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Better to book through a travel agent or Tour Crafters?

Better to book through a travel agent or Tour Crafters?

Old May 12th, 2006, 02:05 PM
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Better to book through a travel agent or Tour Crafters?

Our travel agent found us a good deal for a trip to Italy in December. She happened to mention that it was through Tour Crafters (www.tourcrafters.com).

I'm wondering what the advantage is to booking through her or doing this on our own through the tour company?
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Old May 12th, 2006, 06:06 PM
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Well - IMHO your best bet is doing it totally on your own without a tour company or a travel agent.

What about this tour especially appeals to you? Most of the time you can do things more economically on your own - and go exactly where you want for as long as you want.

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Old May 12th, 2006, 07:27 PM
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Oops - sorry, should have been more specific. It's not a tour, just airfare and hotel.

I'm not opposed to doing it on our own. I just wasn't sure I wanted to spend the time researching if the travel agent would come up with something that might be a little better.
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Old May 12th, 2006, 11:04 PM
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Give us all some idea what the cost is, and people here will give you some ballpark ideas.

If it's an exta $500 per person, I wouldn't do it. I doubt it will take you more than four or five hours of research. Do you have a job that's returning you a net of $250 an hour?

Plus, who knows if it's a good hotel, or one far from the city core that Tour Crafters gets a better margin on? I hate to say it but the more I think about it, you have a lazy travel agent.

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Old May 14th, 2006, 07:07 PM
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$1,350 per person for six nights at the River Palace Hotel (all flights included).

I've actually done a lot of research already and this sounds pretty good - I guess I'm just wondering if we'd end up with a better deal if we do it on our own and hope for some airfare deals to pop up in a few months.
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