Should I Use a Travel Agent to Book My Gate 1 Travel Tour?

If you're considering a Gate 1 Travel vacation, you may have wondered: Can I book a Gate 1 Travel tour through a travel agent? And if I can book directly with Gate 1, why would I use a travel agent?

Yes, you absolutely can book Gate 1 Travel through a travel agent. In fact, Gate 1 has an established travel-agent program and pays commissions to registered travel agencies for eligible bookings.

At Rockport Tours in Corpus Christi, Texas, we regularly work with major tour operators such as Gate 1 Travel. And here's the part many travelers don't realize:

Rockport Tours does not charge our clients a fee for helping them book a Gate 1 Travel vacation. Gate 1 pays us.

That means you can have an experienced travel professional help you evaluate the trip, make the reservation and assist you with the details surrounding your vacation without paying Rockport Tours an additional booking or planning fee for that service.

“This is one of the first things I explain to people,” says Mike, owner of Rockport Tours in Corpus Christi. “Gate 1 pays us to work with our clients. We don't charge the traveler a fee for our Gate 1 booking service. If you can have someone who knows the product helping you without paying us extra to do it, why wouldn't you take advantage of that?”

There is, however, an important catch.

The value isn't simply in using a travel agent. It's in using the right travel agent.

Does Gate 1 Travel Work With Travel Agents?

Yes.

Gate 1 Travel has a formal travel-agent program. Travel agencies must register with Gate 1 and provide recognized industry credentials. Gate 1 provides registered agents access to live inventory, confirmations, reservation information and support from its reservation department.

Gate 1 also pays commission on eligible travel-agent bookings.

That's worth thinking about.

Gate 1 has its own website and its own reservation department. Travelers can certainly book directly. Yet Gate 1 also maintains an entire system specifically for professional travel agencies.

“I think that says something,” Mike says. “Gate 1 could simply tell everyone to book directly. Instead, they maintain relationships with travel agencies and pay commissions on eligible bookings. Obviously, they see value in having professional travel advisors involved in the process, and we certainly see that value with our clients.”

Does It Cost More to Book Gate 1 Through Rockport Tours?

Rockport Tours does not charge clients an additional fee for our Gate 1 booking service.

Our compensation on eligible bookings comes from Gate 1 Travel rather than from an additional professional fee charged by Rockport Tours to the traveler.

This is an important distinction because travelers sometimes assume that adding a travel agent automatically means adding another layer of cost.

That's not how we handle Gate 1 reservations.

“People will sometimes tell me, ‘I thought it would cost more if I booked through you,’” Mike says. “For our Gate 1 clients, we're not adding a Rockport Tours planning or booking fee. Gate 1 compensates us on eligible bookings. Our client gets our knowledge and our assistance without writing us another check for that service.”

Of course, the price of any particular Gate 1 vacation can change based on departure date, airfare, promotions, room category, optional tours and other factors. Travelers should always compare the actual terms and price available when they are ready to book.

But choosing to have Rockport Tours assist with the Gate 1 reservation does not mean paying us an additional booking fee.

So Why Should I Use a Travel Agent for Gate 1?

Because purchasing the tour is the easy part.

Choosing the right tour is where experience matters.

Gate 1 offers an enormous variety of vacations: classic escorted tours, small-group tours, river cruises, independent vacations, walking and hiking programs, Stay & Explore packages and more.

Even within one destination, you may find several itineraries that appear similar.

Let's say you want to visit Italy.

Which itinerary gives you the experience you actually want? How fast is the pace? How much free time will you have? How many times will you change hotels? Which cities are included? Are you looking for an introduction to Italy or a more immersive trip? Should you purchase Gate 1's air package or arrange your own flights? Would arriving a day early make sense?

Those aren't questions a Book Now button can answer for you.

“When somebody calls and says, ‘Mike, I want to go to Italy,’ my first question isn't going to be, ‘What's your credit-card number?’” Mike says. “I want to know what they want to experience. There can be several perfectly good tours to the same destination, but that doesn't mean every one of them is right for that particular traveler.”

What Does a Travel Agent Actually Do on a Gate 1 Booking?

A knowledgeable travel agent should do considerably more than enter your name and credit-card information.

At Rockport Tours, our role begins with helping you understand what you're buying.

We can help you compare itineraries, discuss the pace and style of a trip, review airfare options, consider pre- and post-tour arrangements, understand what's included and what's not, and identify questions that should be answered before you make your deposit.

Once you've booked, we're also a resource when questions come up.

That doesn't mean Rockport Tours replaces Gate 1. Gate 1 operates the vacation and maintains its own reservation and traveler-support systems, including 24-hour emergency assistance for travelers.

