Travel agents encourage people to travel and help them plan and prepare for the trip. Agents help clients define their travel interests and needs, including time and budget requirements. They work out tentative plans and suitable alternatives and then make all the arrangements. Travel agents consult a variety of published and computer-based sources for information on departure and arrival times, economical fares, car rentals, and hotel ratings and accommodations. Sources include maps, official guides, tariff books, computer terminals, and other reference materials to obtain schedules, fares, and related information.
Agents make airline, hotel, and car reservations.
They make the reservations and issue itineraries using computerized reservation and ticketing systems similar to those used by airlines. They also compute costs and take deposits. Ticket Agents can customize a vacation or travel plan by arranging special accommodations, adapting a schedule to fit client needs, and designing group packages and tours. Agents inform clients about customs regulations, passports, visas, immunization requirements, and currency exchange rates. They offer tips on climate, prices, what to bring or buy, and attractions worth seeing.