Travel Agencies in Alameda County serving Alameda, Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Komandorski Village, Livermore, Mount Eden, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, Russell City, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol and Union City

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The Benefit of Travel Agencies in Alameda County, CA

If you're planning a trip or vacation, you've probably considered making the arrangements online because you think it will save you money. But travel agents in the Alameda County area can do everything the online travel sites can, including finding equal or better discounts. Working directly with most vendors and carriers, the best Alameda County travel agents still offer personalized service, usually for a small flat fee. The Prime Buyer's Report offers some guidelines for working with any of the top travel agencies in Alameda County. more »

The Benefit of Travel Agencies in Alameda County, CA 

The advent of the internet and easily accessible travel Web sites have changed the way many plan trips or vacations. While it may seem that it would be faster or cheaper to plan a vacation online, often it's actually not. In most cases, one short call to a Alameda County travel agency is all it takes. The travel agent will, after asking a few questions, take over for you allowing you to let go of the worry and hassle of purchasing airline tickets, booking hotel rooms, securing rental cars at your destination and much more. Travel agents are up on the latest rules, regulations and cost-saving methods of planning your trip. They have contacts and relationships with carriers of all kinds, including airlines, cruise lines, rental car agencies, hotels, bed and breakfasts, tour companies and tour guides. They usually work, regardless of how complicated your plans are, for one low flat fee.

Challenging the Internet Advantage
Travel agents provide a sort of insurance that automated sites cannot. If there is a problem along the way, you have a real person you can call to take care of it. One huge benefit of a hiring a travel agent is one-on-one communication. Since the travel agent personally books and guarantees your arrangements, they are knowledgeable about your plans and available to help. Computer-generated itineraries can go wrong, but an individual who is familiar with the travel industry can work closely with you to meet your specific needs and create a customized vacation around them, be it traveling with pets, gay and lesbian themed ventures, family vacations, group travel, corporate or business travel, cruises, honeymoons, eco-tour themed preferences, tropical destinations, or any number of specialized vacation packages. In most cases, this service is all-inclusive, including airfare, rail fare or sea fare, lodging, pre-arranged event attendance, and certified passport processing and photography.

Most certified travel agents are capable of handling tours or cruises worldwide. Travel agents often still have access to fares and packages that are not advertised on the internet and still have access to these limited, reduced bookings. This allows them to find further reduced fares to popular destinations, both international and domestic. Travel agents are indispensable when it comes to more complex itineraries, such as around-the-world ventures

Alameda County Has Many Qualified, Experienced Travel Agents
Make every effort to find the travel professional that has experience with the specifics you desire in your vacation. To help you choose, The Prime Buyer's Report has listed the top ten travel agencies and bureaus in the Oakland areas: Adventure Center Inc, Uncommon Journeys, Linden Travel Agent International, Sta Travel, Going Places Travel, Wilderness Travel, Harbor Bay Travel Services, Travel Shoppe, AST Tours, Passion Travel Services.

Indications of Value
Travel agents are not required to have any certification, so travel agents that have attained any degree of industry education have already gone beyond what is mandatory. The National Business Travel Association offers three types of designations for corporate travel professionals: Corporate Travel Expert, Certified Corporate Travel Executive, and Global Leadership Professional. The Travel Institute offers coursework that leads to a designation of Certified Travel Counselor, as well as marketing and sales skills development programs and destination specialist programs. The aforementioned coursework trains travel agents to provide detailed knowledge of travel to regions such as North America, Western Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim. Seek out these well-trained individuals and businesses and you can anticipate a better level of service. See the article, "Key Consumer Resources for Travel Agencies in Alameda County" for some helpful avenues of research for these types of credentials.

 

 

Choosing the Right Alameda County Travel Agency 

Before you screen potential travel, read through the information below to develop a list of questions for each contender. Particularly if your experience with travel agents dates back to a pre-internet era, there have been some changes in policy that you should be aware of. For the most part, travel agents no longer receive a commission directly from the travel and touring companies they work with. Instead they charge the traveler a flat fee for their services. Ask the travel agents that you speak with what their fee is and what it covers.

As of January 2007, legislation dictates that "Sellers of Travel" must be registered with the Office of the Attorney General. Verify the registration of any Alameda County travel agent.

Like contractors, established travel agencies must be licensed and bonded to protect the customer from undue financial loss. Make sure any Alameda County travel agent you consider can produce these credentials.

As mentioned previously, travel agents can acquire additional industry certifications. Ask potential agents about any extra training they've had.

Questions to ask Travel Agents:

What are your fees and how are they calculated?

Do you do domestic and international travel arrangements?

Do you have relationships with any specific vendors or carriers that could provide a discount or other benefits?

How long have you and/or your agency been working in the business?

What guarantees do you provide if something goes wrong on my trip?

Do you handle ancillary arrangements such as lodging, recreation and car rentals as well as travel arrangements?

Have you booked travel before to the destination I've chosen?

