In 2018, 768 million vacation days went unused in the US. That’s a staggering number. If you’re one of those people who left your vacation days unused, it’s time to remedy that this year.

Vacations have so many benefits to your mental health and work productivity. If you’re ready to plan your next adventure, consider using a travel agent to plan it for you. Here are 5 reasons why a travel agent is a wise choice for your next vacation.

1. It Costs You Nothing (or Almost Nothing)

Travel agents get paid commissions from the hotels, cruise companies, airlines, and tours that they book for you, so it costs you nothing or very little. Some agents may charge a small planning fee, but it could be as little as a few hundred dollars.

Before you agree to work with an agent, be sure you understand whether they charge you a fee and how much it is.

2. They Can Get Better Prices

When travel agents send clients to the same places time and time again, those hotels, resorts, and tour operators get to know them and offer them special deals, prices, upgrades, and extra amenities. The travel packages they can get for you are typically much better than what you could find on your own.

These vacation destinations want travel agents to keep sending clients back there, so they do their best to impress the vacationers and keep them happy. Happy clients mean happy travel agents who send more guests their way.

3. They Know the Locations

Travel agents typically get free trips to the destinations they are promoting to their clients, so they know the ins and outs of the locations. They can tell you the best transportation to your hotel or resort (and book it for you!), restaurants or spots off the beaten path, and what to avoid and what not to miss.

Consider them travel experts. While you might be a seasoned traveler, it’s likely you’re not an expert on every destination under the sun. Find a travel agent who specializes in certain areas or countries.

4. They Can Handle Unforeseen Circumstances

Canceled flights, overbooked hotels, lost passports or wallets, you name it and it has gone wrong on a trip. When you have a travel agent, they can handle any last-minute changes or emergencies for you. They may even handle canceled or delayed flights before you even know anything has changed.

If you have any emergencies while on your trip, your travel agent is there to handle it for you. That’s a huge weight off of your shoulders.

5. They Can Handle the Boring Tasks

Deciding on a destination, picking activities, and looking at pictures are the fun parts of planning a trip. The logistical stuff though, like booking flights, airport transportation, and dinner reservations is not so exciting. A travel agent can take care of this for you while still letting you choose the exciting parts of your vacation.

Not only do they take the tedious tasks off of your hands, but they also save you so much time in planning.