siena1

Long story, short:
I'm planning a trip for next spring with my spouse and our 2 yr. old daughter. Although we don't have a destination selected yet, it will be of the Caribbean and/or Central American variety.

I consulted a travel agent and narrowed down the list of possible destinations to four. Travel agent said she would get back to me with prices, etc. by "next week." This was almost a month ago. I've emailed twice--first time, no response. Second time, another "next week."

Am I crazy to want to start planning the trip NOW? We'll need to get a passport for my daughter, vaccinations (possibly), etc. When do I give up on this travel agent and find another?

Please advise.

janisj

1) why do you need to use a TA?

2) after the first "next week" and she didn't get back to you - I would have moved on. These days, TA's need the work too much to treat clients like that.

3) why DO you need to use a TA???

siena1

Well, I suppose we don't NEED one. In the past, we've saved quite a bit of money booking through a travel agent (saved about 50% on a trip to Tokyo). Maybe that was the exception rather than the rule.

Also, I feel that I need a little guidance this time since we're bringing a toddler with us. We're travelling in March and I want to make sure we don't end up somewhere that's overwhelmed with college-aged spring breakers.

embroidery4

As an Ex-TA... if one doesn't get back to you within a reasonable amount of time. If they said a week I be asking around for a good one. They"re not good. I know one that have been around for 10 to 25 years... they know how long it takes after speaking to someone to get back to them with info. I did it for 15 yrs. it not hard except when your new or think the person is not serious.


If you ask why you need a TA.. some people would rather have someone else do the work and sort though all the "stuff" out there for them.

While the internet made life better for some... it made it worse for others by providing them with too much info. Confusing reviews and a lack of clear information.

I still have contacts in the industy and if you book on line rather than a TA.. someone is still keeping the commission $$ (about 10 per cent)... the hotel you booked direct, the airline, the cruise line, ORBITZ, etc... especially the secret travel agents whom attached themselves to one of these sites with great deals.

Then there's the resorts and hotels that get a bad review... and purposely get employees to write fab. reviews to counter the bad one you wrote. TA that are good know the properties, know what and who was there before, the most direct flites...

I saved 200.00 once seaching the internet but had to take 2 connections with a 3 and 5 year old to Disney from NYC... an Expedia special via Minnapolis... not worth 200.00.

Travel is a nasty business... and so I left it years ago... before the internet made it worse. The airline do whatever they want, one fare today raise it tomorrow, next week lower it, seats still not selling lower it more... too bad you planned in advance and bought you ticket last month and paid more... or it's selling out and they're raising the prices even more. You were going to wait and see. You need a psychic

janisj

&quot;<i>We're travelling in March and I want to make sure we don't end up somewhere that's overwhelmed with college-aged spring breakers.</i>&quot;

What you do is ask on Fodors - that is what the forums are for. Very few TAs have been to every (or even some) of the resorts you might consider. They won't have personal experience of all the resorts. And even IF they have - probably not during Spring Break so how would they know??

There are bound to be several Fodorites who not only have stayed there but can tell you exactly which rooms to book and which to avoid.

TAs are sometimes (<i>sometimes</i useful for booking cruises, finding special fares, for some complicated itineraries, that sort of thing. But for specific information about specific destinations - posting questions here will get you more/better info.

siena1

&quot;What you do is ask on Fodors - that is what the forums are for.&quot;

And I have. But I don't think there is anything wrong with confirming what I've learned online with someone I can speak to face-to-face.

I do see your point though. It might be easier to just book the trip myself.

suze

I have never used a travel agent, I feel much more confident when I plan everything myself.

That said, if the agent hasn't gotten back to you in a month(!!) and you DO want to work with someone, I'd find someone different.

All travel agents are not the same. It helps if you have a destination picked in advance, then look for someone specialized in that destination.

As far as traveling with kids, I'd look for a TA who was a Mom. Just because they are a travel agent, does not mean they necessarily know the first thing about traveling wtih a 2 yr. old.

Lots of TA's are booking trips to places they have never even been.

On Fodor's if someone's giving advice, most often it is because they have actually BEEN THERE or DONE THAT

toedtoes

I would find another agent. Just because you go in and talk to one, doesn't mean you have made a committment. If they don't follow through with their end (like calling you back as stated - even if it's simply to say &quot;I don't have the info yet&quot, then move on to the next.