Can you meet or exceed online ticket prices?

Make sure that the Alameda County travel agent you are considering is enthusiastic, interested and helpful. Confidence, knowledge, and a general level of enthusiasm for your plans are important factors. If they approach your questions with a perfunctory, disinterested attitude, find another travel agent. This is a person who can make or break your trip so make sure you can feel good about working with him or her.

 

 

Key Consumer Resources for Travel Agents in Alameda County 

Travel Associations

ACI-NA Airports Council International-North America (www.aci-na.org)
ASTA American Society of Travel Agents (www.astanet.com)
BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
CalTIA California Travel Industry Association (www.caltia.com)
CLIA Cruise Lines International Association (www.cruising.org)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
IATA International Air Transport Association (www.iata.org)
IATAN International Airlines Travel Agent Network (www.iatan.org)
ICCL International Council of Cruise Lines (www.iccl.org)
PATA Pacific Asia Travel Association (www.pata.org)
TIA Travel Industry Association (www.tia.org)
TIES International Ecotourism Association (www.ecotourism.org)
WATA World Association of Travel Agencies (www.wata.net)
WTO World Tourism Organization (www.world-tourism.org)
WTTC World Travel and Tourism Association (www.wttc.org)

Media & Web Associations

Backpacker Magazine
Brave New Traveler Magazine
Budget Traveler Magazine
Conde Nast Traveler Magazine
Cruise Travel Magazine
Hawaii Magazine
Islands Magazine
National Geographic Traveler Magazine
Travel & Leisure Magazine
Travel Girl Magazine
Travel Professional Magazine

www.caribbeantravelforums.com
www.fodors.com
www.journeywoman.com
www.lonelyplanet.com
www.sogonow.com
www.thetravelforums.com
www.traveltalkonline.com
www.visiteurope.com

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for travel agents in Alameda County within the following zip codes:

94501, 94502, 94536, 94537, 94538, 94539, 94540, 94541, 94542, 94543, 94544, 94545, 94546, 94550, 94551, 94552, 94555, 94557, 94560, 94566, 94568, 94577, 94578, 94579, 94580, 94586, 94587, 94588, 94601, 94602, 94603, 94604, 94605, 94606, 94607, 94608, 94609, 94610, 94611, 94612, 94613, 94614, 94615, 94617, 94618, 94619, 94620, 94621, 94623, 94624, 94661, 94662, 94701, 94702, 94703, 94704, 94705, 94706, 94707, 94708, 94709, 94710 and 94712

 

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information about travel agents of Alameda County by city:

Alameda, Albany, Ashland, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Komandorski Village, Livermore, Mount Eden, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, Russell City, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Sunol and Union City

 

 

Tips for Choosing The Right Alameda County Travel Agent For You 

Allow for Time
There is always the chance that the first travel agent you visit is unable to meet your price, destination, or special needs guidelines. Once you do hire an agent to conduct the necessary research and/or complete a booking, the process can take some time. So allow for these types of eventualities-don't wait until the last minute to plan your vacation.

Fair Rates
Though travel agents usually do not collect commissions from travel vendors anymore, there is the rare occasion that they do. You shouldn't pay a fee if they are collecting a commission as well. Ask about pricing, fees, commissions, etc.

Flexible Services
Employing a travel agent doesn't necessitate the agent actually booking your arrangements. Many Oakland travel agents will be happy to charge you a flat or hourly fee for research work alone. The agent can simply research the cheapest fairs and packages and direct you to complete the booking yourself. Overall, this arrangement can increase your savings considerably.

Check Credentials
Though all that is required of travel agents that practice in the State if California is a business license and proper bonding, many agencies strive for higher quality, and require that their agents have additional certifications. Additional certifications are available from vocational schools and various travel associations. Check to see if the travel agency your are considering has these additional travel industry certifications.

Know Your Rights.
Though certification is not required of travel agents, accountability is. Travel agencies are regulated by a number of state and federal statutes to protect customers from poor business practices. See the details of this legislation at the Web site for the California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov).

 

 

Travel Agents in Alameda County Are Often Affiliated with Well-Known Travel Vendors 

Princess Cruise Lines, Norwegian, Disney Vacations, Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Globus River Cruising, Crystal, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Windstar Cruises, JetBlue, American Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Delta, Northwest, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Airtran, Continental, Midwest Airlines, Aer Lingus, Aero California, Aeroflot, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Air China, Air Europa, Air France, Air Jamaica, Air Transat, Alitalia, Aloha, America West, ANA, ATA, Austrian Air, Bearskin Airways, Aviacsa, Bahamasair, British Airways, British Midland, CanJet Airlines, China Airlines, Czech Airlines, EVA Airways, First Air, Hawaiian, Iberia, Icelandair, Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Lacsa Airlines, Lan Chile, LIAT, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Monarch Airlines, Olumpic, Phillippine Airliways, Qantas Airways, SAS, Singapore Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Swiss Airlines, Sun Country Airlines,  and Amtrak.