3. Travel agents can save you a ton of work when planning your honeymoon vacation
You will save hours of time because the travel agent will be the one to deal with the booking and preparations of your honeymoon vacation. You just tell them where, when and why.

4. Travel agents have the answers to any questions about documents you will need for your honeymoon vacation.
Your travel agent will know important deadlines and requirements for passports, etc. They will help guide you through the process.

5. Travel agents will most likely provide you with some insider perks for your honeymoon vacation
Because travel agents know the right questions to ask, they may be able to come up with deals that the “normal” person would never come across on their own.

6. Travel agents know about your desired destination
Because travel agents typically travel a lot themselves, it is highly possible that they have been to most of the common honeymoon vacation destinations. If they haven’t themselves, chances are that someone in their office has. This will allow them to answer questions you might have about best restaurants, public transit, etc. for your chosen honeymoon vacation destination.

7. Travel agents will help you deal with any problems that arise if changes occur to your itinerary
If you must change your honeymoon vacation plans for any reason, you need only make one phone call. You will call your travel agent and then they will have to make the dozens of phone calls needed to redo your honeymoon vacation plans.

8. A travel agent will give you one bill
When you choose to work with a travel agent, you will end up with one big bill to pay and not a bunch of purchases with multiple receipts, confirmations, etc. Many travel agencies will offer you payment plans. Choosing to work with a travel agent can not only less en the stress when it comes to the planning of your honeymoon vacation but can also save you money as well as time.

For more information on travel deals : “Free video reveals #1 secret to having an exotic and magical honeymoon and save 100′s even 1,000′s of $ $ $ !!! The secret enclosed in this video works for any kind of trip you are planning. It’s not exclusive to honeymoons

Article from articlesbase.com

How To Choose The Right Travel Agent For The Very Best Cruise Experience

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:14:13 +0000

Choosing a travel agent should be easy. Go to travel agents that specialize in cruising. I cannot stress this enough. There agencies that book cruises only and then there are agents within Travel Agencies that are specialists in cruising. Either one of these will fit the bill.

Ask the agent a lot of questions, like what cruise lines that agent has sailed on? They should be very knowledgeable about all the aspects of cruising- food, activities, entertainment, the size of the cabins available, the size of the ship, what kind of facilities and the clientele. To be really sure of the agents’ expertise, ask for a CLIA accredited agent.

Ask about a variety of cruises, not just one or two lines. Some agents push one or two lines because they either have booked a big block of space on a ship or they get a higher commission from a particular cruise line, they call these their “Preferred Suppliers”. Ask them who their Preferred Suppliers are and what lines they have personally sailed on. Many times it will be the Preferred Suppliers but you want someone who has experienced many cruise lines.

Cruise Tip: When choosing an agent, ask how long she/he has worked for the agency. You want one that has been there at least two years, has been on several lines, and can answer all of your questions. It is not realistic to expect the agent to have sailed on all of the cruise lines but you want one that has sampled many.

There are a couple of tricks to get the best priced cruise. Go to one Travel Agent who specializes in cruises; go through the options available for the type of cruise you want. After the agent has narrowed it down she/he will than say it’s time to call the lines and check for availability. The next step is to put a hold on the cabin which she will put in your name. Normally the cruise line will hold a cabin for a week. .

Go home and call another cruise agency and ask for their cruise specialist. Give that agency the same information along with the price quoted by the first agent. See if this agent can beat the price. If she can, go back to the first agent and tell her your mother, sister, friend, was able to get a better price and can she meet that price. Chances are she will, especially if she has placed you on a Preferred Supplier. Don’t feel bad about this. You will probably book with the first agent, and the second agent did not do any work except make a phone call. This will also let you know if the first agent did a good job. If agent number 2 can’t beat the price or quotes you a higher price, bingo, you’ve got yourself a great agent in on the first try.

The third thing you will want to do is check the internet for any deals on that particular ship. You can check by search engine or by going to the individual cruise lines website.

Your local newspaper will have a cruise travel section with lots of ads for cruises and will list discount fares. Or go to your local bookstore and browse the Magazine section for Cruise related publications. And of course the Cruise lines all have websites where you can book directly. But if you are a new cruiser it is best to go to a Travel Agent that knows cruising and can answer all your questions including the pro and cons of each and every cruise line.

