Booking travel online is just plain dangerous. The allure of using a mouse and a few clicks to secure flights, accommodations, and exciting activities appeals to most people. But proceed with caution. Last week, “a few beers” with a friend turned into some type of man-splaining about what a travel professional can do. Man-splaining is not the phrase, but travel-splaining sounded stupid! He made a critical mistake somewhere in the fourth beer and asked me to cite specific examples of online problems. And here’s what I said…
The Dreaded Autocorrect Catastrophe:
Ah, autocorrect! I had a client type in the name of a dream destination, only to have autocorrect transform it into something completely absurd. Suddenly, they were planning a vacation to “Paris, Kentucky” instead of “Paris, France!” A good travel professional will always double-check those reservations! And a note to autocorrect (in case you are reading)—I will NEVER type the word ducking!
Fat Finger Fiasco:
Another client went to some site that asked for a budget. When he was done, his $5,000, week-long Caribbean vacation somehow morphed into a $50,000, nearly-month-long stay at a fabulous resort. His fat fingers added an extra zero in the mix. He did not buy it, but he did come to gloat about the great deal he found for only $5,000. Score another one for the travel pro. Those mistakes simply don’t happen.
The Grand Illusion:
Pictures can be deceiving, especially when it comes to online hotel bookings. You excitedly scroll through glossy photos of a luxurious suite, complete with a balcony and a sparkling pool. However, upon arrival, you discover that your “suite” is actually a glorified broom closet with a view of the dumpster. Cue the laughter, the disappointment, and the desperate search for the nearest upgrade to a Motel 6. Photoshop is a wonderful tool. Marketing companies are paid thousands to make that broom closet resemble the penthouse suite!
The Time Zone SNAFU:
Granted, this one will usually bite a travel pro once. And only once. Time zones are confusing, and you deal with different days when you cross the Pacific. Nothing is worse than arriving to find out you don’t have a hotel room. Well, maybe there is. What if you showed up and were considered a no-show, and it was sold…and you were charged for the night? Always double-check those departure and return dates, and keep your time zones in check!
The Alluring Email:
Remember what your mom always said. If it is too good to be true, it probably is. And travel is no different. A pro will know that a $299 trip to the Bahamas with air will include an hours-long, high-pressure timeshare pitch that will likely cost you an arm and a leg. A travel pro knows the cost, what is a good deal, and what is likely a scam.
As I mentioned, that was four beers into the evening, and my recollection today is made with a bit more clarity, but the message is clear—use a travel pro. The fee ($15 or $150) would have been well worth it in each of those instances. So the next time someone says, “Oh, I’ll just book it online,” here’s some ammo for you!
