Any advantage to travel agents?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I’ve been driving myself to distraction trying to plan a trip to Puerto Rico for my husbands birthday. I decided that what he would really like would be a golf lesson with a pro in a place that is sort of foreign but not as complicated as another country. PR seems to fit the bill. I talked to a travel agent at AAA a couple of months ago and she suggested that once I figured out what I wanted, she would get me a package discount. So, I did. I found the hotels I wanted to stay in and the flight I wanted to take. I called her up and asked for a price. She got back to me quickly but her price is at least $500 more then the ballpark figure that I’ve worked out.</p>

<p>So what is the point in using a travel agent? I asked her about a golf clinic or lessons and she said that probably any place that offers golf would have a pro for that. Well, duh, I knew that but I thought that was the whole point of a travel agent so I wouldn’t have to work out those details. In fact one of the reasons I picked the hotel I did was because I called the hotel and talked to someone at a pro shop and they did offer a play and teach deal. Are there difference in travel agents or agencies or should I just do what I usually do and figure it out myself?</p>

2

<p>Look for a Virtuoso agent. Yes, there are enormous differences. The Virtuoso agent will find you the best pro in the area and will have the champagne waiting and anything else you want to have arranged. In many cases (depending on commissions where you’re going) you’ll pay a fee as they can’t make money with flights and many resorts these days.</p>

3

<p>I’ve wondered this myself. I have not had good experiences so far and wonder if I’ve just not found a GOOD agent. Maybe there are lots of useless ones but the good ones are like gold if you find them. </p>

<p>Last year, I tried three different agents that apparently specialized in the country and type of travel we were interested in (1-2 by referral, another I looked up). We were pretty open/flexible but also had some good guide posts about which country, the type of accommodations, and the kinds of activities we wanted to do. I thought this would be a dream assignment for an agent and they could commission on it all- the hotels, air for 3 weeks etc. I wanted to have ‘one stop shopping’ so to speak. Called two different ones and it was apparent from their lack of questions and insight that they knew less than me. Another was very enthuasiastic and at least asked the right questions, and was going to research and call me back…but never did. I end up calling her back and she apologized and had gotten busy, will get on it. Then again never called back. I ended up doing it all myself.</p>

<p>Another time I booked my flight via an agent, thinking it might be worthwhile, but had to do all the work anyway and then had to pay them a fee that I wouldn’t have done if I had just done it online at the airline website!</p>

4

<p>I tried a travel agent once. It was a special event like the OP’s, and I got the same “service” as the OP did. But hmom5 has a point, and I’ll try that advice the next time a special event comes up.</p>

5

<p>The only time I use a travel agent is when I get a kick back in commission.</p>

6

<p>I have never used a travel agent until our first trip to Europe this summer. Because I had never been to Europe and the kids were coming from different directions, I decided to used the travel agent my sister uses all the time. Boy was I sorry! Some of the issues were my fault and I just got suckered in.</p>

<p>First off, this agent does not know the meaning of budget. I told her several times that while we liked to stay at nice places, we could not really afford them on this trip. I told her we stayed at Doubletree, Marriott and other like hotels if I get a good deal, but we are also happy in a Hampton Inn if it was a nice one; usually a AAA 3 diamond. When I get the list of hotels she booked for us and looked at them online, the hotels were Ritz Carlton type hotels! She explains that in Europe that is the only type of hotels to stay at as the others are dumps. When I tell her we do not eat breakfast except my husband, she tells me the hotels all include breakfast and if would cost us a fortune to get breakfast. I was a bit overwhelm with all the different travel plans and where to stay in each city that I let her talk me in to her hotels. Again, I have a sister and other relatives that use this woman for all their travel so I just figured Europe was really expensive and I needed to stay where she said. Of course once there, I realized there were many nice hotels for a whole lot less.</p>

<p>The travel agent booked several tours for us that we of course could have done ourselves at a much cheaper rate. There were 2 tours that we wanted to cancel while there, but when I email her she said I could not cancel. One was a wine tasting a day after going to a winery! Now who wants to sit in a bar for a wine tasting after having a great wine tasting at a vineyard?? The other was a boat tour to Murano that I had to take my voucher to a little stand; the same stand that I could have walked up to and bought my own ticket! The reason we wanted to cancel as it was pouring rain; not a great day for a boat ride. The other reason was out hotel was offering FREE tours to Murano; the hotel she booked for us!!</p>

<p>I should have had more faith in my ability to plan this trip. I am guessing that my family of 4 would have saved over $2,000 if I had booked myself. Would the hotels have been as plush, of course not; but we would not have cared. At least AAA agents do not charge for their services I don’t think.</p>

