Amy_D

We’ve been receiving a lot of requests lately about recommendations for travel agents and it’s got us wondering; are travel agents coming back? The internet is chock full of information and “deals” that some travelers are finding it all overwhelming (we can’t blame them).

We want to know – are you overwhelmed when planning a trip? Are you considering going back to the days of travel agents? What are your go-to resources when booking a trip?

adrienne

The first time I go to a city or country I find there is a lot of reading and planning but I'm not overwhelmed by it.

The only thing I've used a travel agent for (prior to the internet and self booking) is air tickets, rental cars, and rail passes. I have not used a TA for at least 15 years and would not do so again. TAs receive little or no incentive to book air tickets and car rentals so they would not be interested in my business. Any tours I've taken recently do not use TAs for bookings.

I always read guide books for information and usually book ahead using a hotel web/rail site. I primarily use AutoEurope for car rentals and book using their web site or by calling them directly.

I think people who are overwhelmed are those who do not prepare by reading guide books or postings on internet sites.

amer_can

Depends on the complications of the trip..It is comforting to have a contact who can help solve problems and altho there are very few commissions available to a TA for most requests a thank you in the form of a giftdinner voucher/$ folder Xmas card/Valentine etc has been an appreciated item in my case. I have needed her to sort out a few minor quirks, like credit for brkfst, upgrades at hotels and emerg. contacts.

StCirq

I think I once used a travel agent, maybe 40 years ago, for something I was having trouble figuring out on my own. Most travel agents have far less familiarity with actual travel than I do. So no, I'm not overwhelmed and feel no need for a travel agent, at least for the places I normally travel to, and even if I were to go somewhere completely new and different, the last thing I'd resort to would be a travel agent. I'd read guidebooks and the internet and look at maps and ask my friends and acquaintances who've traveled there for recommendations. I think the amount of information available these days makes travel agents even more redundant than they ever were.

bobthenavigator

People are looking for help in some form especially in the early months of the year. Clearly Jan. and Feb. are when many people start to get serious about trip planning for May and the summer months. They may not need a TA per se, but they do need help to get started. This Forum serves that purpose for many.

bilboburgler

Hard to believe, I struggle to remember when I last used one and cannot think why one would.

Keith

The research for the trip is a third of the fun. An agent could never take the time to do what I enjoy doing for myself.

janisj

My guess is the demographic on Fodors' forums is slightly different than the general public. Most here are travel and/or tech savvy and don't use TAs much. New folks join up to ask questions (including about TAs) and find out about other resources and how to do things themselves.

But I do have relatives/friends who don't use Fodors or TripAdvisor - for different reasons. Elderly and not too sure about booking things on-line. Or well off/busy and don't want to be bothered. Young families who haven't traveled much. And for some reason, several who mostly take cruises (I'd think cruises would be just about the easiest things to book independently)

I have used TA once in a rare while - for specific reasons but when traveling on my own almost always do everything myself.

I have a friend who has owned a travel agency for 20+ years and she has suffered from both the economy and folks making their own arrangements. She used to have 6 employees (5 TAs and one clerical) They are down to the owner, another full time TA and a part timer. But she feels the tide has turned a bit and business is up the last 9-10 months.

Dukey1

IMO people who wait until January or February to plan a trip to SOME areas need more than a "travel agent."

ribeirasacra

You say you have been receiving requests. I suppose that means the forums of Fodors? I post on a few and I have noticed that this sort of requests normally comes from posters based in India or counties near by.
If that is a growing trend than it could because there are more members posting from those locations but not because there is a growing (in general) trend.
Maybe time to look at some statistics????

ribeirasacra

PS I should say I have never ever used a Travel Agent to plan a trip, even before the days of the internet.

emily71

Never used a Travel agent but I know people who have done so because they dont want to bother with the hassle. Like others, I find Fodors and TA forms more helpful and I like being able to contact hotels on my own.

Personally with tech-saavy youth, I think travel agents will almost be extinct.

BarbAnn

Many years ago, I was a travel agent. I can not understand in this day & age why someone would use a travel agent to book a trip. I must admit, I do use a TA to book my cruises. Well, I book it and then release it to them so I get the OBC or other perks.