When the internet became widespread in 2000, it was supposed to mean the end of the travel agent. They’d join switchboard operators, buggy whip makers and all the other careers that had become anachronisms. And part of it is true. If all you need is to book a plane ticket, the airline’s website is the best source. But you may not want to do everything on your own. Complicated trips? Need recommendations? There’s help out there, and it’s frequently free. Here are the lucky eight reasons to work with a travel agent.

An Agent Can be Your Travel Expert

A travel agent knows the good, the bad and the ugly. They can offer you an unbiased opinion on the best location for your trip, as well as what to do when you get there. Which city is best for families. Which cruise line won’t have kids running around. They’ll help you understand which hotels are true luxury, versus those that pretend to be so.

A Travel Agent May be Able to Get You Additional Benefits

Some travel agents, including TravelZork Travel, work as part of a larger network. These networks negotiate directly with hotel chains to offer members additional perks when they book. Best of all, you’ll generally receive the same rate as if you booked directly with the property. For example, a typical offering would include a room, as well as the following:

• Complimentary daily breakfast for two per room
• A $100 resort credit
• Complimentary internet access
• If available, late check-out, early check-in or an upgrade

You’re most likely to find these additional perks at a luxury (five-star and some four-star hotels) property. Sadly, the local Hampton Inn probably doesn’t have the marketing budget to offer it. But these perks can generate hundreds of dollars in savings. And for you point hounds: Since independent travel agents usually aren’t considered online bookers, you’ll still receive your hotel points.

Highly Personalized Service

This point should probably be at the top. When you call a travel agent, they will be able to personalize your trip. Need a specific room type? How about a particular amenity? If you’re planning a tour, an agent can hook you up with a legitimate provider.

The bottom line is that you’ll work directly with the same person (or, occasionally, team of people) who will be able to address your needs. Ya know what’s not fun? Waiting for four hours on hold with Expedia when something goes wrong. A travel agent can be your advocate in the case of problems, and they can help make a good trip into a great one.

The Price is Right — Using an Agent Will Likely Cost You Nothing

As you probably know, travel agents usually make their money from commissions. That means that for most bookings, you won’t need to pay anything extra. The agent is paid by the provider. This is particularly true for simple bookings, such as booking a hotel stay, where little extra time is required.

Having said that, if an agent is doing a great deal of research for you or planning a multiple-stop itinerary from the ground up, they may charge a fee to do the legwork. Agents should be willing to discuss any fees with you upfront. If you wish to book through TravelZork Travel, for instance, the fees can be found here. There aren’t a lot of them.

Travel Agents Can Connect Directly to the Hotel

Most luxury hotels have employees who deal exclusively with travel agents. If not, your agent should at least be able to call the property and get the sales manager on the line. That’s useful for a number of reasons, but the primary one is this: You’ll get treated like a VIP. There is nothing better for a hotel than a happy travel agent, who has the ability to send traffic their way. Hotels know that you are likely to report back to your travel agent after your trip, and the last thing that they want is for you to call and say, “Don’t ever send another client here again.”

A Travel Agent Can Save You Stress

Planning a vacation is often the most exciting part of it, but it can be stressful as well. Nobody wants to be the “central planner,” putting together different parts of the itinerary for multiple parties with different interests. The travel agent can take that role so that nobody in the party becomes the “bad guy.” They can help you decide what you can realistically do at a location, how much things will cost and take on any role you need in putting together a vacation. One party wants to go to Epcot, while the other goes to The Magic Kingdom? Avoid the family battles. Let the travel agent work it out.

Your Protection if Something Goes Wrong

Travel providers make mistakes. I know you’re shocked. But it’s nice to have someone on your side when they do. Normally, the issues are pretty minor, such as a missed benefit at a hotel. But it’s nice not to have to take it up yourself. If you can’t resolve the issue on-site, or just don’t feel like it, you’ll have a travel agent to do it for you.

Problems with a flight? I can’t guarantee you that a travel agent will get you on the next flight if yours is cancelled, but you won’t have to wait in line with 100 angry passengers, either. Think of it as an insurance policy. Most agents will charge to book airline tickets, but that’s because dealing with an airline is a timely affair. You should almost certainly book a short domestic flight on your own. But for an international or premium class ticket? Not only will a travel agent have your back but they may be able to create a routing that saves you money.

Consider Using TravelZork Travel

Hey, a plug for the home team! But TravelZork Travel can book you cruises, hotels or, of course, a great Las Vegas vacation. And most importantly, we will respond. We guarantee 72-hour responses but generally get it done in under 24. Best of all, most of our services are free. So feel free to visit the site and take a peek around.