My new Conde Nast Traveler Magazine has a wonderful section on how to choose a good travel agent. Here are a few ?'s the agent should ask you....1) What is your biggest goal for this trip? 2) Are you willing to change your travel dates to get a better value? 3) Do you want fixed plans for each day, or do you want the freedom to improvise? 4) Exactly what do you mean by "warm" "remote" "nightlife" "intimate" or "roughing it"? 5) What health issues should I know about? 6) Are you celebrating a special occasion? 7) What kind of budget are we looking at? 8) How active a role do you want me to play in the planning of your trip? It says beware of the agent who doesn't pepper you with questions. Mine is perfect.

Those ??? are perfect. Everyone has a different interpetations of words like "nice hotel" Well what I think is nice may not mean what you think is nice. In addition to those listed by Kim, I ask my clients where they have been before, what hotels have they stayed in, what cruise lines have they sailed with etc. The agent must get on the same page with the client. I love my job and the best part about it is when you have made that connection w the client and have found them the best vacation for the amount of money they have to spend. So in answer to the above ?? If someone puts a brochure in your hand and doesnt offer you a seat at their desk...dont feel bad about leaving...you have done yourself a service by looking for another agent.