7

<p>I use travel agents who specialize in parts of the world I am new to. A good one knows the hotels, tour guides, restaurants, etc. inside and out. These people are few and far between but priceless if you want a great upscale vacation. </p>

<p>It’s a bit confusing because some can save you money on a budget vacation in some countries because they have deals with hotels. In general though, a budget vacation is best planned yourself using tripadvisor to find discounted hotel rooms and get advice on them from site participants. Also, any one stop vacation is easily booked yourself.</p>

<p>If it’s a bigger budget trip and a multi destination one, a great agent is in his element. The one we often use is so well traveled himself that he can give great details on everything to help us make choices. He provides seamless turn key trips. You are picked up on time at the airport and the hotels often upgrade our room because the managers know him and his organization. Free in room treats always follow his bookings. Note this is always in high end hotels. He has worked with each concierge to book us restaurants, cars, tours or whatever we request. Any glitch and one call to him solves it. But we pay for it. The car he arranges from the airport will often cost triple of what we would pay if we hit the taxi stand. The tour guides excellent but much more expensive than what we could arrange on site.</p>

8

<p>There are national-level travel agents who specialize in a particular market, like cruises or African safaris. I think that kind of specialized knowledge can be very valuable. However, I find that, for areas where I know what I’m doing (or even have a good idea), that reading the travel websites and booking myself is considerably cheaper.</p>

<p>I have had to work hard not to overplan vacations or plan them too far in advance. Often the best deals come up shortly before the travel dates, as unused rooms get discounted. (This is especially true off-season in tourist destinations like Hawaii.) I like to book early in something acceptable but cancellable and then watch for deals. </p>

<p>And of course, the CC travelers often offer great advice!</p>

9

<p>I stopped using travel agents after a few unhappy flight plans that they made for me. I did have a good experience many years ago, and the travel agent that reserved my honeymoon for me was excellent. I have moved away from her area, but I still remember her good service.</p>

<p>We went on a trip a few years ago and used a recommended travel agent, and wanted connections by car for some of our trip. We did not get them, and had to get our own taxi. Although I was promised a refund, I never got it. I also never got a refund for my unused plane tickets for a flight canceled due to a sandstorm. If I had reserved on my own, at least I would have gotten credit or a refund, but since I used a travel agent, who booked through someone else, who knows who got the credit.</p>

<p>I just booked a trip my self, and although it is a little time consuming, I think it worked out to be the least expensive that way. Look for on line or AAA discounts in the hotel rates. Also, you can call a hotel concierge where you will be staying, and make special arrangements for things during your stay. I used to do this when I knew that I would need babysitters when we traveled, and at good hotels the concierge will do alot for you, even though you are not yet there.</p>

<p>Snowball, we went to france last summer, and the three and four star (french ratings) hotels were by and large “la dump”, c’est vrai. I wish I had paid more and stayed in nicer places. My H and D complained non stop. They were dirty, dusty, and usually if they had air conditioning, it was broken. This was a prepaid tour, so we could not just complain and cancel out. </p>

<p>Years ago, Al Italia made a reservation for me at a recommended place in Rome. When we arrived there, they never heard of us. Since it was the soccer world cup, there were no rooms to be had, even at the most expensive places. However, this hotel that did not have our reservation sent us down the street to a place that just happened to have a room (do you smell something funny?..) We still refer to it affectionately as the Hotel Mess Up. The bathroom had a tub and sprayer (no shower), and the air conditioning was shut off automatically at 10 pm even if it was 100 degrees outside. They had great coffee though.</p>

10

<p>I do most of my own booking. I find it easier and faster. I also find I have the most incentive to get a good price. I have also found that it is difficult to find an agent who has gone to many of the places I would like to travel.
I have used a travel agent three times where it made a huge difference. One was when we traveled to do a sailing vacation in Belize. We used an agent out of Florida that was recommended by the charter company. I doubt I could have done it myself with the ease that she did. Travel involved a small plane that I would have been hesitant to book on my own.
Years ago we traveled to Fiji and Tahiti. We used a travel agent who was recommended who was Fijian and a wholesaler. He saved us a ton of money and also has recommendations of hotels that we less expensive then you see in the travel brochures. </p>

<p>I did have good luck with one agent who somehow got us an extra room at Club Med for our kids and a upgraded room in Hawaii.
With the internet it is now easy to do much of the research myself.</p>

