Why Travel Agents Exist

Travel agents serve the public by assisting people and groups with customized plans for travel, including flights, buses, hotels, tours, and more for any occasion. Valentine Voyages has a higher drive to certify in Southeast Asian travel as well as convention accommodations and activities. However, because we are also a group who enjoys learning, we are motivated to learn about every aspect our clients need of us! We have a vast team and hundreds of resources to answer any question you may have.

I've not met an agent yet who hasn't said they once thought travel agents cost a client money. In fact, we are paid by the vendors your trip is booked through. There are no surprise fees, and any fees that may be charged will be forewarned at the very start and only if your type of trip applies to it. (Spoiler: It usually won't!) In short, your accommodations pay us! 

We may be seen as a career of yesteryear, but the truth is that the business is growing. One of the most shocking things new agents learned was that the commission is built into the price that everyone pays, whether that person is using an agent or not. Imagine paying more for a service you're not getting! Since becoming certified agents, we certainly encourage others to use our services; It helps a small business, and the knowledge and experience we can offer helps our clients!

We are currently a very small business ran by very few. Our lead for Valentine Voyages is Leona Valentine, who also takes care of the emails and social media. For safety and privacy reasons, we don't broadcast our agents names publicly, but you will meet them on your first appointment via a Zoom call! There, you'll not only get to have a formal introduction and build some rapport, but you will also get to know what your agent can do for you as well as start building the plan for your next trip.

Short answer: Always. 

Once you meet with your agent and start the process of getting your trip planned out, you'll be able to hash out details pertaining to communication hours. Your agent will always follow-up with you on any changes, inquiries, and more when appropriate and necessary. Currently on your trip overseas, and you need to contact your agent about an unforeseen circumstance? They'll be available then, too! No matter where you are, we are there for you.

If you find out your agent is local to you, that is a possibility! If you're an organized person who enjoys showing your binder full of travel wishes or just prefers to meet in person, have a coffee at a nice café, and shake the hand of your agent, we can certainly understand. We can do what we can to set up a local meeting, assuming it's local enough of course, but for the sake of this FAQ, we cannot guarantee that specific convenience.

(Almost) always! We do say "almost" because it is very rare we don't find a vendor that doesn't offer it. It is a service we will always highly encourage, but we will not push you to do anything you're insistent on avoiding. When it comes to a default price—that is, if you have not specified that you want travel protection or not—we will always include it in your quotes.

It honestly is the best thing to protect yourself from the worst things that could happen. It protects you if there is a cancellation or interruption in your trip, flight delays, lost/stolen luggage, vehicle rental protection, hotel or cruise issues, emergency medical needs including death/dismemberment, and more. (Gruesome to think of, we know, but necessary to mention.) There are, of course, some things travel protection cannot cover, and we will detail that during the planning phase.

There are always, always deals going on every single day. It changes constantly, too, so please ask us if there are any deals pertaining to your dream vacation or at your stay near a convention! Our "Ideas" page found at the top will showcase some of the deals our agents have found during their training and research. Feel free to check those out and keep no if something strikes your fancy. We have access to a lot of resources that are not available to the public, so please don't hesitate to sen!

First and foremost: Passport! Make sure you will have a passport before your departure date. It may be necessary to have that passport for a specific period of time before leaving, too, so please ask if you don't yet have yours. Some other things we encourage you to pack are: a travel umbrella, reusable water bottle, shower towel, money belt/bra pocket (to keep money safe), TSA-approved locks, a travel credit card, and an extra (old) backup phone. A full list can be made for you during planning!

Traveling alone may sound scary to someone who has never done it before, but we can absolutely help plan a solo trip where you will feel safe, will know your resources, and will feel prepared! Tours are a great way to travel alone but not be alone, and private tours are also a possibility for someone who would rather not be caught in a crowd.

If your trip calls for it, it will be included! Every part of your planned trip—from the flight, train, bus, hotel, etc.—will be listed out in a detailed itinerary. From this itinerary, we always show the final price that includes the taxes and fees from our vendors.

Always! The itinerary will include every detail about your trip, from the times you fly out from what airport, when you'll be in what city, where you're going and what tours are next, and extra activities you can add to your trip while you're there (if available). We are also happy to make a summarized itinerary on request for you to keep with you either on paper or on your phone. It includes no personally identifiable information on it, in case it gets lost or you want to share it with someone.

Some vendors allow us to hold pricing for 24-48 hours, allowing our clients time to discuss trip details with their friend, spouse, family, group, etc. and not worry that the price will go up the very next day. It can rarely be held for longer than that, unfortunately, so do make sure any and all details within a group are prepared as much as possible! We may offer something you never thought of before, though, so we understand a hold is a necessary convenience.