Nothing can match the excitement of planning a vacation.  When you are fortunate enough to be able to spread your wings and head to a new location, you already enjoy the freedom of being single.

Yet travelling solo may mean that you pay more than couples or people travelling in groups.  Many times people traveling solo are charged a couple’s rate or an even higher one! Travel companies are seeing solo travelers as more vulnerable and can sometimes try to take advantage of it.

Having a competent travel agent can prove to be a great plus when you’re planning your trip. The question is how do you know if you have a good travel agent that will be able to help you plan your trip?

First of all, you should make sure that your agent is a certified travel professional.  Check out all of their credentials and if you know someone who has used them before, ask about their experience.

If you don’t make sure that you agency is reliable, you may run into problems. If your flight is rescheduled, you spend hours trying to get a hold of your agent and be unable to resolve the issue!

Online traveling agencies are sometimes a good way to go.  However if something does go wrong, you may not be able to contact them right away.

Sometimes travel agencies are started by people who just paid a lot to get their license.  It is very important to avoid these kinds of people.  They’ve never had any experience in this field and wouldn’t know anything that could help you in any way.

Even after you’ve tried your best to look past the wannabes and scam artists, you still have some agents that leave you wishing for more.  Many agents don’t have a “go-the-extra-mile” attitude we hope for when booking with them. 

If your agent is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), that is a great sign. The ASTA is a very good association of travel professionals with a code of ethics that helps keep some of the false agents from taking advantage of people.

Another good name to keep an eye out for is The Travel Institute.  If an agent is certified by The Travel Institute, it is a reputable organization to be affiliated with.  The Travel Institute offers courses on travel specialties and many different destinations.

Another affiliation you can look for is the Association of Retail Travel Agents. Being affiliated with big companies such as Carlson Wagonlit or organizations like AAA will only provide further assurance that your agent is legitimate.

It can be a good idea to consider working with a local agent.  This allows you to go directly to their office and talk in person.  Feel free to ask about fees and any other concerns you might have.  If you can, take a look around the office.  Do the other agents take the time to talk to their customers?  Is your agent focusing on you, or does he seem distracted?

Having a good travel agent give you an edge on finding the best deals on flights, hotel rooms, car rentals and anything else you need. A good travel agent is also there for you if you run into trouble.

Keep in mind that while there are travel agents to avoid, there are more good agents available than there are bad ones.  Ask for references from friends and relatives and check credentials.  Once you find the right travel agent, the sky’s the limit for you and your vacations!