natc143

I met someone who mentioned that travel agents and tour packages offer MUCH cheaper rates overall than booking on your own. Ive seen some rates in Positano, Ravella, Lake Garda, etc - do you think I should look to work through an agent to get lower prices?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Natalie

natc143

What websites would you recommend?

caroline_edinburgh

I would say the exact opposite, in the UK at least. Booking a hotel yourself is usually considerably cheaper. Check some websites then contact the hotel direct, to see which is cheapest. If you have particular hotels in mind, just google on the hotel name & location to get lots of supposedly cheap booking sites. In Italy I have used venere.

ellenem

The key to the packages is the hotel location. Often the hotels that are cheapest are not central to the most popular sights. With any package, I would research the location of all hotel choices before making a choice. Also check tripadvisor for reviews.

suze

As mentioned, check out the location and quality of those hotels. Often tour packages stay on the outskirts of town in convention center type hotels.

Also you need to be traveling double occupancy (I have never seen a package that once I added on my true departure city, and my single supplement, that could beat what I can find on my own & at a much nicer central local hotel).

suze

For websites, I use many to reserach, but then book directly with the hotel (either using their own website or phone/fax/email). I have no proof this is better, but I have never had a problem, and feel more secure than going thru an agency or middleman.

ira

Hi n,

With the exception of cruises, I have yet to find a package that cost less than doing it on my own for equivalent travel and accomodations.

For some reason TA's believe that they should be paid for doing the work for you.

RufusTFirefly

We actually did find a package that gave us much better price for air, hotel, and transport between cities than we could have done on our own for equivalent transportation and accomodations. It was in 1996 with a hosted package from Central Holidays.

The Florence and Venice hotels were central, the Rome hotel was a little out of the central area near the Bourghese Park--but it worked out fine as we really liked the neighborhood and the family restaurants in the area.

What decided us on taking the package tour (besides the price) was the fact that you were left on your own in each city--we would not enjoy a fully escorted tour with a flag-waving, whistle blowing guide and strict schedule.