Below are a few travel agency questions that we are often asked. If you do not see your answer below, feel free to contact us here »
What is the role of the travel agent?
In addition to booking accommodations, cruises, and tour packages, the primary role of a travel agent is to give well-informed, appropriate advice to clients about where and when to travel based on their individual needs. We have access to direct inventory for many accommodations and travel arrangements, giving you options that you may have missed by searching for yourself . Not only will we book your trip and tell you about where you are going, but we will plan every detail from the time that you leave your home until the time you return. Thomas Hogan Vacations agents work on behalf of our clients to make your vacation a pleasurable, stress-free, and memorable experience.
Why use a travel agent instead of searching the web?
The internet is a great tool for comparing products and gathering information; however, the personal attention that a travel agent gives their customers can never be replaced by a computer. We’re not a faceless website offering you a deal with hidden fees and asterisks. While on line sites may promise to get you the best deals, they are not interested in building a long term relationship with their customers.
They are solely looking for numbers and volume and they focus on price alone. Travel is too complex a product to sell on price. When you work with a travel agent, we do the leg work and search out the travel options that best meet your needs and budget. We have access to promotions from resorts, cruise lines and other travel providers that aren’t available to the general public, saving you time and money. Most important, our personalized service and reliable expertise along with our wealth of knowledge is the greatest differentiator. Nothing beats the advice and resources of a REAL, LIVE travel expert.
Aren’t all travel agents the same?
Absolutely not. Choosing a travel agency is much like looking for a dentist or mechanic. You want someone who is knowledgeable, experienced, and trustworthy. Thomas Hogan Vacations has been the premier travel agency in Myrtle Beach, SC for over 35 years. Our agents have relationships with suppliers all around the globe and work dilligently to match our clientele with the right trip for them based on their individual needs and, as our clients will tell you, our attention to detail and clients service never waivers. Your best interests are our priority.
What are some examples of other services that Thomas Hogan Vacations provides?
With our connections, we can tap into group pricing for a cruise, add a few amenities or services or offer a unique product. We notify our clients if their price changes or a more attractive offer becomes available. We monitor seat assignments and cabin assignments in the event a better airline seat or cabin should become available. We monitor dining requests should a waitlist clear. We organize independent transfers and/or private driver guides, and activites. We inform our clients of those “unexpected” expenses that they may incur on a trip. We customize final itineraries for them with valuable information to include with their travel documents. We advise them of the do’s and don’ts for specific countries. We inform you about local laws, customs, climate, travel documentation and travel advisories that concern your destination. Most important, we provide you with the peace of mind of knowing we are there for you before, during, and after your trip.
Do I need to purchase travel insurance?
Purchasing travel insurance is an important part of travel planning.
−A close relative dies just before you leave for a Caribbean vacation, and you have to cancel your nonrefundable trip to attend the funeral.
−You’re hiking in the Alps, have an accident and need to be airlifted off a mountain.
−Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will reimburse you if you want to cancel your trip?
− You are at a beach resort in the Caribbean and you are forced to evacuate due to a hurricane which has made your resort uninhabitable. Who can assist you in being evacuated? Who will reimburse you for your lost vacation investment?
These are the types of nightmare scenarios that make even confident travelers nervous. And they’re why travel insurance can be an attractive idea.
Travel insurance offers travelers coverage for unforeseen problems, from a cancelled flight to a serious illness—or in rare cases, even an act of terrorism or the financial default of a travel supplier. If an illness, accident, or other covered unforeseen circumstance forces a traveler to cancel or interrupt their travel plans, they face two potentially major financial losses—money invested in nonrefundable pre-payments and medical expenses that in many instances may not be covered by health insurance.
A travel insurance plan can cover you for unexpected costs incurred before or during your trip. So that costs are less likely to come out of your own pocket, a travel insurance plan can reimburse you for the pre‐paid, non‐refundable portions of a trip if you need to cancel or interrupt your trip for a covered reason. A travel insurance plan also includes medical evacuation coverage (the price of which may cost upwards $100,000) and medical expense coverage, plus reimbursement for lost, damaged or stolen luggage and personal effects. Most travel insurance plans also include 24/7 assistance services to re‐book flights and hotels on your behalf and act as a personal travel assistant while you are away from home.
How much does travel insurance cost?
Trip insurance costs, on average, 4 to 8 percent of the cost of the trip. The price is based on coverages chosen, the age of the traveler and cost of the trip.
What types of travelers buy travel insurance?
Travelers of all types buy insurance for their trip. Wealthy retirees taking a cruise, families going to Disney World, couples taking a vacation, and college students backpacking around Europe all have a need for travel insurance.
