In June's edition I introduced myself and my services, feel free to go back and have a read. I talked about my shared values looking for value, while maintaining good customer service to build relationships.
My franchise Travel Counsellors winning many awards over more than 30 years using these values while building a travel community sharing experiences, for me all a benefit to my customers.
Thinking about this month and this article I didn’t want to make all about sales and book with me now, although feel free. No I hope I can give some tips or insight into the travel industry, maybe blowing some myths regarding when best to book and where do you get value.
Same place every year
I do wonder how or why quite a number of us end up going back to the same place, same hotel, when there’s so much to experience and see in this world and certainly getting to the stage when literally you get more for your money the further you travel.
In peak season, school holidays in recent years I’ve noticed for the average cost of a Mediterranean family holiday you’d be paying the same say for a family holiday in Thailand. Your pound does go further, depending on the age of your children you’ll find a time when they don’t necessarily don’t want to spend all day on the beach, that phrase starts coming out
I am bored!
Getting back to the same place, it could be you’ve had a bad experience in the past and eventually found somewhere you like, the hotel is just what you want.
With young families beach, pool and water slides are perfect, it could be like many who book online you start with good intentions and your looking for somewhere or something different, the kids are starting to get older and don’t want to spend all day at the beach. But after a couple of hours scrolling you end up saying either that’ll do or going back to where you know and happy with.
Scrambling and frantic
I also believe we all wait for January as we all know, Christmas tree comes down (sorry for using the C word) dark nights, excitement of the party season comes to an end and need something to look forward to. January sales equals booking holidays!
We go through above, get laptop out, Friday night and even a couple of glasses of wine while searching. Eventually you find the holiday, could be perfect or could be that’ll do and deposit paid. Over the next few days and weeks while thinking about the holiday your mind wanders towards the practical side, such as… I know I booked two rooms for us and I am sure they’ll have us connecting or side by side? Seats on the plane we’ll be sitting together, they’d never split a family up, would they? Along with all the other finer details thought about.
My tip, as you read this, plan ahead, think where you want to go in 2026, think about the hotels and rooms you’d like or need. Think about this summer, how was it? Could anything have made the holiday better? Think about your best holiday? What was so good, equally what was your worst and why?
Different look into my world
I’ve tried not to make this about me and book now all about the sales numbers. I’ve tried to maybe challenge you in your thoughts, also an insight into how the industry works. Getting in early definitely gives you the value, easy payments with deposits, many hotels offer early booking deals, maybe free nights, board upgrades and sometimes a mix of all these. Also keeps you in control and maybe getting the room(s) that work for you, where possible get them guaranteed (not a word hotels like too much) could be the way the room is configured. Finally maybe looking at your holiday, budget and giving a few different options.
Welcome to my world, the advantages of using a personal travel advisor, some see as a luxury, I see myself as an extension of your life, getting to know your likes, looking for value in the most important your time or family time. Lots have life coach or personal trainer, why not have a travel advisor for your time?
www.travelcounsellors.co.uk