| International travel is an expensive and time-consuming | | | | the right option if you have a few twists in your trip. |
| exercise. Many of us go on international trips either for | | | | And both these options may not give you access to |
| business or work related trips, to visit families, for | | | | the promotional and discount fares. The best bet will |
| studies in foreign countries or just for a vacation. Here | | | | be to call a travel agent and let them do the job for |
| are some tips to make this travel pleasant and easy | | | | you.Travel agents are a good source to get great |
| on you and your pockets.Planning your trip:Plan your | | | | deals. They can help you in finding deals with more |
| trip well in advance, if possible. This presents you an | | | | than one airline and can offer tickets for discounted |
| opportunity to get better air ticket deals. Airfares for | | | | prices. They have access to almost all airlines and |
| international travels are seasonal. There are three main | | | | have the expertise to search for the cheapest tickets |
| seasons: Low, Shoulder and Peak. Traveling in peak | | | | in the market. Travel agents are a great source of |
| season is always the most expensive. If your trip is not | | | | information. Do not hesitate to ask them questions. |
| time bound, plan to travel in the low season to get | | | | They can provide valuable tips on how you can save |
| cheapest and low airfares. For travel in peak season, | | | | money. Travel agents deal with more than one |
| shop for deals well in advance. This assures you good | | | | traveler at a time and hence may not be able to give |
| price, your choice of airlines and your choice of dates. | | | | you the details in the first call. Give them your trip |
| If possible, keep the travel dates flexible, as that would | | | | details and give them some time and they can come |
| help you in getting lower fares. There is a notion that | | | | up with really good deals for you. Travel agents are |
| you can get cheap air tickets if you wait till the last | | | | easy to spot as many of them have websites. A |
| minute. This is not necessarily true and during the peak | | | | travel agency with excellent customer service is an |
| season, you may run the risk of not getting a seat on | | | | asset. Some travel sites like etc. offer personalized |
| any airlines at all.There are many ways on how you | | | | over-the-phone services on travel to various |
| can save money. Many airlines have different fares | | | | destinations across the world.There are several travel |
| for weekday and weekend travel. If you are planning | | | | agencies around the world. However, it is important |
| to break your journey midway, some airlines offer free | | | | that you choose the right travel agency, which offers |
| stopovers while others charge a fee. Sometimes, | | | | the best customer service at the cost of a few |
| direct / non-stop flights are expensive than the ones | | | | additional dollars. This is better than booking the ticket |
| with one or more stops. Less known airlines can offer | | | | online or offline through a travel agency who may |
| hard to resist deals. You can either call individual airlines | | | | offer really cheap deal but may end up not delivering |
| to get their air fares and then compare or search on | | | | you the ticket or not confirming your seats.So the first |
| travel websites, which offer online booking facilities. | | | | step to planning your next international trip is to get |
| While calling individual airlines can be a time consuming | | | | yourself a really good travel agent. |
| and tedious process, online booking sites may not be | | | | |