Travel agents know us—it’s their job to. I never realized HOW IMPORTANT it was to use a travel agent before I took the job as Director of Training for a Travel Agency. Now with the pandemic, I say:

They know what we like. They know our favorite foods and our favorite activities. They know our budgets, whether we like to fly private or commercial, coach or first class, and they know where we like to go with our fams during summer vacation. (They also know the upcoming family reunion isn’t really as exciting as it sounds.)

If that reads more like a friendship, it should. The better you know your agent, and the better they know you, the more you can both benefit from the relationship.

You’d be surprised how far customization goes, not to mention the honest advice that will deliver your dream vacations. Every detail matters, and to get there you need to establish trust.

Are travel agents your true best friend forever? Maybe not, but they have the ability to provide unforgettable memories.

Here are four ways that your travel agent is your BFF:

THEY’RE LOYAL TO YOU

Your travel agent should have your best interests in mind. As they discover your preferences and analyze your budgets, they put a plan in place to give you the most bang for your buck. That involves a level of loyalty to ensure there’s no stone left unturned.

What happens when something goes awry, though? Your flight gets canceled, a reservation slips through the cracks, or weather impacts your itinerary?

Don’t worry. Your travel agent has your back. Your loyal agent will drop everything to make sure you’re taken care of. They want you to have a positive travel experience so when it comes time for you to hit the road again, you’ll give them another call.

THEY GIVE YOU BETTER DEALS THAN ANYBODY ELSE

In true BFF fashion, your travel agent delivers the best deals for you. Think of it from a different perspective. When you plug details into a travel app, you can’t be sure you’re finding the true lowest rates. Even if you do, they most often come with minimal perks.

That’s not an issue with travel agents.

Rather than those search engine frenemies, your travel agent actually knows ‘hot deals’ way before the search engines reveal them to you. And only a real BFF wouldn’t keep such awesome secret prices from you.

You know they’d share them with you because that’s who they are.

THEY KNOW YOUR LIKES AND DISLIKES

Aisle seat or window seat, jungle excursion or cocktail on the beach, trip to the museum or food tour through the city, your travel agent knows your preferences. That can make all the difference in turning a great vacation to something unforgettable as each stage is customized for you.

The personalization extends to everyone with whom you travel, from your significant other to your children. Personalized and special? That’s a true BFF move.

THEY’VE HELPED MAKE YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES HAPPEN

Or at least they have for hundreds of other people. So what are you waiting for?

They’ve planned spring breaks for best friends. They’ve planned romantic getaways for couples’ anniversaries and proposals. They’ve delivered eventful bachelor and bachelorette parties, honeymoons, babymoons, and family vacations.

They’ve designed perfect group outings that have had people reminiscing for years: cruises, retreats, and so much more.

You name it, and travel agents have been part of it, smiling for their clients every step of the way.

When somebody has been able to help create such lasting memories, you’ve gotta admit that they’re pretty special