Internet vs. Travel Agents: Why You Should Book With Someone You Trust

Worrying news emerged from the holiday industry last week, when it was revealed that UK holidaymakers were conned out of £2.2 million in false bookings last year – through online activity alone. From airline tickets that never materialised to dream holiday villas that didn’t even exist, it’s clear from the holiday horror stories that being able to trust your holiday supplier is more important than ever before.

Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Clark, head of the Economic Crime Unit at the City of London Police, said that while the internet has revolutionised the way we look for and book our holidays, the “unfortunate reality” was that the internet was being exploited by fraudsters to rip off unsuspecting holidaymakers.

The internet certainly has its place in researching and booking travel, but as has been seen in the last week, booking online isn’t without its pitfalls.

At Travel Counsellors, we had the vision to deliver a travel service which removed all the stress and worry from booking holidays, and put personal relationships back at the heart of the booking experience. It was all about building trust between an agent and a customer. As part of this goal, we installed our unique Financial Trust – and it’s as ground-breaking now as it was then.

This trust continues to offer a watertight guarantee for anyone booking travel with a Travel Counsellor. Whether flights or accommodation, car hire or even airport parking, every single penny of every single booking is 100% protected against any supplier failure.

Through excellent personal service underpinned by honesty and trust, a Travel Counsellor invariably becomes a true friend. Someone to hold a customer’s hand for every step of the booking experience, and an ever-present in case anything goes wrong.

Next time you book your holiday, make sure you fully consider what is most important to you, and whether it is worth risking your precious holiday by booking online. If you’d prefer a highly personal, and tailor-made service from someone who will be there for you long after the initial booking process, then booking with a travel agent is the way forward for you. We promise you won’t regret it!