Honestly, answering that question is not as simple as you might think. Generally speaking, booking your travel through a qualified travel consultant is a good idea if you are booking a somewhat longer trip with a number of different elements that all have to work together.

According to www.hometravelagency.com, a travel consultant is:  1. An alternative term for travel agent. 2. A person with specific knowledge of the travel industry hired on a contract basis to provide advice, guidance, or services to a company.

In my opinion a travel consultant  is a better-qualified travel agent. They have areas of expertise and they are happy to share them with you.  A travel consultant is a friend who will take care of every detail from the time you lock your front door to the time you get home again.  They work on commission and they can be a HUGE asset.  They don’t travel WITH you (although they might if you make an offer to pay them enough) but they do handle the details on your behalf based on your requirements.

A travel consultant will usually require you to provide a cash deposit good to use towards your trip.  They do this to weed out people who are wasting their time on the phone asking a bunch of questions and then not ACTUALLY booking a trip.  If you are considering using a consultant, call them and ask about their credentials (not tips on how to book the trip).

Over the years we have built a great relationship with Lucy Hirleman at Berkshire Travel.  Her office is in New Jersey and she is not afraid to tell it like it is. Her clients consistently book with her (some every year) because of her outstanding attention to detail and avoiding pitfalls that can ruin a trip.  Read more about Berkshire Travel and their support of Erik's mission.

Do you need a travel consultant to book the airfare for your business trip to Chicago for an extended weekend?  No, probably not.  But for cruises, personalized itineraries, exclusive activities, and decades of experience THE RIGHT qualified travel consultant is just the person to take good care of you and your family.