Am traveling to Italy for first time in Sept-Oct and am wondering if I should book hotels w/ a travel agent, telephone, or book online using suggested hotels of Fodorites. What do you do?

In most cases, there's no reason to use a travel agent, you can do it yourself. Online is usually easier, since you don't have to call Italy, but it's possible that the hotel (if it's small and/or out of the way) won't take internet bookings and you might need to call.

We just returned from Italy having done all our own research and made all reservations by email. It's so easy.

Warning, though: Before you start researching hotels, get your taxes done, get the laundry caught up, stock the freezer...LOL! It can get quite addicting.

I'm old enough to have booked hotels every way you can think of. (Anyone remember the TELEX machine?) Where possible, I book with the hotels directly, using email if possible or FAX. I telephone if it's a late booking or I have questions. In smaller, more rural towns, many modest hotels do not have email (although that's changing) but have a FAX machine or utilize a centralized booking service (email or FAX). I haven't used a travel agent in many years. I like dealing with the hotels directly so as to get a sense of their attitudes and responsiveness. I've actually cancelled reservations when the communication with the hotel has been less than satisfactory.

Researching hotels thru the internet makes your trip that much more interesting. We're going to the Amalfi Coast in October, and spent Sunday afternoon going thru hotel options in the various cities we want to visit. When we were through, we felt like we had been in Italy for the afternoon! Try Venere.com for a large hotel selection.

Your post reminded me of another huge benefit of doing your own hotel research. It's amazing how much you learn about your destination in the process: main streets, landmark locations, transportation options, etc.

I've been very surprised, upon first arriving in Paris or Rome, that I could walk out the hotel door and pretty much know which way our restaurant was. All that research pays off in a lot of ways.

No kidding to JeanneB! Thanks all! it gave me the confidence to go ahead and try emailing. When I get my act together, I've taken lots of notes and now must consolidate all your advice, I'll submit an itinerary for your critique! This IS addicting! I MUST go walk the dog now!

I can't imagine having someone else reserve for me even though two of our places only communicate in Italian.

We have learned alot and extended the enjoyment of preparing for our trip.

Way addicting!

VS

MG:

Do it yourself, by all means. We'll help everywhere we can. In my 50+ years of overseas travel, I have never used a travel agent. The only two times I had to hook up with a tour was China ' 84, and USSR in' 79...no other way to get in, but I arranged the tours on my own, too. Try it! You'll enjoy the trip that much more!!

Stu T.

My Travel Agent has a rule..when someone walks into his office and wants JUST hotel reservations in Europe, he tells them up front that he wont book a rate less that 250Euros....Otherwise, there is nothing in it for him.He has about a 10% taker rate and he's fine with that.

For my upcoming trip I used a TA and Go Vacations (one of those Internet TAs). Additionally I did my own research reading travel books, googling and becoming a Fodor Addict (you know you're bad when you stop to think during work, I wonder what's the topping the European Talk forum right now?). Both TAs were helpful, but kept giving me hotels in "bad" areas (not in the right district, right next to train stations, blah hotels, etc) and the prices weren't a bargain either. I wound up booking my own flight through United. I did let one of the TAs book the Paris and Prague hotel. I had to tell her which Paris one to select out of her "available" list--I used TRIPADVISOR and FODORS to weed out the bad. I let the other TA book some of my train and my Rome hotel--again telling her which one I liked off her list---while I was on VENERE.COM checking feedback. The moral of the story--just do it yourself. The previous poster really hit the nail on the head about becoming familiar with your destination. I see no cost savings going through a TA. It's forums like this that bring you the most value for you buck, and this doesn't cost a thing!

The answers you receive here are not a fair survey of the population at large.

Because Fodor's forums are mostly a self-planners resource, the people here will answer that they make their own plans and do not use travel agents (for the most part).

It is no less true, though.

VS

I've seen many posts here where someone asks about which hotel is best from a lackluster, poorly located, often highly-priced selection, and almost always these posts originate from a list that a travel agent has given the original poster.

Amen!

Thanks, you've been great. Now you can see my new post about asking for advice from Venice to CT. Look forward to hearing from you about this one too. You haven't heard the last of me yet!