Why should you use a Travel Agent and how do you find the one that suits you?

These days it’s so quick and easy to book an airline ticket online by yourself, but using an agent can actually save you money and a lot of stress. A good agent can really enhance your travel experience whether it’s for a holiday or for business. So how do you find the one that’s right for you?

Premier Travel & Tours is one of the leading Travel Agents in Zimbabwe. It was established in 1995 so they have almost 30 years of experience in the travel business during which time they have won numerous awards including the AZTA Best Travel Agency Awards and it has been voted Top Agent for all the major airlines. In addition, they have established a number of partnerships with other leaders in the travel business for tours, accommodation, car hire and anything else related to business or leisure travel. These partnerships can pass on the benefits to the clients, including special offers and discounts.

We spoke to Jenny Lovell from their Chisipite branch to find out what makes an agent special. According to Jenny the most important thing is establishing a sense of trust
with a client and offering a unique personalised service. This service doesn’t just involve booking flights – it includes advise on the best places to stay, things to do and see, which places to avoid, restaurants, theatres and other recreational facilities. Jenny emphasized going above and beyond client expectations, “We do not only sell you an airline ticket, we sell you an experience that memories are made of, enabling you to enjoy your journey be it a short city hop or a multiple destination long haul trip”.

Premier Travel & Tours offers their clients a 24-hour help line in case of emergencies or you are stuck in an airport at 3am you can call them to assist you or your loved ones, “From before, during and after your journey we ensure a seamless travel experience.” That’s something you don’t get if you book online.

We also spoke to Waylon Lewis from Sontine Travel to get more information about choosing the best Travel Agent for your needs. Lewis advises that it’s always best to deal with an agent that is registered with IATA as well as the Association of Zimbabwe Travel Agents.

Their rules and regulations ensure a high standard of professionalism, transparency and fair pricing. He also said he recommends using a travel agent, rather than booking online, particularly for the backup of being able to see or speak to a consultant in person. When booking online you are restricted to an online bot and it can be difficult to get answers to specific questions.

He pointed out that this could be seen during the pandemic when passengers were stranded all over the world. Most airline offices were closed so if you booked online the system would not allow a rebooking or an alternative flight, whereas for passengers who had booked through an agent, we were still able to work/assist from home and if the particular airline they were booked on was grounded, we could still request a refund through our Global Distribution System and rebook them on an alternative airline or on the same airline on an alternative date.

He added, “In days gone by Travel Agents were mainly for selling flights only, but now most Travel Agents sell a broad spectrum of services, including flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, hotel reservations, self-catering accommodation, all-inclusive resorts, activities, tours, sightseeing tours, car hire, boat cruises, train and bus tickets, cooking tours, hiking tours, mountain (Kilimanjaro, Everest) climbing tours, gorilla trekking tours, theatre tickets, sporting events as well as concert tickets and big acts.

Basically a Travel Agent should be able to sort out your travel from the time you leave home till the time you return home – a one stop shop.”While a lot of local Travel Agents specialise in outbound flights for Zimbabwe residents – whether for business or leisure, Nyati Travel and Tours focuses more on inbound travellers – although locals can also book tours and safaris. And you can book outbound flights through them too. It was started in 1991 by two Dutch teachers who wanted to bring small groups of friends and family from Holland to Zimbabwe and take them on various trips and tours around the country to experience the unique flavour of the country.

They have their own fleet of chauffeur driven vehicles including SUVs and a 12 seater Toyota Hi-Lux so there’s no need to book from another separate company. Having a chauffeur also relieves some of the hassles of dealing with Zimbabwe’s sometimes difficult roads and traffic regulations, especially when driving in the city centres.

The chauffeur can deal with toll gates, traffic stops and other problems that might arise. If there’s a flat tyre the chauffeur can change it and if there’s a more serious problem, like a leaking radiator, he can immediately arrange alternative transport.

We spoke to Tanaka Jazi at Nyati who said the most popular tour for international travellers is the 10 to 12 day, all-inclusive package – although all tours and safaris can be tailored to suit the individual group’s wishes. A typical 10 to 12-day package would start with visitors being collected from the airport and taken to their accommodation. Thereafter there’s a Harare City tour (walking or driving) to take in the major sites like the National Art Gallery, Africa Unity Square, the Cathedral, Heroes Acre and Mbare Market – with lunch at Gava’s Restaurant.

The tour guide explains the history and significance of each site for visitors to get a better understanding of Zimbabwe city life and the history of the capital. This could be followed by a two night stay in Nyanga and a visit to Mutare. Thereafter travellers would go to Masvingo to view the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, and then on to Bulawayo for another city tour. From Bulawayo they would travel to Hwange and ultimately Victoria Falls where most visitors would fly out. All accommodation, meals and incidentals are provided. This is just a sample of the many tour packages that Nyati can cater for – all under one roof. They can also do golf tours, fishing and birding tours, cultural tours and safaris in the National Parks. Something for everyone.

-text by Michael Nott

From DESTINATION ZW EDITION 6