Ready to plan your next trip but need help figuring out where to start? We sat down with travel advisors from AAA Washington to learn a few tips and secrets to traveling throughout Washington and why using a travel advisor is invaluable.
What is your favorite Washington day trip? There are so many great places! I love heading to Rimrock Lake by Yakima or Tri-Cities thrift shopping and floating the Stillaguamish River in Arlington. And, of course, Seattle is full of fun things to do.
What about a long weekend? Head over to Banks Lake in central Washington, and take a trip to Spokane/Coeur d’Alene or the Olympic Peninsula!
What is your dream Washington trip? Some of my favorite destinations throughout the state are Walla Walla, Lake Roosevelt, the Olympic Peninsula and the Hoh Rainforest. I would love to do an RV trip starting in the beautiful state of Washington and continuing on to the National Parks of Idaho and Montana.
Any “best-kept secrets” for trip locations in Washington? Don’t tell anyone…but Anacortes, Seabrook, Lake Chelan and the Methow Valley are some of the best places to visit without many tourists or travelers!
Why should I use a travel advisor? There is much more to traveling than the reservation itself; so much goes into what and how people travel. Travel agents have a wealth of invaluable industry knowledge, experience and insights. Advisors help take the stress out of planning your vacation and offer information that you might not have thought of before. Plus, It doesn’t cost any extra money to use a travel advisor versus online booking engines. Using an advisor gets you personalized knowledge, expertise and travel tips you wouldn’t get from an online book site. The one-on-one relationship you develop with an advisor also comes in handy if something doesn’t go your way. An advisor can help you modify or cancel reservations and maximizing refund by advocating on your behalf.
What do you think is a common misunderstanding about travel advisors? That there are charges to consult with an agent or that the cost of the travel will be more through an agency than booking online. In fact, AAA provides access to additional amenities, discounts and experiences that are exclusive to AAA customers.
What sort of considerations do you take into account when planning a trip for someone? When I first start working with someone planning a trip I run through a list of questions:
What are their interests at home and when they travel?
Are they first-time travelers on this type of travel vacation or to this destination?
What is their one important takeaway from their vacation or the “can’t-miss-it experiences?”
What’s the budget?
I treat everyone’s trip as if it was my own and how seamlessly it needs to come together so you’re not missing anything.
What is one item you cannot live without while traveling? My phone, two major credit cards, hand sanitizer and wipes (for the plane), headphones, a good book, and my own shampoo and conditioner.
If you could pick anywhere in the world to teleport to, where would that be? I would teleport to Africa or southeast Asia! A safari will help bring to life the hands-on culture and jaw-dropping natural elements of the continent that has so much diversity across it’s many borders.