When it comes to using a travel agent, you might not realize what benefits they bring to the table. After all, it seems that so many travelers are doing their own bookings using online travel sites, so shouldn't you?

Not really. There are multiple ways that travel agents can help you to save.

More people are finding the benefits of using a travel agent. According to reports, in spring 2017, the number of people who lived in a household that used a travel agent service within the last 12 months amounted to 14.48 million. While it’s a reduction from spring 2008 (when the number was 18.4 people), it still goes to show that the travel agency industry is alive and well.

If you still don’t know the benefits of using a travel agent, here are five just to start:

Saves You Stress

“Vacation planning should be fun,” said Emily Steinkamp, travel agent with MickeyTravels, LLC.

“Leave the logistics to your travel agent. You select your experiences and resort amenities, etc., and allow your agent to be on hold with the resort or work through transportation details. Logistics can be the non-glamorous part of a vacation, where it’s time taken from your day to complete the task or to learn what is involved in planning your trip.”

Saves You Money

You know that phrase “time is money?” asks Maureen McKamey, an agent at Edina, Minnesota-based A1 Travel, a Travel Leaders Network affiliate. “It’s true when it comes to planning a vacation. Instead of sifting through thousands of resort and flight options online, let your travel agent do it for you. We can, more efficiently, present you with a curated selection of options to choose from and save you the headache of having to do all the planning yourself.”

In many cases, McKamey said that travel agents offer a deposit option to help those who can’t pay all at once:

“That means you can book your trip by putting down a small portion of the balance and pay the rest as you go before a final payment date. It allows you to lock in those early booking discounts since you won’t have to worry about paying the whole balance up front.”

Saves You Research

“Travel agents have knowledge about the destinations they book for their clients, so they are able to provide them with information and insight to help them decide what they are truly looking for in a vacation,” said Finkelstein, Travel Agent with MickeyTravels, LLC.

“In addition, we continually monitor our clients’ packages for promotions and discounts. We want to be able to apply the best available deals for our clients and save them money.”

Saves You Time

“Whether you are juggling a family and/or a career, using a travel agent saves you time,” said Steinkamp. “Your agent can make calls to your destination, look up dining options and make trip payments. The offerings your agent can provide are numerous.”

Travel agents have access to tools, deals and promotions that the general public doesn’t.

“When we book your trip, we’re not logging on to the same websites you are,” added McKamey. “We have our own set of vendors and booking tools at our disposal, and that means that, oftentimes, we’ll find you a better deal than what you’d find on your own.”

Saves You Peace of Mind

“We plan for the unexpected,” said McKamey. “Travel agents encourage our clients to buy travel insurance because travel really is unpredictable. We can set you up with a policy that covers those unpleasant (and expensive) surprises, like flight cancellations, or getting sick or injured while you’re on your trip.”

If you want to use a travel agent, ask friends and family for recommendations. Culinary Latitudes is currently promoting a trip of a lifetime to beautiful Tuscany and Florence next April!