Cruise Tip: If you are strictly looking for price, go to travel agents that have booked large blocks of rooms on a particular cruise and they will be able to give you a good discount. Just make sure that this is the type of cruise you want to take. Consider the ships “personality”. There are ships that are completely casual all of the time, or ships that promote partying, and ships were people are elegantly dressed all of the time. Choosing your cruise style is one of the first things you should decide, this will help the Travel Agent find the ideal ship for you.
Copy the list below and take them with you when you visit your chosen Travel Agency (write answers below questions):
1. What is the total price for the cruise? It should include port charges, air fare and transfers to and from the airport.
2. Can any money be saved by traveling on a different cruise line with similar amenities or if I traveled at a different time of year?
3. Does the agency have a way of checking if the rate drops as the cruise date nears? If so, will the travel agent automatically lower my fare?
4. Does the cruise line offer travel insurance and what kind if they do? Does the agency offer insurance or know a reputable company?
5. What is the last day you can cancel without penalty? What are the penalties?
6. What proof of citizenship is expected? What other documents will I need?
7. If I want to change the itinerary or go earlier or stay later is that possible?
8. Who will make my airline reservations? When can I get seat assignments?
9. Find out where your cabin will be and if it is close to the dining room, the elevator, the disco, the pool etc. Ships are large and there will be considerable walking.
10. Arrange with the agent what type of beds you want, queen or twin.
11. Tell the agent when you want to dine and how large the table should be.
12. If purchasing an outside cabin has the agent checked to make sure the view is not obstructed? If this doesn’t matter to you, you may be able to save some money by booking an obstructed view.
13. What are the weight restrictions if you are flying to the port?
14. When will I get my travel documents?
15. If you have a special diet request make it now.
16. If it is your honeymoon have the travel agent notify the cruise line. The lines usually have special gatherings for newly weds.
17. If you are traveling in a large group the cruise line should also be notified.
18. If you have any special needs such as cribs or baby food now is the time to have the agent tell the cruise line.
19. If you have a health issue, ask about the infirmary
20. Do they have any cruise reviews that you can see or get a copy of?

These questions and the information above will aide you in finding the right Travel agent to book your cruise vacation. Just a little bit of work and then you can Set Sail!
Happy Cruising!
Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.
This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

Common Questions to ask your Travel Agent

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:36:53 +0000

Your travel agent can be an integral part of planning your vacation, especially when used wisely. A travel agent is an invaluable resource when you have decided to plan a trip. They can help prevent travel complications while at the same time getting you the best value. However, it is important to remember that each travel agent is different. So, to ensure that your travel agent is a good match for your needs, here are some common questions to ask.Question 1 – What is your specialty?It is important to know what your travel agent’s specialty is. He or she may specialize in certain destinations or products, such as cruises or adventure tours. You will also want to ask what types of travel your agent specializes in. For example, you would not want to book a trip for a large group with an agent who is not experienced in such services.Question 2 – What are your fees?Obviously, you know that you will be compensating your travel agent for his or her time, planning expertise, work, and advice, but knowing the fees upfront is always a good idea. Some travel agents work on commission, some charge a flat rate, and some charge per service. It is also best to be upfront about your travel budget and be clear that your total budget includes travel agent fees.Question 3 – What are your hours of operation?You will need to know when your travel agency or agent operates. Be sure to get the toll-free number in case of an emergency as well as an alternate number for after-hours necessities. If your travel agent has email or a website, you will also want to note that information as well.Question 4 – What happens if something goes wrong?Sometimes, it is impossible to avoid inconveniences while traveling. Such inconveniences may include a delayed or cancelled flight because of poor weather. Discuss with your travel agent what happens in such circumstances and how he or she responds to these problems. Always be clear on your travel agent’s policies.Question 5 – Are tickets refundable?If you’re working with a travel agent, it is likely that you are planning this trip well in advance. In addition to last minute inconveniences that may occur, such as poor weather cancelling a flight, things in your life may change as well. Find out if your trip is refundable, partially refundable, or if a cancellation fee applies. It is also a good idea to check if reservations can be exchanged. Question 6 – Do you have special relationships with travel suppliers?Many times, your travel agent will be able to get you a great deal, which may not be available to the general public. Cruise lines, tour companies, and hotels often offer perks such as upgrades, free parking, and other deals to travel agents who have worked with them before. If your agent has this type of influence, take advantage of it!Question 7 – Have you traveled to my destination?There is nothing like first-hand knowledge. If your travel agent has traveled to your destination, he or she will be able to speak from experience. A well-traveled agent will be able to make informed recommendations and provide sound advice as opposed to one who has not visited the areas you are considering.Question 8 – Can I get a better deal if I travel on a different day?This question is integral to establishing a better deal if your travel dates are somewhat flexible. Remember, even when working with a travel agent, peak travel times and seasons still apply. Let your travel agent know that while your original itinerary is ideal, if there is a better deal to be had, you may consider traveling at a later date.Question 9 – Where can I learn more about my destination?In many cases, travel agents will provide customers with information, such as brochures, about your destination. If the brochures are not sufficient enough for you, ask your travel agent where you could do a little more research. He or she should be able to easily point you in the right direction. Question 10 – Will I need a passport or visa?If you are not sure if you will need a passport or special visa to travel to your destination, ask your travel agent. If you do need a passport or visa, he or she will also be able to instruct you on how to obtain one.Question 11 – What questions do you have for me?Always ask your travel agent if he or she has any questions for you. Travel agents should always ask you a few questions about what you are looking for in a vacation. This is necessary so that they will be able to come up with the best itinerary for your interests and budget. The best travel agent for the job is one who is willing to work with you, has extensive knowledge, and is receptive to your priorities as a traveler. However, you will need to ask the questions outlined above to get started. Remember, your agent should be more than willing to answer any of these questions, or any others that you may have.

