Trust us, that extra thoughtfulness in your services, goes a long way. Here we will once again go over ways where you can save your clients money for their family holidays. As a travel advisor, your expertise extends beyond booking flights and hotels, as you want to provide a service to clients that shines.
You will always play a crucial role in helping clients plan memorable and affordable family vacations, and when you do your best they will come back again to use your services.
Here are 10 key strategies to guide your clients towards cost-effective holiday options:
1. Always Optimize Travel Dates:
- Seasonal Considerations: Advise clients to avoid peak travel seasons (school holidays, summer months) whenever possible. *Obviously for families with children it may be a little difficult at times. Remember and you will know this, that traveling during the shoulder seasons (spring and fall) often results in lower prices on flights and accommodation.
- Weather Awareness: Go online and research the destination's weather patterns, at all times during the year, IE the seasons as well, to ensure clients choose the most enjoyable time to visit.
- Set a Realistic Budget: Everyone wants to save a dollar or Pound or two so it’s easy to encourage clients to determine a realistic budget before planning their trip. Factor in all potential costs, including flights, accommodation, meals, transportation, activities, souvenirs, and unexpected expenses. Remember the key here is also that all-inclusive deals save a lot of money too
- Explore All-Inclusive Options: As we mentioned above, all-inclusive packages can offer excellent value, especially for families. These packages often include meals, drinks, and activities, simplifying budgeting and reducing unexpected costs.
- Consider Last-Minute Deals: You need to be on your toes for these types of offers. Thus let your clients know you are looking out for them and advise them to be flexible with their travel dates and consider last-minute deals and travel club offers.
- Utilize Online Resources: You can pass on some legwork to them so also encourage clients to research destinations and compare prices online. They can utilize travel comparison websites and review platforms to find the best deals on flights, accommodation, and activities, and then let you know.
- Leverage Your Expertise: Share your knowledge of hidden travel gems, and off-the-beaten-path destinations, special tours and places to visit, that offer a more affordable and authentic travel experience.
- Conduct Thorough Research: Advise clients to research the political and social climate of their chosen destination. You can help them with this information and even send them links to the destinations travel advisories
- Prioritize Safety: family safety is crucial when families travel abroad, so recommend destinations with a stable political environment and a strong focus on tourism safety.
- Minimize Jet Lag: Distant destinations mean long flights and even stop over and change overs. Discuss the potential impact of time zone differences on the client's travel plans. Help them to plan their itinerary accordingly to minimize jet lag and maximize enjoyment.
- Involve the Entire Family: Check how many members in the families and the age groups. Encourage clients to involve their children in the travel planning process by discussing their interests and preferred activities.
- Mix Relaxation with Adventure: For the entire durations, balance planned activities with downtime for relaxation and personal exploration. This ensures everyone enjoys the trip and avoids burnout.
- Explore Exclusive Deals: There are many points clubs, card rewards, and accommodation stay point offers. For these you can advise clients to explore travel clubs and membership programs that offer exclusive discounts on flights, accommodation, and rental cars.
- Travel Light: Flight and transportation luggage fees can cost dearly especially if you are overweight. Thus encourage clients to pack light and avoid over packing, and weigh the luggage once it is closed. This reduces baggage fees and makes travel more manageable.
- Create a Packing List: Suggest creating a packing list in advance to ensure they don't forget any essentials.
- Be Prepared for Unexpected Changes: Things can go wrong for any travellers while in foreign lands. Explain to your clients that this could happen and they should be flexible and adaptable to unexpected changes in travel plans.
- Focus on the Travel Experience: let them know you are going all out in helping them plan their holidays to be perfect. Still things can go wrong. Encourage them to embrace the unexpected if things go awry, and view any minor setbacks as opportunities for new adventures.
- Create Lasting Memories: family holidays are there to create wonderful memories Remind clients that the most valuable aspect of a family vacation is the time spent together creating lasting memories.
