Booking by travel agent vs self
 

We are wanting to go to Malla Malla and Londolozi this July. Is it cheaper to book directly with lodge or use a agent. If an agent is best who would be good.

Also any information on cheap business class fares from the US would be appreciated too.

It's Mala Mala. No discount for booking directly. Check kayak.com for comparing flight costs.

You don't usually save any money by booking direct. Plus, a good agent can be worth his/her weight in gold if something goes wrong. I'd get a quote from an agent and then compare it to the rack rates at the lodges. Or, you can even email the lodges for quotes for your specific dates. But when comparing costs, don't forget to include the cost of transfer to/from JNB as well as inter camp transfer if you go to both Londolozi and Mala Mala.

I think both Londolozi and Mala Mala take direct bookings so they likely don't have a list of preferred providers. Maybe post a question like "going to MalaMala and Londolozi, looking for TA recommendation." If you put MalaMala in the thread title you'll probably get a lot of responses. Many Fodorites have been there numerous times. Or you can look at the Southern African Trip Report Index and see who people use.

Here's a link to the Southern Africa Trip Report Index.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34858382

Where are you in the U.S.? This would help with flight recommendations. Matnikstym's recommendation of the kayak site is a good one.

Are you looking for a U.S. based travel agent? KayeN is a repeat visitor to MalaMala, but I don't recall where Kaye is located or whether she uses a TA or not. Cary999 is also a repeat MalaMala visitor, so you might want to search for his name. Also, this past summer atravelynn went to MM so you could look at her trip report for recommendations.

Good luck and let us know if/when you need more help.

Hi majorspf

I book directly with MalaMala, and have done for a while. There is no benefit to me doing it with an agent and it is hardly a difficult or tricky booking when I only go to one reserve.

I prefer my information direct, it is quicker and it is more reliable.

I do book airfares through an agent, but I am australian so not much help there!

I am guessing you know that Londolozi and MalaMala are adjoining properties so you would fly into one and out of the other - both use different airlines, or they did the last time I was at Londolozi which was July 2006.

I would also not be wasting too much time as booking this July is not far away, and I would imagine a busy time for both.

Kind regards

Kaye