An Honest Opinion from a Professional
Aug 01 '01
The Bottom Line ZOLOtrips.com owner Adam k. Zolot explains what you should seek in a tour operator.
Choosing a tour operator is a difficult task in a world where choices abound. The internet has proven an indispensable resource for planning travel and the tour segment has just started to take advantage of the dynamic nature of the web. At ZOLOtrips.com we have built our site to take full advantage of the power of new technology, while still maintaining our top-notch field operations and customer support.
Here is a checklist of things to consider when selecting a tour:
1. Credibility - simply ask your operator for some references. This is an easy task to put to bed. If they avoid this issue in any way it means that they don't have many satisfied clients. Many of our clients have told me that their lives were changed by their experiences. These are my greatest salespeople.
2. Style - don't limit yourself to a budget tour, if you would appreciate something more stylish or activity based, DO NOT BOOK A CHEAP PACKAGE JUST BECAUSE IT IS CHEAP. Spend the extra money - life is too short. Chances are you will not have a good time because you will be focused on the little things that are missing. ZOLOtrips.com develops packages the focus on the mind, body and soul for example. Our clients are interested in learning & experiencing, spirituality & religion, activities & adventure. Bus tour travelers are not for us.
3. Rapport - when you speak to the tour operator do you connect? Travel is a very important expression of who we are and mis-matching travelers with trips is a common fault of many operators. When you speak to them make certain they understand what you really need and accept suggestions that might contradict your initial ideas, rather than accepting someone trying to sell you something you don't need. A true expert will be able to discern what will work best for you and tell you why.
4. Responsiveness - if the operator does not reply to you with 48 hours, they do not deserve your business. Nobody should be too busy to give you their full attention. At ZOLOtrips.com we try to respond within 24 hours to every request, often sooner.
5. Experience - if the person to whom you are speaking has never been to the destination, do not book the trip. If you ask to speak to the person who developed the itinerary and you get the runaround, don't book the trip. Typically, sales agents go through a training course to learn about the myriad of trips offered by the tour company. They are not qualified to really answer the questions you have. I don't fault them, but you have the right to speak to the most qualified person. At ZOLOtrips.com you can always speak with me personally, or the person who developed the trip - no questions asked.
I hope this helps and that you are ready to tackle to task of planning your next trip. You are always welcome to contact ZOLOtrips.com for more information.
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Epinions.com ID:
zolotrips
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Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Reviews written: 2
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Owner of ZOLOtrips.com - Travel Professional.
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