confessions of a travel agent

English isn't that easy..

Tourist:	"What's the cost for the bus into the city?"
Me:	"It's $16 one way or $23 return."
Tourist:	"Return... so, is that for one trip or two?"
Me:	*thinking how to say it in even simpler terms (although, how hard is 'return' to understand? lol).. "Two trips.. Return.. Round trip.. Both ways.. Going there AND coming back.. :)"
Tourist:	"OH! RIGHT! hahaha"
We had a good laugh and exchanged greetings, "Aloha!" and "Kia Ora!" after that blond moment.

Tagged: confessions of a travel agent, funny, funny story, english, blond moment,

Success depends on the courage to act, and courage in turn requires a level of faith that every opportunity acted upon will lead to more and better ways to serve, learn, grow and prosper.

anonymous

Tagged: success, courage,

This is not America

While queuing to go through airport security:
Canadian Male:	honey.. Hmmm, do I need to take my laptop out of my bag?
Canadian Female:	I'm not sure honey..? Well, I wonder if we need to take our shoes off?
Me:	*turns to couple with a smile, "no, you can keep them on, this isn't America!" haha
*everyone laughs and more airport banter ensues

Tagged: overheard, shoes, airport security, confessions of a travel agent,

1

Explorer mode is ON!

The traveling photobug will be on the move for the whole month of April; here’s to more new experiences and funny stories riddled with life lessons and just downright silly moments!

01AKL-02MNL-11USU-16MNL-17BKK-17PYX-20VTUN-26BKK-27MNL-30AKL

Watch this space!

Tagged: explorer mode, confessions of a travel agent, announcement, new experiences,

Sometimes, you get a tough one..

Traveler:	*Comes over to counter from special airport 2-digit coded phones.. "Hi, I need to get in touch with Car Rental Company X... how do I do that?"
Me:	*Writes down the rental company's free call number on a piece of paper.. "You just have to ring this free number off any public telephone, it costs nothing, just pick up a public phone and dial that number."
Traveler:	*Points to the special airport coded phones.. "Can't I dial it from those phones?"
Me:	"No, sir." *smiles
Traveler:	"So I can't use those phones?"
Me:	*still smiling and shakes head politely.. "Nope, not for that rental company..."
Traveler:	"So I can't use THOSE phones..?"
Me:	*Losing patience but still smiling.. "You're more than welcome to try it, sir." :)

Tagged: tough one, confessions of a travel agent, client conversation, sometimes you get a tough one, repeat repeat repeat, broken record,

Anything for a discount..

Today I was having a nice chat with two lovely Malaysian female tourists, giving them advice about where the best place to stay for the night would be before they collected their camper van from Wacky Campers*. We had a good chat-- sharing stories and common experiences of growing up in Asia. After that conversation with them about their plans and needs and once they felt satisfied that I had given them the most cost-effective options available, (as it is with out Asian tradition) they decided to stay at the airport accommodation and catch a cab over to the rental company's base location. Before they left to meet the hotel pick up service, one of the girls asked a question I was not prepared for (nor was I expecting to hear from her dainty disposition)--
Tourist1:	"You know, online I saw that Wacky Campers* offers many kinds of discounts.. one of them is a 10% gay discount. Does it have to be girl-girl and boy-boy only?"
Me:	"Well, yes. That is generally how they would establish that you would qualify for the discount."
Tourist1:	"Maybe I can also get us a 10% off for that gay discount?" *strokes her friend on the ogives (upper arm) the way only a lover would with a smouldering look in her eye..
Me:	Looks at Tourist1 and then at her friend, confused as they seemed more like sisters than lovers. And then I give out a massive belly laugh as I realize Tourist1 was being coy... "OH MY GOSH! I was SO not ready for that! Haha.." adopts a joking but serious tone as I decide to play along: "Weeeeeell, if you can pull it off, why not?! And make sure you give them a show.. like look into each other's eyes with love and walk in holding hands, etc.."
Tourist2:	shrugs off friend's hand on her upper arm saying, "AIYOH~! What are you doing la?~"
Me:	"Hahahaha!"
*names have been altered to protect identity.

Tagged: discount hound, bargain shopping, funny story, confessions of a travel agent, anything for a discount,

When The Mind Is Distracted…

So many things going on simultaneously, it’s been hard keeping tabs on what to focus on and do next. In the midst of all this chaos, there are still moments that bring a smile to my face. Today particularly, this auto-pilot moment could have turned into a disaster, but thankfully someone up there is always looking out for me and things worked out perfectly well with a great story to tell as well!

A couple of lads rocked up to the counter asking for a nice room by the airport since their flight left late tomorrow night. After establishing and confirming their needs were met and that they were happy with the property I had in mind for them, my fingers auto-dialled the reservations team (or so what my brain thought was the reservations number for that property!).

The conversation with the reservations staff went something like this..