Advice on finding a smaller travel agency/independent TA outside of your local area

[pookel]

First - I know we're not allowed to name specific agents/agencies.

 

I live in a smaller city and there are very few local travel agents. I also prefer to do everything online via email or text. But I'm interested in finding a travel agent who will get to know me personally and who can handle everything for me (hotel, airline, cruise). Every google search I've tried just gets me a ton of results from the large online booking agencies, which isn't what I want.

 

So - what methods could I use to find someone? Are there reputable websites that list agencies? Or sites that post agent reviews? Any advice?

 

I am in the US fwiw.

Edited August 18, 2023 by pookel

[drsel]

43 minutes ago, pookel said:

First - I know we're not allowed to name specific agents/agencies.

 

I live in a smaller city and there are very few local travel agents. I also prefer to do everything online via email or text. But I'm interested in finding a travel agent who will get to know me personally and who can handle everything for me (hotel, airline, cruise). Every google search I've tried just gets me a ton of results from the large online booking agencies, which isn't what I want.

 

So - what methods could I use to find someone? Are there reputable websites that list agencies? Or sites that post agent reviews? Any advice?

 

I am in the US fwiw.

You can find out by personally asking all people you come into contact with on your next Cruise.

Or visit any nearby regular travel agent and ask him to find out and get you the contact info of an offline cruise specialist travel agent.

 

I do all my bookings online, so I have not personally met any of the agents.

Edited August 18, 2023 by drsel

[pookel]

44 minutes ago, StollyBolly said:

Have you thought about looking into agents who are connected to a group of agents like Virtuoso or Distinctive Voyages?   They have member TAs.  

 

I don't even know what this means .... how would I find an agent group like this?

[jsn55]

1 hour ago, pookel said:

First - I know we're not allowed to name specific agents/agencies.

 

I live in a smaller city and there are very few local travel agents. I also prefer to do everything online via email or text. But I'm interested in finding a travel agent who will get to know me personally and who can handle everything for me (hotel, airline, cruise). Every google search I've tried just gets me a ton of results from the large online booking agencies, which isn't what I want.

 

So - what methods could I use to find someone? Are there reputable websites that list agencies? Or sites that post agent reviews? Any advice?

 

I am in the US fwiw.

Travel advisors (as they prefer to be called now) have some professional organizations.  One is ASTA and I believe it's the largest.  I do not know why TAs don't band together and do some advertising.  "Nobody" knows how to find a good agent.  You are smart to want to 'get to know an agent' and there's no reason you can't do that through emails and a couple of phone conversations.  My cruise expert is in South Carolina.  I got lucky and worked with her on an online travel forum for a few years, and now she's a friend. 

 

Be aware that agents are not paid commissions from airlines any more, so some charge a fee for certain tasks.  I believe some hotels and car rentals might still pay commissions, and of course cruises are quite lucrative.  Have you considered using a local TA via email and phone?  You could go in once in person, then handle it all online after that, I would think.  Seems to me that a local TA would have to be good in order to run an agency and make a living in a smaller town.  The bottom-line issue with using a TA is personal compatibility ... I wouldn't be happy with someone who is not as meticulous and detail-oriented as I am.  So it's kind of an investigative process.  

[StollyBolly]

46 minutes ago, pookel said:

 

I don't even know what this means .... how would I find an agent group like this?

Search Virtuoso Travel Advisors.   There is a link to find advisors.  After that it may just be seeing who is a match for you.  

[YourWorldWithBill]

5 hours ago, pookel said:

 

I don't even know what this means .... how would I find an agent group like this?

After all the comments, all I can say is good luck. We live in a big city, and I tried finding a local agent I liked. Didn't work. I tried an agency that I get emails from. Didn't work. Each time I had done plenty of online research.

Now I believe I found someone in another city - location is irrelevant, since all the communication is over the phone or email - and it seems to be working out. I just googled cruise agencies, consortiums, etc., and think (hope) I got lucky with whom I chose. Try! 

 

As someone said, if you meet someone on a cruise, it's always worth asking. But everyone has different priorities.

[Host Kat]

Numerous posts had to be removed due to "hints" for TA names. Also, quotes of hidden posts in replies meant that they had to be removed too. This thread is closed.

 

BTW, perhaps something in the following Cruise Critic article will be helpful:

Finding a Cruise Travel Agent