Instead, we add another layer of knowledgeable assistance between researching your vacation and coming home from it.

“I don't want our clients to feel like they bought something from us and then they're on their own,” Mike says. “Gate 1 is responsible for operating the tour. Our job is to understand our client's trip, help them prepare for it and be a resource when they have questions.”

Is Booking Through a Travel Agent Better Than Booking Gate 1 Online?

That depends largely on the travel agent.

If an agent does nothing more than take the exact trip you've selected and enter the reservation into Gate 1's system, there isn't much added value.

A knowledgeable Gate 1 travel agent should be able to help you before you reach that point.

This is where choosing an established, experienced travel agency becomes important.

Today, it's relatively easy for someone to enter the travel business. Some excellent professional travel advisors work from home, so having a home office isn't the issue.

Experience, knowledge, accessibility and accountability are the issues.

Before choosing an agent for an expensive international vacation, ask some questions:

• How long has the agency been in business?

• Does the agency regularly handle international travel?

• Does it have experience with escorted tours?

• Does the agent understand Gate 1's products?

• Can the agent help with airfare and the arrangements surrounding the tour?

• Will someone be available when you have a question after you've booked?

• Does the agency have an established business presence and reputation?

• Is the agent simply selling you a trip, or helping you decide whether it's the right trip?

“There's nothing inherently wrong with somebody working from home,” Mike says. “The question is what's behind that person. How much experience do they have? Do they know the supplier? Do they understand international travel? And when something gets complicated, do they know what to do next? You're potentially trusting someone with a vacation costing thousands of dollars. Those are reasonable questions to ask.”

Why Use Rockport Tours for a Gate 1 Travel Vacation?

Rockport Tours has been helping travelers since 2012 and is based in the Corpus Christi, Texas area.

We work with major tour operators and cruise lines and specialize in helping travelers navigate vacations that involve more than simply reserving a hotel room.

That experience matters because we aren't looking at your Gate 1 tour in isolation.

We are looking at the entire trip.

How are you getting there? Should you fly from Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston or another airport? Are the connections reasonable? Should you arrive early? What happens between the airport and your hotel? Do you want to extend your vacation? What should you expect from an escorted tour if you've never taken one before?

Those details can have an enormous impact on how enjoyable a vacation actually is.

“I tell people all the time that we're not here just to sell you whatever trip happens to be on the screen,” Mike says. “We want you to come home happy that you chose the right vacation. That's how we've built our business.”

Can Rockport Tours Help If I Already Found a Gate 1 Tour?

Absolutely.

In fact, that's a very common place to start.

If you've been browsing Gate 1's website and already found a tour you like, contact us before you book it.

Tell us the itinerary and departure date you're considering. We can discuss the trip with you, help you look at the details and talk through any questions you should consider before making your reservation.

You don't have to hand your vacation research over to us and start again.

“If you've spent three weeks researching and you've found exactly the Gate 1 trip you want, that's great,” Mike says. “Send it to us. Let us take a look at it with you. You aren't paying us an additional fee for our Gate 1 booking service, so take advantage of our experience before you make the reservation.”

And sometimes we'll agree that you've found exactly the right trip.

Other times, we may ask a question you hadn't considered.

That's the point.

Can Rockport Tours Help Me Choose Between Different Gate 1 Tours?

Yes.

This is actually one of the situations where working with an experienced travel agency can be particularly useful.

Instead of asking, “Which Gate 1 tour is the best?”, the better question is:

“Which Gate 1 tour is best for me?”

Those are very different questions.

A traveler who wants to see as much as possible may love a busy itinerary that changes cities frequently. Someone else may find the exact same itinerary exhausting.

One traveler may want every day filled with sightseeing. Another may value free afternoons for cafés, shopping and exploring independently.

There isn't necessarily a right or wrong answer.

There is a right fit.

“A good travel agent shouldn't be trying to put every client on the same trip,” Mike says. “We should be asking enough questions to figure out how that person actually likes to travel. That's where our experience becomes useful.”

Should I Buy Gate 1's Airfare or Book My Own Flights?

This is another reason to talk with a knowledgeable travel professional.

There isn't one answer that's correct for every Gate 1 vacation.

The decision can depend on the destination, departure city, available schedules, connection times, pricing, whether you're extending the trip and how comfortable you are handling international flight disruptions yourself.

For travelers in South Texas, there can be another consideration: where should you fly from?

Corpus Christi may be the most convenient option, but depending on the trip, flights from San Antonio, Houston or Austin may offer different schedules or pricing.

That doesn't automatically make one option better than another. Saving money isn't necessarily worthwhile if it adds a long drive, hotel night or inconvenient connection.

