FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does a travel advisor do, exactly? I thought travel agents were extinct? Why should I hire a travel advisor when I book a vacation online for myself? (Or, some variation of this question.)

I am so passionate about this question that I could go on and on and on and on, but I’ll try to keep it short and sweet! At Mountain Water Travel, the answer is very simple, I don’t sell cookie-cutter vacation packages that you can just get online or at Costco!

I take the time to get to know my clients through multiple conversations, emails, and phone calls to ensure that the vacation I am taking the time and putting my passion toward designing is just right for them.

I have YEARS of travel experience and have spent YEARS developing relationships with my partners in the travel industry.

I know what is going to be an amazing experience and what will provide you the value in a vacation that you are looking for. I provide personalized special touches all throughout your vacation experience.

I am just a phone call or WhatsApp message away when you need help on your vacation.

You can’t get ANY OF THAT when you DIY your vacation and book it online!

When should I not book with a travel advisor?

Almost as important as the first question, this question is another one that I get frequently. You can always ask me or any other travel advisor if you’re not sure, but generally speaking, these are the reasons/ instances when you’re probably better off DIY’ing it!

Domestic air tickets (only) – Airlines don’t pay travel agents commissions anymore and booking air travel for you represents a huge responsibility for me to manage without any compensation, especially this day and age with all the difficulties of air travel. You can always ask me to do it for you, but I’ll charge you an air-booking fee to be determined at the time of booking.

If you’re only interested in the cheapest option for everything – The best travel advisors bring VALUE to your experience, not CHEAP PRICES. That’s not to say that you can’t get an extremely affordable trip by working with a travel advisor, but don’t expect a travel advisor to spend hours haggling with suppliers to get you the cheapest vacation possible. Travel advisors want you to have the BEST vacation possible by seeking experiences that provide the best VALUE. Usually, the cheapest options are the cheapest options for a reason. We think you deserve better than that!

If you can’t let go of control – If you have to be the orchestrator of every minute of every hour in your life and your family’s, working with a travel advisor probably isn’t for you. I love to take the stress of planning off your hands and the time it takes to research, coordinate, and book off your shoulders, so you can JUST ENJOY the best parts of a vacation.

If you see no value in personalized touch and perks – I love to personalize your trip with surprises here and there that match your likes and wants. I spend time making sure everything works seamlessly for you. I do my best to give every one of my clients the VIP treatment throughout their vacation, with added amenities, special treatment, and upgrades wherever possible. If you’re not into that, no problem! I just want to warn you that I’m not trying to kill you with kindness – I’m trying to WOW you!

Do I need a passport and/or visa to visit (INSERT DESTINATION)?

Usually, the answer is “yes” to the passport question for my US-based clients traveling outside of the US. The answer to the visa question depends on your passport origin and the destination country. I always try to remind my clients and inform them of their immigration document needs for each trip, but ultimately it is the client’s responsibility to determine which documents they need to travel to their destination.

It is also the client’s responsibility to ensure that their passport is up-to-date and valid for the duration of their visit according to the destination country’s rules.

For example, most countries require that a visitor’s passport be valid for the six months following the date of travel in the country.

For US Citizens, the best resource for these questions is U. S. Department of State’s Travel Site. Of course, you can always reach out to me and ask me, if you are not sure!

Do I need a passport for my cruise?

“We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port. Also, your cruise company may require you to have a passport, even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not.”

State Department’s Website – Cruise Ship Travel – Travel.state.gov

Passport books v. Passport cards…

“You can use the passport card to reenter the United States at sea ports of entry from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. However, if you are not able to return on the cruise ship for any reason (e.g., for an emergency evacuation, you will need a passport book to fly back to the United States.”

Mountain Water Travel always recommends our cruise passengers get a passport book for the following reasons:

Unexpected circumstances can come up that make it impossible to return to the United States on the cruise ship. Here are some examples:

Illness or Injury – Depending on the severity of your illness or injury, you may have to be admitted to a local hospital overseas. If you cannot be discharged before the cruise ship is scheduled to depart, the cruise ship may leave without you. In this case, you would need a U.S. passport to fly home upon clearance from your doctor.

Damage to cruise ship – Occasionally cruise ships are damaged or have mechanical issues that cannot be fixed during your trip. In these cases, you might need to go ashore in a country that requires a passport and/or you would need a U.S passport book to fly home.

I stick with the philosophy of…”its better to be safe than sorry.”

Why should I get trip protection (travel insurance)?

Again, I say, “It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

#1 – protect your health and safety.

#2 – protect your investment.

Life is unpredictable. Some trips need to be canceled at the last minute. Some trips are delayed due to weather, mechanical disruptions, strikes, and other reasons. Illness and injuries occur, medications are forgotten; luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed. Not to be all gloom and doom, but I know these things happen. I try my best at Mountain Water Travel to plan your trip meticulously and take measures to hedge any issues that may arise throughout your travels, but sometimes things happen that are out of my and your control.

Also, though you may have health insurance that works in the U.S. and travel insurance through your credit card company, be sure to check the fine print on these policies and terms & conditions. Often, your health insurance doesn’t cover international travel.

Not every country is like the US when it comes to emergency medical treatment. Some countries require cash payment for medical treatment upfront before life-saving treatment is rendered. Usually, the travel insurance that comes with certain credit cards is not enough to cover the total amount for emergency medical care.

Unless you have tens of thousands, sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars in your bank ready for such expenses, I highly recommend you purchase travel insurance for every trip!

I so strongly believe that you should protect yourself and your investment with insurance that if you decline to purchase insurance, I will require that you sign an Insurance Waiver Form.