Hey all! I am trying to plan my honeymoon, and I was wondering if anyone has ever gone through a travel agent to book a vacation, or better yet, are you a travel agent?... if so, was it more money? was it worth it? did it help? can they get you beter deals? Let me know!! Thanks Everyone!!
2007-06-13 07:59:05 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ Travel (General) ➔ Other - Destinations
The last time I used a travel agent was 5 years ago. They charged an outrageous $80 fee! I came home, checked on the Internet and could have booked the same thing for the same price, minus the $80 fee. Actually, I later found better travel insurance, verses the very expensive insurance the agent sold me, so it cost me even more. I haven't gone back, and book everything myself.
Savings and deals are correlated between experience and time you spend looking. I found that although experienced, Agents sit you down, usually at a convenient 9 to 5 time for them, and inconvenient time for you, and spend little time on your booking. You can do twice as much research at home, and at your convenience on-line. I find if I am going somewhere, the deals change daily. If I look today, and again next week, and keep looking occasionally, it on average costs less. You can't do that with an agent. They will want to book you today or tomorrow.
The thing about agents is they USE TO get a big fee from the airlines. Not so since discount airlines and seat sales. The airlines are just as happy to cut out the middleman and sell you the seat cheaper with no agent fee. As airlines can sell direct, their fees to Agents have been falling for years, and that is why they have started charging direct fees.
Having said that, I do recommend agents if you haven't booked much before for more complicated travel. If you don't do it yourself much and are starting with an International Trip I might consider a Agent. This is your honeymoon, a Travel Agent might know some worthwhile tricks of the trade. OR you may be able to type in tips for booking honeymoon into your search engine and find out all you need to know.
I personally do not use a travel agent when traveling within North America and Central America.
2007-06-13 09:32:10 · answer #1 · answered by JuanB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about planning a honeymoon; there may be somethings a travel agent can arrange that you might not be able to. Having said that, I have found no reason to use a travel agent since I used one about 20 years ago. Especially with the advent of the the internet, most travel arrangements can be made on-line, either directly with hotels, airlines, rental car places, or on-line services such as yahoo travel, expedia, orbitz, etc. If arrangements cannot be made on-line, the information for contacting places is normally available and a simple call can get a lot done.
Before I contacted a travel agent, I would first try to figure out what I can do myself, what I think the agent could do that I can't, and how much time I am willing to spend on my own to save money and get exactly what I want.
Not saying a travel agent is never necessary, but for a lot of travel, you're wasting your money. Having never been to Las Vegas prior to last year, I arranged our first trip and another one since. My wife and I stayed at the MGM Grand (4 nights) each time, and flew from round trip from the east cost. On both trips I believe I got a better deal than I could have through a travel agent. Have now arranged our next trip myself and the whole process only took a few hours. The more I do it the quicker I get.
You do have to do research, but, if time is not an issue, anyone can arrange almost any travel.
2007-06-13 15:20:00 · answer #2 · answered by ghouly05 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Generally there is no fee to use a travel agent. They get their pay from the airlines / hotels and such. They can sometimes find you a better deal but that's becoming rarer due to the online travel sites.
The value of a travel agent comes from his/her experience with the destination. They can often steer you to a good location or away from a bad one. They are also good when you need to set up transfers, transportation, multiple destinations, etc.
2007-06-13 15:03:33 · answer #3 · answered by Mark B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a former travel agent I can tell you that you rarely pay more to use a travel agent and don't have to pay fees to use one. The commissions they receive are from the hotels or package companies not from tourists looking to travel.
2007-06-13 15:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to mexico and we had a travel agent. It was really nice because we didnt have to plan it they did it for us. It was only like 100 dollars extra and that was for 8 days. They helped alot by finding us restraunts with clean water and stuff. Tour guides are also a really nice thing to have.
2007-06-13 15:22:53 · answer #5 · answered by Lauren 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
difficult problem. research over google. it can assist!
2014-11-18 04:38:29 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