How to Find a Senior-Friendly Travel Agent?
Travel agents are not going anywhere, even contrary to popular belief. An experienced travel agent will put together an amazing vacation experience for you and also save your money.
Here are ways to find a senior-friendly travel agent for you.
Ask friends and family– Tell your family members and friends about your travel plans. You can ask them for reference for the travel agent they had used before, whether they liked them or not.
Consult professional travel organization- there are many organizations such as the American Society of Travel Agents, Association of British Travel Agents, Cruise Lines International Assocation, and Association of Canadian Travel Agencies offer people online directories of their member travel agents. You can modify the search on the basis of specialty, destination or cruise to find the appropriate travel agent for you, who can plan the trip according to your likes.
Use the Internet to Find the specialized Travel Agent- if you are someone with chronic health conditions or some mobility issues, then you would like to choose a travel agent who specializes in planning travel or people with health and disability concerns. For Instance, Sage Traveling is a travel agency that specializes in European travel plans for people with physical disabilities. Flying Wheels Travel is another agency that aims at providing tours, independent travel plans, and cruises for people with some disability or a chronic health condition like multiple sclerosis, and the agency also helps to arrange a travel companion. Accessible Journeys offer cruises, tours, and independent travel opportunities for people around the world with wheelchairs, mobility aids, and scooters. Similarly, Mind’s Eye Travel agency plans cruises and tours for people who are visually impaired and are blind.
Make a list of necessary questions to ask- when you meet or talk to the prospective travel agent, you should be ready to ask some important questions. Like,
- Are you a certified travel agent? From where did you get the certification?
- Which travel fields do you specialize in?
- How many years of experience do you have in senior-friendly travel plans?
- What is our transaction type for the fees charged?
- If I change the date of the trip, will that be chargeable?
- What is the refund policy in case I cancel the plan?
- What documents will I require for travel?
- If things go wrong on the trip, whom should I contact? Will there be someone to assist me?
- Can you suggest ways to save money on a trip, by flying on a different date or choosing a travel package with discounts?
Discuss your budget- you should always be upfront when discussing your budget.
Discus about your Mobility issues- you should always be honest about the mobility issues. If you walk slow or need a mobility aid, tell the travel agents about what you are capable of doing and what you are not. This will the travel agent will be able to design the trip to match your actual ability, and this way, you will be able to enjoy the vacation truly.
