Do you have to plan a visit to Scotland your self or use a journey agent? It is a widespread query requested by first-time guests to Scotland.
As a former journey agent, solo world traveller, and now, a journey blogger residing in Scotland, I imagine I’m certified to reply this query!
As you’ll have guessed, there is no such thing as a ‘one suits all’ answer for everyone- however I’m going to interrupt down the professionals and cons for every technique of journey planning so you’ll be able to determine which is greatest for YOU.
Reserving by a journey agent
Execs
Another person does all the pieces for you
In case you lack time to analysis and e book your journey, going by a journey agent could also be extra handy for you. Or when you’re technically challenged, reserving by a journey agent is usually a much less disturbing expertise than doing all of it your self.
Journey brokers could discover cheaper offers for you
Generally journey brokers can discover you cheaper offers on flights, significantly when you’re having a stopover on the best way to Scotland. It’s all the time a good suggestion to buy round everytime you get a price- some journey brokers will insist the value they’re providing you with is the most cost effective, however as a former journey agent myself, you don’t have time to buy round and discover one of the best value to your clients.
Cons
They will not be a Scotland journey skilled
Once I labored as a journey agent, I offered a whole bunch of holidays to locations I’d by no means been earlier than. It’s actually exhausting to offer recommendation about how one can have a tremendous journey to a vacation spot you’ve not skilled before- however as a journey agent you must take each reserving!
It’s additionally essential to notice what number of instances your journey agent has been to Scotland. Only one go to doesn’t make you an skilled on Scotland; I’ve been travelling Scotland extensively for five years and whereas I’ve visited 80% of the nation, there are nonetheless locations I’m but to go to! Nonetheless, as a result of I reside in Scotland and journey regularly, I maintain on top of things with any adjustments within the tourism industry- of which there are a lot of!
It’s normally costlier
As I discussed earlier than, I used to work as a journey agent for a worldwide journey company, and from my experience- it’s normally costlier to e book by a journey agent than it’s to e book your individual vacation.
Journey brokers usually cost hidden fees- they’ve the flexibility to edit costs on their quoting software program, and the corporate I labored for actively inspired us so as to add a secret 10% (on common) service price. Some journey brokers added more- we truly might select how a lot to secretly cost! When a buyer would ask if we cost a price, we had been advised to lie and say we earned fee from the bookings.
This was one of many causes I left my job as a journey agent, as a result of I didn’t agree with this technique and believed service charges needs to be clear. Not all journey brokers function on this method, however when you do determine to make use of a journey agent, do a fast search on-line to see what the costs are direct.
You might have much less management over your journey
As a result of all of your bookings are by way of a 3rd celebration, if it is advisable make any adjustments, journey brokers could cost a price for doing so. It makes sense- they’re doing the be just right for you, however when you’re on a funds this may increasingly not swimsuit you.
Any adjustments to your reserving additionally need to undergo your journey agent, which may take longer than when you had been to do it your self.
Journey brokers can solely e book experiences for you with firms they’ve an affiliation with
Journey brokers are inclined to solely have partnerships with greater tour and lodging suppliers, and most of the smaller tour firms in Scotland is not going to have a partnership with journey businesses. This implies you could miss out on some fairly distinctive experiences (and supporting the native financial system in Scotland).
A number of the greatest experiences in Scotland are with native tour guides, mattress and breakfast homeowners, and different native tourism suppliers.
Planning your individual journey to Scotland
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You’ll be able to plan the journey you need
If you’d like one thing achieved proper, do it your self: your self greatest, and what you need to your expertise!
It could actually work out cheaper
Historically reserving your individual journey shall be cheaper than going by a journey agent, as a result of they usually cost a price to plan your vacation (which is commonly hidden).
You should use flight value comparability software program similar to Skyscanner to search out one of the best offers on flights, and search varied web sites similar to Reserving.com, Expedia, or Accommodations.com to search out one of the best value for the lodging you need to e book. Typically, it will likely be cheaper to e book your vacation this fashion.
You’ll be able to e book by any supplier
You’re not restricted to reserving excursions, lodging and experiences that journey brokers have an affiliation with- you’ll be able to e book by any supplier in Scotland!
This implies you’ll be able to e book any of the native tour guides, mattress and breakfasts, and experiences you want. For my part, reserving extra native experiences is the best way to go when visiting Scotland- there actually isn’t anything fairly like Scottish hospitality! There are some actually distinctive experiences you’ll be able to attempt in Scotland- from visiting a Highland Cattle farm to staying in a fort, or happening a personal tour with an area.
Planning a vacation is enjoyable
I don’t learn about you, however I really like dreaming and planning my holidays- it’s typically extra enjoyable than happening the journey itself!
Cons
It takes time to analysis and plan your journey
Planning and reserving your individual journey does take fairly a little bit of time- it may also be disturbing planning a visit to Scotland when you’ve by no means visited earlier than! Solutions to questions similar to one of the best airline to e book, how one can discover lodging, the place to go and what to see will be tough to search out for even the savviest traveller.
Attempting to kind by the knowledge given by varied guidebooks and on the web will be time-consuming, plus, the knowledge you’re accessing could also be outdated or unreliable.
This is the reason I created the 5-Day Itinerary Planning Workshop, the place we stroll you thru planning your journey to Scotland step-by-step. I’ve poured over 5 years of expertise travelling Scotland into this workshop, and it covers all the pieces from creating your itinerary to one of the best locations to e book each facet of your Scotland journey!
One of the simplest ways to plan your Scotland journey
Whereas reserving your vacation by a journey agent could also be extra handy, I believe planning your individual journey to Scotland is the best way to go. This fashion you’ll be able to plan the proper journey for you. Nobody is aware of your journey fashion higher than you, and there are many instruments you should utilize that will help you plan.
Under I’ve listed some free and paid sources I’ve created that will help you plan the proper journey to Scotland.
Sources for planning your Scotland journey
I extremely advocate you undergo and skim the entire weblog posts I’ve really helpful under. This gives you a wonderful overview of how one can plan a visit to Scotland in addition to some inspiration that will help you get began:
Extra useful posts:
The Final Scotland Journey Planning Bundle
I created the Final Scotland Journey Planning Bundle as a shortcut to planning your Scotland journey; it offers you with plenty of useful data, together with one of the best locations to e book totally different points of your journey, a planner that walks you thru planning your journey, and cheat sheets that embody restaurant suggestions, food and drinks suggestions, and way more.
The Final Scotland Journey Planning Bundle contains:
- The Novices Information to Planning A Journey To Scotland eBook
- 70+ web page Final Scotland Journey Planner
- Scotland Should-See Journey Planners
5-Day Scotland Itinerary Planning Workshop
I began working the 5-Day Scotland Itinerary Planning Workshop with my good friend and fellow journey blogger Kay from The Chaotic Scot in 2022.
This complete workshop contains 4 reside 1-hour Masterclasses adopted by a Q&A the place we reply your Scotland journey questions.
It’s tremendous in-depth and accommodates virtually all the pieces we learn about planning a visit to Scotland!
