What makes a good travel consultant?

You may wonder what the role is of a travel consultant in this day and age when information is at everyone's fingertips.

Well, it's simple.

There is too much information out there and, quite frankly, it drives me crazy.   How do you know the information you read is truthful and relevant?

This is where an experienced travel consultant comes in.

Experience comes in many ways:

• foremost, there is travel experience.  A good travel consultant has "been there, done that", knows what makes a destination special.  He (and I am using "he" here as that is what I am) knows what you can experience in your country of choice, can give you a good tip on a restaurant, hotel or special site.
• a good travel consultant knows his stuff - when is a good time to do an African safari, an Antarctic cruise, or a hike in Nepal.  Is one hotel on the beach in Zanzibar better than another?
• a good travel consultant knows when to shut up and listen.  Are you interested in seeing the wildebeest migration?  What comfort level do you want on your trip?  Is this your honeymoon?  What makes you tick?
• a good travel agent asks questions.  If you have not already told him what makes you tick, he should be asking you.  He then matches your interests up with places he knows about and where you can get just the experience you want.
• a good travel consultant knows how to get you there.  Sometimes that means getting you the best deal, often it means getting you the best flight connections, to get you to your destination quicker and get you home rested.
• a good travel agent gets you engaged and enthusiastic about your trip.  Between booking and traveling, he will send you articles about the destination, tips on what books to read to prepare, personal tips about your trip or weather reports.
• a good travel consultant has a network of reliable travel suppliers who all deliver awesome experiences.  After all, this is your holiday, your time away from every day - it should be an unforgettable time. 
• a good travel agent consistently gets great feedback from his clients. 
• a good travel agent goes to bat for this clients should travel arrangements not work out.  This may include real-time intervention or post-trip liaison with airlines and tour operators.
• and of course a good travel agent answers your questions and concerns in a timely and professional manner.

So next time you book your holiday, and feel confused after pouring over millions of web sites, give an experienced travel consultant a try.