Cristina Herrera has lived in Austin for over 40 years – and has been a travel agent since 1983. She says that while the internet has had a big impact on the business, there are still travel agents out there ready to help you plan your next vacation.
“There was a time when travel agents were like dentists and real estate agents – everybody had one,” she says.
The kinds of client Herrera works with these days are usually folks heading somewhere for the first time, or busy people who can’t find the opportunity to sit down and book their own trip.
“It’s extremely time-consuming, it can be confusing, and you don’t know exactly what you’re getting. If you call a travel agent, – and if it’s a good travel agent – they can tell you who is a reputable company, who best fits the kind of trips you want to make, or your likes or dislikes…we are a consultant in the true sense of the word.”
She says more people are rediscovering the advantages to having a travel agent after they find out how much easier traveling can really be.