These days, the Internet has taken over many parts of our lives, and has even taken over a number of jobs. One of the biggest ways in which this is true is through travel websites such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz, which help you book your hotel, airfare, and ground transportation, effectively doing the job that travel agents used to do. But in spite of how miraculous these travel websites can be, travel agents still have a place, and depending on your needs, their place might be right alongside you.

1) Packages: Most travel agencies provide packages, which can run the gamut from simple to extremely complex. Some packages might even be as simple as a roundtrip ticket and lodging in an all-inclusive resort, where your food and drinks are included in the cost of the package. On the other hand, a package might include two nights in Rome, a night in Vienna, and two nights in Florence, with transportation between each place arranged, with lodging arranged, and even with tours arranged so you can see all the sites you want to see. Because these travel agencies book this exact trip frequently, they are able to get deals you would not be able to get if you booked it on your own, and they can take care of it all a whole lot quicker than you could yourself, even if you used an online travel website.

2) Knowledge: Travel agencies can let you know what spots you should visit and what spots you should make sure you avoid. After all, you certainly do not want to learn these things through trial and error, spending half your trip on things you wish you hadn’t done. Even with extensive research, you are unlikely to find out more than you can find out from the travel agencies themselves, as these travel agencies deal with these places directly; furthermore, it is the job of these travel agencies to be knowledgeable!

3) That extra mile: Quite frankly, travel agencies survive largely on customer service, where real life people can go the extra mile for you, doing things that are above and beyond what is expected of them, while travel websites cannot.

If you are booking a trip, it might in fact be best for you to go with an online travel website; but consider all your options first, because a real life travel agent just might make your entire experience that much better.

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