tripgirl

I must agree with alot of Underhill has stated.

I do use an agent because ( as I have posted before ) I plan a group of 20 of my friends each yr and I need someone to do some large logistical moves for me.

That said, a good agent is invaluable. They often have connections with the hotel owner themselves and can arrange for some pretty interesting excursions and can get you into places that other tourists would not be privvy to. I've epxerienced this each time. I use Virtuouso agents who indeed sit on boards and have good connections.

But, you must work with them. I NEVER just take their word for anything. I use this board the most to double check everything and other sites as well. You must come prepared to work with an agent and question them about everything. I have always had very good luck becasue I speak up and I let them know upfront I want what I want!

It is still alot of work for me, but that is the rewarding part. But when an agent can arrange all my logistics in moving people around, its a godsend that I don't have to arrange that myself.

for airline tickets however, I usually book that for the group myself. That is not hard to do and most often now as mentioned by other posters, it is not even the agent's interest to do this service since they receive little compensation.

And none of my agents ever steered me to any particular hotels. I always have come to them with my wishes and they make suggestions and we come up with the best place. Often as it turns out the agent has a relationship with the property I wanted anyway.
I require that the agent I work with has visited the place many times we are going to or has lived there.
When you are given amenities each night and the staff treats you like royalty, I think it is worth it!

paula5

thanks for all the advice!