kak113

I am a do it myself-er when it comes to travel, but thought it best to use a travel agent for the trip to Southern Africa in case we needed a contact person.

I suggested a few things that we would like to do and somewhere in the process of it they've added on extra nights in Cape Town and missed my request for quotes on Mala Mala (I checked to make sure it was available before I even asked).

How much do travel agents charge for their services - is it usually a % of costs on each part of the trip?

Should I just tell them the budget and what our priorities are and trust that they'll find the best value for money? I feel like I could do about 85% of this myself so I am struggling with how to get the most benefit out of the agent without feeling like it's a waste.

sandi

If you're using a real Travel Agent who doesn't specialize in South Africa, they will probably be paid direct by the hotels, lodges, camps etc.

You might do better to contact a Tour operator located in South Africa who will submit a price for your consideration. Any profit will already be included in the price submitted to you.

Do a search on this board for South African Tour operators. A number of well received ones will in threads; contact 2 or 3 with your specific.

Of course you can try doing it yourself, but the SA operator can pull it all together - transfers, hotels, lodges, camps, sightseeing, car rental, internal air flights, etc. This way you pay one person/company and that's it. And, you then have a contact and should something go wrong (need help) they can run interference on your behalf.

ekscrunchy

If you do decide to use a local SA agent, I would recommend this one who planned our wonderful recent trip to SA, Vic Falls and Botswana:


www.southerndestinations.com

atravelynn

Don't know what agents charge.

Try these:

Eyes on Africa (Chicago)
Fish Eagle (Houston)
Africa Adventure (Ft. Lauderdale)
Go2Afarica (South Africa)

enlehman76

Anyone have any opinions on www.go2africa.com? What about www.eyesonafrica.com? I already have been communicating with go2africa and have found that they have great rates. ANy comments pn pricing between the two Thanks!

bushperson

'And, you then have a contact and should something go wrong (need help) they can run interference on your behalf.'

There seems to be a h u g e myth with the Fodorites about the contacts in Africa, "should something go wrong". All US tour operators/travel agents have a working contact in Africa when organizing clients' safari, which they hand to the client with their final documents (and make him/her aware of). So the US client knows well who to contact 'should something go wrong'. By booking with a US travel agent, you are helping o u r economy.

Think about it!

sandi

bushperson -

I was referring to whether the OP should book all arrangements on their own (without an agent in their home country or Africa)... not that one in either was better than the other in case a contact was needed.

Of course a reputable agent/operator at home or in-country should be there "just in case" having provided client with list of contact information.

When a visitor instead decides to handle the booking of the hotel in CPT, individual tours/sightseeing while here, separate from the camps while on safari, then coordinate transfers between points A-B... they have a bunch of individual components and not one single resource "just in case."

Has nothing to do with whose economy is being helped. Rather the client has more peace of mind, so far from home.

atravelynn

enlehman76,

I used EoA in June for South Africa. Everything was wonderful. They got me the no single supplement room at Mala Mala.

If you type Go2Africa in the search box, you'll get some info. I recall a report where Mia from Go2Africa put together a nice trip Southern Africa trip on little notice.