Vacation Planning During the Coronavirus Pandemic: 5 Things to Ask Your Travel Agent Should You Need to Travel by Isabella Garofanelli

I am both a luxury travel content creator and the CEO of Your Luxe Travel, an agency that specializes in luxury tours and adventures. Due to the nature of my work, I have had the opportunity to fly all over the world very frequently for the past six years. I got to stay at some of the most exclusive accommodations known to man, had the chance to taste really exquisitely prepared gourmet food while enjoying picturesque backdrops of both natural and man-made wonders, and have been treated to very lavish wellness services that very few ever experience.

Being so experienced in travel, I understand how important safety is and how easily things can go wrong when one goes on a trip. Especially now with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, safety and security should be everyone’s priority. That said, I recommend staying put until a vaccine is discovered and made available to the public, but just in case you find yourself really needing to hit the road, getting a travel advisor is the best way to move forward. Travel advisers or agents will do a big bulk of the work to not just make sure you stay safe, but also that your travel goes smoothly and that you’re able to maximize all your perks.

You need to understand, though, that not all travel agents have the same level of attention to detail or experience. This is why I’ve listed down some questions that you need to ask one should you find yourself needing to travel in this uncertain time.

1. How do I get from point A to point B and who is my contact person for each point? A good agent will make sure that every aspect of your journey is well covered, including getting from the airport to the hotel and then to wherever it is that you need to go afterwards. Lessening the contact with strangers and convenience should be the top priority. You also need to tell them if there are specific schedules that you must absolutely keep, so they can help make sure you make it there on time.

2. What are the safety protocols in every step of my journey? Each airport and city has a different set of rules set up. The same goes for airlines. While minimum standards are set by the industry, companies also have their own rules in place. You need to make sure your travel agent can provide you all this information to avoid hassle and so that you can prepare your own safety gears should you find one or more hubs lacking the necessary facilities.

3. Are there any special papers I need to prepare in advance? In addition to checking for symptoms of COVID-19 and rapid testing, some areas look for additional papers from travelers like residence certificates. It helps to have everything prepared to avoid any hassle.

4. Who do I contact in case something goes wrong? Is your customer service available 24/7? We all know how unpredictable travel can get these days. Make sure that your travel agent is available to be contacted in case any untoward incidents happen.

5. What are the scopes of my travel insurance? As a rule, I like to make sure that anyone who signs me up for travel insurance knows exactly what I am covered for. This gives me that extra assurance that this person knows their doing and that they can indeed help me should I find myself needing to file claims or refund.

The COVID-19 crisis has changed what being an entrepreneur means for me, especially now that travel is largely on pause. As someone who runs a business, I need to have the ability to quickly adapt and lead my entire team through any uncertain situation – even (and especially!) a pandemic. Moving forward, aside from luxury, safety and security will become more central in my company’s practice.

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