11

<p>I have never used a travel agent. My family went to Europe and we used Rick Steve’s books for ideas on places to stay, things to do and how to pull it together. Our last trip was to Argentina and for that I used Trip Advisor (especially the forum) and travel books. The internet has made everything much easier. Sometimes I would just put the hotel name (or activity) and the word reviews in Google and search.</p>

12

<p>I study Fodor’s and Frommer’s guides. Serious study.</p>

13

<p>We prefer Loney Planet. But its geared more to the type of travel we like to do.</p>

14

<p>I guess I was just over optimistic. I’ve always planned all of our travel and did so just this Spring when we went to China. That involved planes, trains, guides and hotels and was quite complicated but it worked out very well. I was thinking that Puerto Rico was probably a pretty common destination and that the Caribbean “specialist” at AAA would be able to find some special deals. Oh, well, back to tripadvisor. :(</p>

15

<p>Kathiep, Enjoy your trip! Sometimes, I find planning to be part of the fun of a trip!</p>

<p>I used travel agents years and years ago, but I have not used them in a long time (we also have not gone anywhere that would require one). Years ago, agents found ways to save money, but I have not found that to be the case in years. For example, 20 years ago H and I went to FLA. We went to a travel agency (a chain) and they were able to offer RT flights from NJ to FLA for $25pp/RT! It was through a new airline (introductory rate) and I would not have been able to find that offer on my own. Additionally, they had a great rate on a car rental which made this trip so inexpensive. We have since tried to find similar deals through this agency, but they were not able to offer special pricing to us for anything. I gave up on them years ago.</p>

16

<p>We have used ONE travel agent successfully last summer when our kids were going on a tour to Taiwan. She offered a lower fare for the 3 kids than anything I could find anywhere and guaranteed it for a few days while we finalized our plans before making payment. She came highly recommended by friends who travel frequently to the orient.</p>

<p>The agent we used before then planned a few good trips for us with air tickets & everything but last I heard had problems because he took a lot of people’s money without delivering on the travel arrangements & was being sought by the courts.</p>

<p>When I got a travel scholarship, I was “encouraged” to use the designated travel agency or pay the difference between what the agency could get & whatever I could get. I used them & was able to get what I wanted & the paying organization was happy & so was I (since they paid directly to the agent & nothing had to come from me other than my preferences).</p>

<p>All the rest of the time, I’ve used the internet & AAA books & recommendations of friends. I also love Rick Steve’s books & suggestions.</p>

<p>My sister swears by a particular travel agent, especially when your kid “might” change plans. I’ve never taken her up on him. Lately, I’ve been trying to use points and miles for flights whenever possible rather than paying out of my wallet. I have to use a travel agent specified by the credit card to redeem points for flights.</p>

<p>Oh yea, I have to use a particular travel agency when I book flights using the Citi Elite Credit card–it gives you two tickets on AA for slightly lower than the usual fare (you have to compare & be sure you’re getting a good deal–sometimes it’s cheaper to just buy 2 tickets on your own on the airline of your choice). That has worked out OK for me as well.</p>

17

<p>We used a travel agent to plan our trip to Paris and Provence last Christmas. It was fairly complicated with varying numbers of people going taking trains and planes at different times. It may be the only time I go to France, I was very busy (I am always very busy in the fall), and I don’t speak French although my son is now bi-lingual. </p>

<p>I would use her again for a similar trip – although I normally book all my own travel in the US.</p>

18

<p>I used to use a local travel agent, but not anymore. I ordered airline tickets yrs ago and when I got the call to tell me they were ready on a Friday, I stopped the next day to pick them up. The door was open so I went it and the owner was there and furious that I walked in…seems they were closed ( never occured to me that such a business would be closed on a Saturday )
Then three yrs ago, I wanted to take my husband to Iceland for his birthday. The agent did everything she could to dissuade me. She tried to push Ireland , Bahamas and Disney…none of which are Iceland.
I left with her telling me she would work up some prices and get back to me in a couple of days. I was frustrated , so I called up Icelandair and worked out a package on my own.
Six weeks after we returned from our trip, the travel agent got back to me…that pretty much ended my relationship with this company</p>

19

<p>Years ago I had a friend who worked as a “surprise trip” travel agent. She kept detailed files on her clients and always paid attention to their feedback after a trip.
She would tell them what type of clothing to pack and to bring their passport. She met the couples at the airport and they found out where they were going at check-in!!! She would give them a packet to read on the plane and always planned a wonderful and unusual trip for them.
I think anticipation is half the fun of travel but her clients found it thrilling.</p>

20

<p>Ditched the travel agent, booked a flight ($600 for two), and am now re-thinking the hotels. There are too darn many reviews!</p>