mrrockydog

I'm still planning my trip to Hawaii with my sister, little boy and maybe my mom in June. I have been to a Sandals in Jamaica and to Cancun Palace twice and all those times I turned to a travel agent from the internet to arrange our flight, our stay, transportation to and from the airport, etc. My question is: who should I get to arrange this trip for me?? I need a responsible agent who will look after these details. I know I could book myself but it seems so much easier to let someone else plan it............I could pay online for our room and flight but we would still need transportation arrangements. I want to know that someone will be waiting at the airport for us and someone will be ready to take us back when we leave. And another question: isn't it usually cheaper if you go through a travel agent?? Even if it isn't cheaper I still would rather use a travel agency that knows what they are doing. Suggestions please.

GoTravel

Unless you really like making all the arrangements yourself, let a travel agent do the job.

I have found that it is a 50/50 split as to whether or not using a travel agent is cheaper.

mrrockydog

thanks for replying so quickly. I've read before about how people just book their own trips and I'm very uncomfortable about doing that. So which travel agency (online - do they even have any that aren't online anymore??) has a good reputation?? Especially for Hawaii trips - specifically to Oahu staying at the Hilton Village......

GoTravel

I would find a local travel agency (brick and morter as they are referred to). Ask people you know who they use.

Most of us book our own because we love the hunt and the thrill of the booking.

FainaAgain

Try to re-post your question as "travel agent to Hawaii". Maybe somebody will reply. Most posters won't even read your question.

Also, typing in Hawaii in the search area may help.

Have you tried yellow pages? YOu can just stop by an agency and pick up booklets.

cmcfong

In the August issue of Conde Nast Traveler, Wendy Perrin provided a list of experienced travel agents and their areas of expertise. You might check the library for a copy of the article. Ms Perrin is a widely regarded travel analyst. Aloha.

travelinwifey

You might want try www.pandaonline.com which specializes in Hawaii travel and gets bulk discounts. I would definitely choose a local Hawaii specialist and not a regular travel agent as the discounts are not around much these days. You want someone that has access to hotel inventory, June is going to be busy with families and rates will be high.

jtrandolph

I always research our trips online BUT I have a travel agent...we work as a team. If she can get us lower fares, we pay her the $10.00 or so that agents have had to charge since the airlines stopped giving them commissions for bookings. If not, I book.

Often, especially for Hawaii trips, she can work with consolidators to which I do not have access, to put together a package which I couldn't touch doing it myself.

A good travel agent who will work with you this way also has knowledge about transfers from airports into cities, and locations and prices of hotels, which you would have to research yourself.

Last May we did an Inside Passage Cruise with Cruise West. I had all of the information from them, but it was so much easier to have her book it, including a two night hotel stay in Juneau before the cruise started. It cost us nothing, she got a commission, and she worked for it, finding us a good cabin, etc.

adnil1962

I would recommend Jeff Wain - [email protected] I don't have his phone # handy, but he is out of North Conway, NH at "On a Clear Day".... He has booked us several trips, everything always worked out fine and we got great prices.

bashfulLV

I used a travel agent I found on the internet that specialized in Hawaii - the visitorcenter.com - they made the flight and hotel and would have added the car if I'd asked them to but I don't rent a car on Oahu except by the day once in awhile. As far as transportation at the airport - there are any number of shuttles just dying to take you to your hotel for a decent fare (usually less than $10 per person) and there are also taxis which are faster since the shuttles make several stops.

cruisin_tigger

We used http://www.greathawaiivacations.com/index.html. I used miles for our mainland flights, but booked our 3 condos, rental cars, and interisland air all thru them. The price they quoted me was about the same as I had found on my own, so in this case it was nice to have it all taken care of as one package trip.

dusty56438

If you plan on staying in a hotel (some condos also apply), that is part of a package deal, then a travel agent is fine. But you are limited to the hotels/condos that are part of the package deal.

You can also try www.vrbo.com for alternative lodging including beach houses, condos, B&B's. If that is the way you want to go, then you are probably better off booking your own trip.

I think a local travel agent is better to have in case something goes wrong before your trip. You can go to the travel agent & probably find an alternative flight, or hotel to resolve the issue.

You only need to use a travel agent for the basics (air, lodging, car). Many tours, attractions, etc, you can do on your own or book them cheaper than a travel agent.

You mention transportation to & from the airport. The only island that you can get by without renting a car is Oahu. And even though Oahu has a good bus system, I recommend renting a car.

By the time you pay for airport shuttles, buses, cabs & tours that you can do on your own, you won't save any $$ and you will have spent a lot of time on or waiting for public transportation.

If you do use airport shuttles, you only need to make reservations for the return to the airport.

Lots to do on Oahu:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...1&tid=34812564

anaheimwoman

GoTravel is right about most of the posters here booking their own hotels, air, etc. for most, the planning part is part of the excitement and fun of travel. however, if you really want to use a travel agent, and if you're a AAA member ( i think even if you're not ), they have a travel services section in most of their local offices and they have travel consultants who can help you plan and book your trip to hawaii. i know pleasant hawaiian holidays is one of the consolidators they work closely with. i visited them last month while in the early stages of planning our trip to HI to get a quote on their hawaiian package. doing my own booking saved me about 30% from what they quoted me.