Travel planners
 

Although I am an experienced senior traveler I am tired of all the planning a trip takes. Can someone recommend a service for all bookings...air, lodging and train travel in Europe.
Gary

see the responses on your other thread. A travel agent really isn't what you want since most are simply 'ticket bookers'. A true travel consultant (if s/he is at all competent) will cost a lot. Booking things independently is soooooo much easier now than in the past that actually one's age really doesn't have all that much bearing.

But if you want someone to take over all the planning for you - eiher engage a Travel Consultant or take a tour.

I have friends who swear by https://www.europeandestinations.com/
They only go to the popular cities, but you can set up just about everything through them.

Yes take a group tour or simply make your own reservations air, hotel and trains which will take less time on your part than consulting with a travel planner who may book things out of efficacy rather than what you want. Again like on other thread book own train tickets especially as TAs invaribly want you to buy a railpass or book full fare, costing your zillions of bucks more. (Train boking yourself- www.seat61.com has all the didactic instructions - learning about trains BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com. - really very easy no need to thrid party to book overpriced rail options.

I don't think telling him to do it anyway is very helpful since he said he didn't want to. And being a senior can be relevant to the type of service/agent/trips. I wouldn't recommend Contiki or some student travel agency, for example.

it sounds like he does just want someone to make the bookings but knows where he wants to go. I know someone who also isn't comfortable doing it on their own and they use AAA travel services. I think they are free (at least the talking to them part). This wouldn't be too custom-though, I think they mainly just sell packages/cruises, but if you want that, it could work.

I think for someone to recommend a good travel planner to do all bookings, you have to say where you live and for expert real advice, it probably will cost a lot. You can
go to the Virtuoso website. Those are top travel agents. You can pick by area but those are for high budgets.
https://www.virtuoso.com/member/worl...ravel-advisors

Otherwise, I agree, take a tour. You don't have to take one that does everything for you, I've been on a couple an really liked them, as I picked ones where you stayed in one place several days at least, only a few major cities on the itinerary, AND didn't include most meals, only breakfasts usually and maybe one in an odd location. So this was basically me picking out the itinerary but they did thus handle all the planning and bookings. It was actually convenient to not have to worry how to get your bags to the train station, etc. Sometimes these are just called packages.

Thanks for input. All very helpful

Going with a travel planner or doing it yourself?

Myself with a little help