RosstheBoss

Is it customary for travel agents to require a fee before they do any work/research for you? I got a referral and went to request a quote, but they require a $100 deposit before they begin the research. This is before you can even have a conversation with them about anything. Is it possibly because this is an agency that specializes in group travel? I found another agency some months ago and noticed they had a similar requirement, requiring a $250 deposit before they do any research.

In the first instance, the deposit is applied to the cost of your trip.

janisj

Are you sure you need a TA? Most trips are very easy to arrange on your own . . . But yes, many agencies do charge an initial fee. They don't want to do a bunch of work for no pay.

Many apply the cost to any final bookings -- but others charge a smaller non-refundable fee.

RosstheBoss

Thanks JanisJ. I believe I need an agent because I am planning a group trip, and I thought that would be the easiest way for friends to pay for it in their own time.

janisj

How large a group?

Where are you going?

RosstheBoss

I have several maybe's right now, probably 4-10. I thought I was going to Punta Cana, but now I'm not so sure. My most recent alternative was St. Maarten's. I can't decide.

anyegr

Travel agents are not charity workers. They are doing a job and want to be paid for it. Research takes time and effort. Sometimes they do a lot of research and then the customer changes his mind. Of course they have learned to demand an advance deposit.

With the Internet and guidebooks it is possible to do all the trip planning without a travel agent. It does take time and effort, of course. So you have to decide what is worth more to you, the time/effort or the money you can save by doing it all yourself.

For group travel there are added complications. You seem to have run into some of them already. People who can't make up their minds if or where they want to go. People who may cancel at the last minute etc. For that sort of situation you need some clear rules to avoid being left with all the costs. A travel agent may, or may not, help with that.

I have heard some stories of bad travel agents who put together bad trips. I have also heard stories of people putting together bad trips, especially group trips, on their own.

Does this travel agent have a good reputation? Does he/she know anything about the country/continent you want to travel to? Do they have experience with arranging group trips? An expert on family (parents and two kids) trips to Europe may not be equally good at arranging trips for half a dozen 25-year-olds to the Carribeans. Or maybe you will get lucky and they have been there themselves and know exactly how to plan your perfect trip. Maybe.

RosstheBoss

Thanks anyegr,
I am unschooled in the ways of travel, so that is why I brought my question here. I just didn't want to make a "rookie" move that would end up costing me money if it was something that could be avoided. Thanks.

Sassafrass

RosstheBoss,
Smart of you to be looking ahead to issues you will run into. There are many people here who have planned trips for small to large groups of all kinds to many places. You can get a lot of advice here. Some questions to start.
Who? Family, friends, singles, families, kids, age range?
Why? Celebration, sightseeing, time together, relaxing?
When?
How many days total, including travel time?
Where? US, Europe? Caribbean? Mexico, etc.? It looks like you are considering Caribbean.
Type of travel? Stay in one place, move around sight seeing, etc. Will you want hotels, condos? Will you need vans, cars, trains, buses?
Will you do everything together like a tour group or everybody have more freedom?
Are you the only one planning or do others have input?
If you know all of that, then post your tentative idea in the related forum.
Get some advice and then decide what your approach will be.

With a couple of close friends, I might consult back and forth. Many different approaches and some people do it all, including handling money. Mostly, I decide where I am going, pick hotels and everything else, then give the dates and booking info to everybody interested. They decide if they want to go or not and book accordingly. I would make sure that there were enough hotel rooms available at the time, but it they wait to decide, it is their responsibility. In other words, plan the trip, but taking care of business is up to them. You don't want to book a lot of stuff, then be responsible for paying when somebody backs out, and believe me, that happens all the time, no matter how sure you are that it won't.

RosstheBoss

Thanks, Sassafrass!
I made my deposit today, booked through AAA Travel.

WoinParis

I was going to say that 100$ is a small fee indeed. You did well !