This is exactly the type of decision we help our clients evaluate.

“Airfare is a perfect example of why I don't like one-size-fits-all answers,” Mike says. “The cheapest ticket isn't always the best ticket, and the most convenient airport isn't always the best value. We look at the whole picture.”

Is Gate 1 Travel a Good Choice for Seniors?

Gate 1 offers many different itineraries and travel styles, so age alone doesn't determine whether a particular Gate 1 trip is appropriate.

What matters more is the physical demands and pace of the specific itinerary.

How much walking is involved? Are there stairs? How frequently does the group change hotels? How early do touring days begin? How much luggage handling is included? How

much independent time will you have?

These are especially important questions for travelers who have mobility concerns or simply prefer a more relaxed vacation.

At Rockport Tours, many of our clients are experienced travelers in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond. We understand that two travelers of the same age can have completely different expectations and abilities.

“I would never tell somebody a trip is right for them simply because people their age take it,” Mike says. “I want to look at the actual itinerary and talk about how they travel. That's a much more useful conversation.”

What's the Catch? Why Would Rockport Tours Help Me for Free?

It's a fair question.

Travel suppliers have worked with travel agencies for generations. Instead of charging you an additional Rockport Tours booking fee for an eligible Gate 1 reservation, Gate 1 pays our agency a commission.

Gate 1 publicly maintains a travel-agent program and identifies earning commission as one of the benefits available to registered agencies.

In other words, there doesn't have to be a catch.

This is simply how this part of the travel industry works.

“I think consumers sometimes assume that if professional help is free to them, there must be some gimmick,” Mike says. “There isn't. Gate 1 pays us. They have an established travel-agent program because professional agencies are part of their distribution system. We get paid for doing our job, and our client gets another experienced person helping with the vacation.”

Should I Book My Gate 1 Tour Through Rockport Tours?

You can certainly book directly with Gate 1 Travel.

But if you'd like an experienced travel agency to help you evaluate your options, make the reservation and serve as an additional resource as you prepare for your vacation,

Rockport Tours can book eligible Gate 1 Travel vacations without charging you an additional Rockport Tours booking or planning fee for that service.

Gate 1 pays us.

You get our experience.

And, most importantly, you still get a Gate 1 vacation.

“My advice is simple,” Mike says. “Before you spend thousands of dollars on a vacation, talk to someone who understands what you're buying. If Gate 1 is going to compensate us for helping you and we're not charging you an additional fee for that service, use us. Ask questions. Take advantage of our experience. That's what we're here for.”

Talk to a Gate 1 Travel Agent in Corpus Christi, Texas

Already looking at a Gate 1 tour?

Send us the itinerary you're considering or give us a call. If you're still deciding where to go, tell us what you're looking for and we'll help you narrow down the options.

Rockport ToursCorpus Christi, Texas361-452-2012rockporttours.com

Serving travelers in Corpus Christi, Portland, Rockport and throughout South Texas — and helping travelers nationwide plan vacations with major tour and cruise companies.

A Vacation With Friends.

Frequently Asked Questions About Booking Gate 1 Travel Through a Travel Agent

Can I book Gate 1 Travel through a travel agent?

Yes. Gate 1 Travel works with registered travel agencies and maintains a dedicated travel-agent program.

Does Rockport Tours charge a fee to book Gate 1 Travel?

Rockport Tours does not charge travelers an additional planning or booking fee for its Gate 1 booking service. On eligible bookings, Gate 1 compensates Rockport Tours through travel-agent commission.

Does Gate 1 Travel pay travel agents?

Yes. Gate 1's travel-agent program states that registered travel agencies can earn commission on eligible bookings.

Why should I use a travel agent if I can book Gate 1 online?

A knowledgeable travel agent can help you compare itineraries, understand the pace of a trip, evaluate airfare and pre- or post-tour options, answer questions and provide another point of contact throughout the planning process.

Can Rockport Tours book Gate 1 Travel?

Yes. Rockport Tours can assist clients with eligible Gate 1 Travel reservations.

Can Rockport Tours help if I already picked my Gate 1 tour?

Yes. If you've already found a Gate 1 itinerary you're considering, contact Rockport Tours before making the reservation. We can review the trip with you and help you understand your options.

Is Rockport Tours a Gate 1 travel agent in Corpus Christi?

Rockport Tours is a Corpus Christi-area travel agency that can assist travelers with eligible Gate 1 Travel vacations, as well as other tour and cruise vacations.

How do I contact Rockport Tours about a Gate 1 vacation?

Call 361-452-2012 or visit rockporttours.com to discuss the Gate 1 itinerary you're considering.