Why use a travel agent?
 

I have never liked using a travel agent. My experiences with them have ranged from poor to terrible. Using the internet and travel boards it has been easy to book travel almost anywhere in the world with ease. BUT...yesterday I found out that our hotel/resort in Vietnam had been destroyed by a typhoon and will not be open for a long time. How did I find out? Our Vietnamese travel agent emailed the info along with suggestions for other choices. Most places are sold out for the New Year's Eve weekend. But she found other places in an area totally unknown to us. She is now working on flights, etc. So, we will have a nice place to go. Thanks to this board we used Vietnamstay (aka Aurora Travel) to rebook all the arrangements I had made for my husband and I and my daughter, her husband and two darling daughters. I did it because I hoped she would get us better prices. But now I realize I was buying insurance. Lesson learned!!!!

Yes there is indeed a risk when you travel independently and there are many occassions when using a travel agent makes sense. We only ever do it alone when we are familiar with our destination and there are some countries where it is advisable, never to do it alone. China for example. Glad to hear that your minor crisis has not become a major drama!
Hope you enjoy Vietnam, we certainly did.

Elainee, glad you had a good expereince and that your vacation plans have been changed with no diruption for you.

That's really good service...and too bad about Anoasis.

Elainee - can you share more information on what you learned about the typhoon in Vietnam? Which hotel/what city was the hotel that was destroyed? Any other adjustments to your itinerary that you've had to make? We have planned a trip without a travel agent and are finding just what you cautioned -- it can be harder to get this kind of info without one. You were wise. We'd be grateful for any other typhoon-related info. Thanks!