Fox News on the Top 10 reasons you still need a travel agent:

1) They Are Educated and Have Personal Experience

Simply put, they know more than you. They can give you insider tips and advice, using their education and personal experience to guide your vacation decisions in a way that provides you with the best vacation possible for you and your hard-earned investment.  They have access to the personal feedback from hundreds of clients, and their own personal travel agent network, to provide insights you can’t get on TripAdvisor or other social media sites. 

2) They Have Clout

Many travel agents develop personal relationships with individuals at the companies they sell.  They leverage these relationships to get you things you can’t get on your own.   That “sold out” room or the connecting rooms you want for your extended family trip when the online sites say they aren’t available.  They also have exclusive entrée to experiences you might not know are available to you.

3) The Fixer

In addition to getting you more on any particular trip, they can step in and fix things when your trip goes awry.  The average consumer books one or two trips per year, typically with different travel suppliers, so they have little or no leverage when things go wrong. The travel agent is constantly selling a particular supplier and has the leverage to fix things, even when the supplier isn’t directly at fault.  Travel suppliers value the travel agent’s business much more than any individual traveler.  They will step up to make things right or simply to make sure that traveler, and their travel agent, are happy. 

4) Cost-Savings

The best travel agents have unique access to benefits that can save you a lot of money and provide you with a better experience:  free room upgrades, spa credits, food and beverage credits are just a few of the things that agents can get, that you can’t.  Add in hard-to-get restaurant reservations, exclusive or priority access to attractions, added amenities, and you will have a lot more value for your travel dollar. (Ever wonder why the couple in the cabin next to yours got champagne and you didn't? They probably used a travel agent)

5) Time-Savings

Instead of searching blindly on the Internet for hours, days, or even weeks – depending on the complexity of the travel plans – you can have an expert do the research for you, with your personal needs in mind.  They do it for every component of the trip and very often do it at no cost to you.

6) Safety Net

If anything should go wrong during your trip, you can rely on them to assist you.  A travel agent will suggest and arrange alternate travel arrangements, help you to deal with any travel emergency you may have, and put you in touch with the right local people to answer your needs.

7) On the Cutting Edge

They are on the cutting edge of what's new: Travel agents are the first to know about a new resort, cruise ship or tour.  They have relationships with their best travel partners who keep them informed as to the latest and greatest offerings they have. So if you want to travel on the latest and greatest, agents are the way to go!

8) You Pay the Same Anyway!  

More than 98 percent of hotels are parity priced. That means the cost is the same whether you book it yourself or have the travel agent do the work. Some travel agents even have websites that feature the same inventory, bookable in real time, as Expedia and Orbitz. The customer gets the best of the high tech world, in a high touch, environment. This parity pricing applies to virtually every travel product. 

9) You Get Matched Right

If you call a cruise line directly, they won’t tell you that their competitor is a better fit for you and your travel needs.  Since travel agents sell everything, they focus on you’re your particular needs, making sure you are matched up with the right.

10) An Ongoing Mutually Beneficial Relationship

A good agent is like a good mechanic. Once you find them, you’ll never want to give them up. Travel could be your biggest discretionary spend in any given year, along with your limited time, so you want to make sure it’s done right.  When they make that happen, you’ll want them in your inner circle moving forward.

Comments from Scott Milne, 8.12.14

Marion Milne- January 2, 1935- August 11, 2014

My mom died peacefully, but unexpectedly, at home in Washington, Vermont early yesterday morning.

My mom and dad are inspirational role models. I am so blessed  for the  paths we’ve shared.

My mother lived a life of service to others. She was a tireless advocate for what she believed.

My mom’s  two most powerful traits are perseverance and loyalty. She always finished what she started, and once you were her friend, ally, respected colleague, or customer, she would defend you and promote you with every ounce of herself.

It is a fun part of every day to aspire to be like her- and I am still working on it, feel free to join me.

We are hiring! We are one of the fastest growing travel management companies in the region and we are looking for dedicated professionals. Milne Travel is a company that values its employees. As we have grown, we’ve carefully and continually invested in both our people and our technologies.

Click here to view a message from Milne Travel President, Scott Milne

Send cover letter and resume to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Milne Travel is an independent, family owned, travel management company. Originally founded by Marion Milne in Barre, Vt in 1975, we have continued to grow; out of more than 30,000 travel agencies nationwide, Milne Travel ranks among the top 100 in annual sales.

As Marion originally established, we have a culture of caring here at Milne Travel. We care for our clients by providing them the best value and service. We care for our employees by providing them with an engaging, appreciative atmosphere. We care for our communities through our charitable contributions.

Interesting Information

• Milne Travel's roots are visible in our geographic footprint of storefronts. We operate storefronts in four states.

• We have nearly 100 employees, working in 10 states and 2 countries.

• Milne Travel is one of the top 2 agencies, based in Vermont and New Hampshire, in overall sales.

Please fill out the information below to send us an email. We will get back with you as soon as possible. Thank you.

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