How a Travel Agent can Save you Money on your Next Trip

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 04:02:37 +0000

These days, many families have their put their vacation plans toward the bottom of their list of priorities. During tougher times, a vacation can seem to simply cost too much money. However, if you are thinking about going on a vacation, you might want to look into working with a travel agent to save money on vacation expenses. Working with a travel agent to plan your vacation means you might be able to afford the trip you thought you would have to put off until next year. For this reason alone it is definitely worth exploring the possibility. So how can working with a travel agent save you money?Your travel agent will help you get the most out of your budgetWhether your travel budget is $500 or $5,000, working with a travel agent is probably the best way to make the most of your money. Especially if you’re traveling on a tight budget, the skills, knowledge, and experience of a travel agent can be invaluable.Just make sure when you’re discussing travel plans with your agent, you are absolutely clear about how much money you have to spend. If you want to travel as cheaply as possible, make sure your travel agent understands this so that they have a good idea of the types of travel and accommodation they should be finding for you.Your travel agent can quickly access a number of providersTravel agents typically have access to a large network of travel, accommodation, and activity providers. With computer systems that provide access to travel agents all over the world, they can quickly locate details of discount travel providers in many countries. This is one of the main reasons why working with a travel agent is a good idea when you’re on a strict budget. They have access to a large number of different resources, software, and industry contacts, all of which they can use when hunting down the best bargains.Your travel agent knows the cheapest times to travelSome days are less expensive to travel on than other days. Red-eye flights and stand-by flights can be less expensive, but direct flights can cost more than taking a circuitous route that involves several different connections. Your travel agent should be very knowledgeable on the process of all this and knows that flights booked on Friday, Sunday, and Monday are generally more expensive. You stand a better chance of saving money on flights if you’re flexible about your travel dates.In addition, your travel agent can quickly tell you if your vacation plans fall within a peak season during which flights to your destination are significantly more expensive. This means that you can modify your travel plans if you wish. Changing plans may include a cheaper destination or traveling during the offseason to save money on your flight.Advanced booking is another factor that your travel agent can use to help you get cheaper flights. You should be booking at least six months ahead to get the most affordable tickets. Your agent should tell you that the holiday season is always a relatively expensive time to travel, no matter how far in advance you book.Your travel agent has access to bulk discounts and consolidated ticketsIf you’re willing to travel as part of an organized tour, your travel agent can help you access travel and accommodation. There are also specials for activities that are significantly cheaper than what you would spend if you did the same activities alone. This is because as part of a tour you can take advantage of bulk discounts. You can even organize your own tour through your travel agent, and the organizer might get to travel for free! Consolidated tickets provide you with the chance to save on your air travel costs. A consolidated ticket is simply a ticket which was purchased by the agent as part of a large group of tickets sold by the same airline. The agent gets a bulk discount on the tickets and can pass that discount on to their clients.Your travel agent has industry contacts and experienceThis translates into money being put back into your pocket. Your travel agent may be in regular contact with many industry professionals, and might be able to get you a great deal on a tour being planned by another agent. If you’re flexible with travel times, your agent may advise you to adjust your trip dates to travel during a cheaper part of the week, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars in travel costs. An experienced agent should have expert knowledge of your travel destination and can provide advice on budget accommodation and activities. The agent may often be able to provide discount coupons, free passes, and other incentives.Best of all, none of these advantages come at a price! You can take full advantage of the wealth of knowledge and experience that your travel agent provides, and can potentially save a great deal of money in the process.