Kayla Mahon

A bit of a lengthy read but worth it to save yourself time, money and unpleasant surprises! 

Why would I book with you? - this is a question I get ALL the time. Honestly, before I became a travel agent I booked online all the time and didn’t really see the value in an agent either. After working in the industry for over 3 years now, I have experienced the countless reasons for why it is always a good idea to have a real live human in your corner that you can contact anytime. 

So why would you book with a travel agent? 

#1. Weather - when you book your holiday months in advance and have been counting down the seconds until you can walk on the beach - then all of a sudden a hurricane is heading straight for your destination and it is no longer safe. What do you do? Calling into an online booking engine, especially when disaster strikes is going to take hours and hours out of your time. Agents have special phone numbers to all suppliers they can call and rebook, change plans or cancel plans for you! Or if something happens while you are in destination, you can call me and we can figure it out together! I am here to take care of your needs from the time you enquire with me until the time you come back home. 

#2. Recommendations - When I go on a trip for work or pleasure, I am always trying lots of different restaurants, jotting down cool hidden gems that I find, writing down directions to places, remembering exactly how much that beer and meal cost at that small cafe that was just off the tourist path, touring hotels and their amenities, renting cars and exploring driving conditions and so much more. This is my job! Even when I go away for pleasure I drive my boyfriend crazy making him see hotels and wander aimlessly just so that when a client asks me about a destination I can give real, concrete advice and I can make their holiday as special and memorable as it can be. I know where to go and where not to go, when to take a tour and when to explore on your own. I get to know my clients and I get to know their tastes and how they like to travel, so that if in your own research, or talking to friends, hear of or see something that looks amazing, I can tell you if it is right for you.

#3. Hidden fees or deposits - Rental car companies are notorious for showing cheap rates and then when the bill comes when you are already in destination, there are all kinds of taxes and local fees etc. I booked a rental car through Expedia (years ago) for one of my trips. The initial price wasn’t bad and I had read online about the pricey deposit amount so I made sure to have enough money available for the whole trip. The price that I had read online was not even close to the amount of money I had to put down as a deposit. I was told the deposit would be around $1500.00CAD, it ended up being $2500.00USD! Plus the car rental fees, taxes and insurance. Imagine getting the wrong information about pricing and not being able to do something you wanted to do while in destination? Or having a much bigger bill than expected? This happens not only with car rentals but with hotels, hostels, airlines, cruises, etc. As an agent I know every fee you will be charged and can prepare you for that so you don’t have an unpleasant surprise that could potentially ruin your trip. 

#4. Someone in your corner to look out for you - I never ever used to get travel insurance before I worked as an agent (sometimes not even medical insurance), now I wouldn’t even think of booking travel without having my full insurance package including medical, trip cancellation/interruption and baggage loss. There are many different types of insurance and most people think medical is all the same but if you do not read exactly what that medical covers it could be a real problem. We know about different types of insurance and can help you make the right decision. 

We are also here if something goes wrong on your trip. You booked an upgraded honeymoon room with an ocean view for a special occasion and upon check in realize you’ve been placed in a standard room with 2 double beds. You paid for the upgrade but the front desk is telling you they did not receive this information or they are all booked up. One quick email to your agent and they will be on the phone with the supplier and the hotel and will fix the problem. Sometimes things are out of our control but even if the situation is not rectified and you did not get the result you wanted, we can work with the supplier or hotel or whatever the problem was, to get compensation. You will never be left without a fair solution. 

#5. Contracts & relationships - As a travel agent, I have access to great rates and contracts with airlines, suppliers, hotels, cruises, tour companies etc. that are not available online. We work with our own representatives and get the best products around for the best prices. We also know about tips and tricks of the trade, do you ever wonder why that couple got a free bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries? Or that included sunset cruise? And you didn’t?

Just a few different reasons why I think it is important to think about booking with an agent! I became a travel agent because my passion in life is to see the world and I enjoy helping others see it too. I know what its like to have things go wrong, to have a trip ruined but I am here to do my best to give you all the information and support you and make your travel dreams come true. 

Also, there is no extra fee to book with me. Whatever price you find online is either the price I have, with all of the added value above or I have an even better price! 

Seek adventure and explore - Kayla