If there was ever a year that validated the myriad benefits of using a travel advisor to book trips, it is arguably 2020. Here are 10 examples that illustrate why it's always best to book with a knowledgeable travel advisor.

"Agents spent countless hours on hold to tirelessly - and without compensation - deal with refunds, travel credits, re-bookings and ever-changing supplier policies. Not only did advisors save clients money, time and sanity, they surely proved and elevated their value to consumers in the process."

- Tom Brussow, Sunsational Beach Vacations

"By having control of airline tickets via the GDS and ARC, we were able to easily cancel bookings and ensure prompt refunds.

One example is a couple whose cruise plans were wrecked and were ready to cancel the corresponding air (non-refundable, of course) and accept FCCs with a hefty change fee. I advised them to wait for the almost-certain cancellation of the flights. When they were ultimately canceled, we issued an immediate and full refund."

- Ben Gritzewsky, FROSCH

"In some cases, we have had entire groups cancel days before travel, a situation that in the past would have garnered a 'full penalty' (no refund). By working closely with our tour operator and hotel partners, none of these groups were charged any cancellation fees to switch to new dates."

- Ryan Doncsecz, VIP Vacations

"Travelers need a travel advisor more than ever to make sure they have the proper health forms and COVID test paperwork based on countries' requirements. We are working twice as hard now not only on bookings but making sure our clients have the latest requirements.

Also, not all resorts/airlines are created equal. We are trying hard to make sure we put our clients at resorts and on airlines that are putting safety first."

- Sarah Kline, Time for Travel

"I realized that a cruise line had given a family a smaller FCC amount after a suspended sailing. I got out all the invoices and had the clients send me copies of their credit card statements. I was able to show that the line had calculated the FCC incorrectly. They told me some friends that had booked the same cruise directly also got the lower amount FCC but could not get [the line] to see it was incorrect."

- Claire Schoeder, Elevations Travel

"Helping all of our brides navigate through the various changes in policies, rebookings - and dealing with various levels of concern from their guests - has been the name of the game in 2020."

- James Berglie, Be All Inclusive

"My client canceled a cruise for non-COVID reasons, but the insurance company was balking, as they assumed it had to be COVID related. I worked with them to provide additional information ... and documentation to show that his work-related cancellation had nothing to do with COVID. With the additional information we collected regarding his promotion at work, his claim was paid on appeal."

- Claire Schoeder, Elevations Travel

"I had a traveler starting a dream vacation to Greece and Italy in March. I received very frantic messages that many of the towns and cities were already closed. VIP worked frantically to help get this family out of Italy to other destinations still open. The amount of time, stress and money this jetsetter saved by allowing a travel professional to help handle the relocation is countless!"

- Ryan Doncsecz, VIP Vacations

"I was texting with the client on my personal phone and had the supplier on my work phone with my computer logged in using my hotspot," she said. "While I was making the adjustments on the computer with one phone to my ear, my husband stepped in to hold the other phone. I kept kinking the IV line making the alarm go off. My daughter stepped in to clear the alarm bell so the nurses wouldn't come in and scold me."

- Nikki Miner, Creating Travel Dreams (solving her clients' problems from a hospital bed hooked up to an IV)

"If they're home alone and thinking they can't go to Europe, a lovely three- or four-day weekend close to home really comes into play," she said. "It will help people continue to dream and have something to look forward to."

- Karen Upchurch, Odyssey Travel (With the lion's share of international destinations closed for tourism, she scouted resorts within a few hours' drive to plan long weekend trips for her clients.)

Some travelers believe their agents work miracles for them, as evidenced in a note James Ferguson of Travel Edge received from happy clients over the holidays: "Santa needs a travel consultant to help him with his bookings! We don't have much stress, since you keep us on schedule!"