LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - June 9, 2008) - Hawaii is the No. 1 destination that
creates the most satisfying vacations for Southland travelers, according to
a new survey of the Automobile Club of Southern California's most
experienced travel agents at the start of the summer vacation season.
The Auto Club survey also found that many clients of travel agents were
surprised to learn that using an agent can be cheaper than booking a
vacation through the Internet, and that travelers are most likely to create
an enjoyable vacation experience for themselves if they provide the travel
agent with as much information as possible about their personalities and
preferences.
With budget concerns on top of many travelers' minds this year, Auto Club
travel agents say they are encountering more price-sensitive vacation
planners. The survey revealed that the most common misperceptions about
travel agents -- such as the myths that they charge a fee for their
services, pass on commission costs to clients or can't match prices of
packages booked on the Internet -- are being increasingly encountered by
travel agents.
"I can normally match and often beat any price, and I am there for them if
anything should arise that would need to be addressed," said one Auto Club
travel agent with more than 20 years of experience. Another longtime agent
added, "I explain to clients that we do not charge for our services and
that many times, AAA travel agents can offer discounts and benefits that
clients do not have access to when booking on their own."
Another agent pointed out an additional advantage for budget-sensitive
travelers: unlike most Internet travel sites, which require full payment
for vacations at the time of booking, the Auto Club and other agencies
allow travelers to pay for their trips in installments prior to the
departure date.
According to the survey, the top vacations that have travelers returning to
tell their travel agents about their excellent trips are:
1) Hawaii
2) Cruises to any destination
3) Alaska
4) Italy
5) Multi-country European tours
The best reasons for using a travel agent to plan a vacation, according to
the survey, are:
1) A travel agent can provide options that the traveler might not
otherwise consider to improve the vacation
2) A travel agent is aware of current trends, travel advisories and the
quality of travel providers, and can help the traveler avoid potential
problems on the trip
3) The traveler knows they have an expert to contact in case they have an
issue
The Auto Club conducted its survey from May 2 to May 9 from among its more
than 400 AAA Travel Agency employees in Southern California.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest member of the AAA
federation of motor clubs, has been serving Southern California since 1900.
Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by roadside assistance, insurance
products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive
pricing and buying programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning
services and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about
these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at
www.AAA.com.
Contact Information: CONTACT:
Marie Montgomery
Jeffrey Spring
(714) 885-2333