Local experts... the key to saving cash on a dream hol
IF YOU’RE thinking of booking a holiday to an exotic, far-flung country, there are countless companies to choose from.
But when it comes to sorting out the ground arrangements, the tour operator will employ a travel agent based in the country you’re visiting. So it begs the question: why don’t we book hotels, transport and experiences direct with that agent?
By doing so, we can tap into that agent’s expertise and cut out the middleman (the UK operator) to avoid paying its mark-up.
However, this approach does raise some problems. How do we know which are the best agents? And what about the risks of paying thousands to an overseas company we know nothing about?
Fortunately, there are ways around these pitfalls. Some companies have created online platforms to promote local agents. Bristol-based TravelLocal (travellocal.com) features an agent in 40 countries and says it has gone to great lengths to select quality staff in those countries that offer authentic experiences.
To fix your holiday, you deal direct with a local agent via TravelLocal’s online platform. But, importantly, payments for trips are made to TravelLocal, and are fully protected through a bond with trade body Abta and
additional insurance. Evaneos (evaneos-travel.com) is based in Paris but also has a strong presence in the UK (it is a member of Abta). Its website features English-speaking agencies in 100 destinations, and like TravelLocal, Evaneos says it applies a rigorous process when choosing agents. Again, payments are protected.
TravelLocal and Evaneos charge commission but claim this is lower than the fees applied by traditional holiday companies, resulting in cheaper prices.
As an experiment, I used TravelLocal and Evaneos to contact agents in Costa Rica over a two-week trip. The agents responded promptly, setting out proposed itineraries in great detail.
Importantly, they took on board my specific requests, such as my desire to enjoy a white-water rafting experience and a trip to see sloths in the rainforest. They provided quotes well within budget but also pointed out that they could tweak the itinerary.
Of course, I’ll never know whether the holidays would have lived up to their billing but there is a lot to be said for turning to firms such as TravelLocal.
However, there are limitations – you can’t book international flights with them, so you can’t create complete holidays. And the local agent is responsible for the arrangements you book, not TravelLocal or Evaneos. By contrast, if you book a conventional package holiday with a UK operator, it is responsible for all of your trip.