I'd also ask questions. Suze makes a good point that not all agents will understand the needs of traveling with a toddler - however, just because they're a mom doesn't mean they will understand YOUR concerns.

Everybody is different, spend the time finding an agent that understands you and your needs.

And while I do think Fodors is a great site, I don't necessarily think that the recommendations you get here are automatically better than what you'd get from a travel agent. I know for me, that I don't agree with the majority of hotel recommendations here. It's not that I think they are bad hotels, but simply that they are not what I want or need.

A good travel agent will be able to distinguish between what is the &quot;general consensus&quot; and what is &quot;good for you&quot;. If you're not comfortable with going against the grain because you don't really want what folks are telling you to do and you don't know how to find the right choice for you, then you're better off using a travel agent who will only suggest what works for you (and will leave the &quot;general consensus&quot; out of the equation).

siena1

Thank you to all who responded. It's good to know that I'm not nuts and that I should have heard something from the travel agent by now.

At this point, I'm thinking of booking the trip myself: Timothy Beach Resort, St. Kitts??? We'll see...

I should have known when the travel agent originally brushed off my St. Kitts idea and handed me a Beaches Resorts catalogue instead.

suze

Some TA's are helpful and CAN help you get the trip you want.

Others just want to sell you what will make them the most commission.

LSky

To answer your question, you're not &quot;cheating&quot; on her. She said she'd get back to you and she didn't. You wanted someone who was interested in doing their job, she wasn't it.

I would have been planning the trip before calling the TA but then I'm my own travel agent, (with help from the internet; fodors, tripadvisor etc)

Rhea58

You can do this yourself, Siena1.

Timothy Beach has 112 reviews on TripAdvisor &amp; a quick glance indicates positive reviews.

If I were you, I would post a query on the Caribbean Forum asking the
experiences of Families that have stayed there; specifically w/a small child so that you know that you will be well received.

suze

siena1~ How's things coming on this?

I also hope you decided to plan it yourself. You say you already have four destinations selected. So would be easy enough to chase this down.

It's not to early to be planning for spring '09. Might as well get the passport in progress, for example.

georgewoodie

sienal:

I would say that the agent cheated on you, not the other way around.

If they promised to get back to you within a week, a two week extension is 200% extension. 4 weeks is 400%.

If the agent did not get the needed data, a simple note saying so would keep you informed. Delay by the agent reduces your ability to get your selections as others will be there before you.

I my opinion, a GOOD agent will not only save you money, but will provide you with the chance of a great trip and after all, it is the trip experience that is important.

Any decent expert will give you a better result than any amateur [you] so do yourself a favour and go for the best.

Get experienced advice from this web site, know what you want to experience from your travel and establish your budget range so the agent will have some clear idea of what to do for you.

I expect promises to be kept. if they are not, I move on and never come back to that person, what for?

I hope this is of help.

Woodie [a traveler, NOT an agent]

siena1

Thanks to all of your for your responses! I wrote the TA an email and told her to forget it. She wrote me back with ONE place that she found in Mexico, describing it as &quot;lovely.&quot; I looked on Tripadviser...horrible reviews! No way am I staying there with a young child!

Anyway, I've now narrowed it down to St. Kitts or Grand Cayman. Both seem very promising...I'm leaning towards Grand Cayman.

I'm hoping to get something booked this week or next. I'll keep you updated! At this point, I'm thinking I'll just do it myself. I've been doing a fair amount of research online and I've posted in the Caribbean forum here on Fodor's.

divine54

&quot;TAs are sometimes (sometimes) useful for booking cruises, finding special fares, for some complicated itineraries, that sort of thing. But for specific information about specific destinations - posting questions here will get you more/better info.&quot;

sorry - but this generalisation is rubbish!

- direct bookings don't come cheaper than via a GOOD TA! they cannot sell it cheaper because then they won't be represented anymore and lose business.

- there is some consultation involbed here means the client hasn't yet got a clue where to go. therefore a TA comes into play.

- any TA who hasn't got a 24 hrs response guarantee (any response!) should be avoided.

- chose a travel consultant who works on a service fee instead of commission so that makes sure the consultant is simply focused on to your expectations and interests instead of the margin/commission.

i would move on to another reliable TC!

time is too precious to gamle

div