Use Travel Agent? First Time Traveler

Old Jan 31st, 2016, 07:52 AM
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Use Travel Agent? First Time Traveler

I've never traveled outside US before. Want to plan a trip to Italy for this summer and I'm a little overwhelmed with the travel books - so many details and I'm afraid of screwing this up. I'm a little dyslexic and have been known to make mistakes on dates. It's for our family of 3 and it is what is is - neither of them are really helping much at all. I work a a lot and the research is feeling like another full time job which I don't have enough time for. What I want is piece of mind and organization but at a fair price - the one agency I called, Giselles, seems overly pricey to me. Does anyone have recommendation of reputable travel agency that does a great job with Italy? I live in Northern CA and so far have not found an agency specializing in Italy - at least not one that handles all the bookings.

We are 2 adults 50ish and 1 teenage boy (17). We want to spend 12-14 days between Venice, Florence and Rome seeing major sites and doing side trips to nearby towns. My friends told me to book Airbnb and do this all on my own but I'm nervous of something going wrong an being stuck.
Appreciate any travel agency insight/referral and any other guidance.
Hazel427 is offline  
Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:11 AM
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Hi HAZEL,

You will love Italy. - However,

"My friends told me to book Airbnb and do this all on my own but I'm nervous of something going wrong an being stuck."
doesn't sound like great advice to me for first timers. Have you ever done Airbnb before? I have not.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:22 AM
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I wouldn't use AirBnb for a first-time trip to Italy/Europe, either. It could be a stellar experience, but it could also mean finicky check-in and check-out issues, learning how to use building codes, figuring out how and where and when to recycle, understanding appliances with directions (and warnings) in Italian...all kinds of pragmatic/linguistic issues that could turn out to be daunting.

Can't help with a travel agent as I've only used one for India. Sorry.

Since you mention dates and dyslexia, you might want to familiarize yourself withEuropean date format - day first, followed by month (not month followed by day as in the USA), followed by year. So, e.g., December 10, 2016 is 10/12/2016.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:26 AM
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You could use Travelocity, Expedia, Hotels.com to book rooms in the three cities you mention; that's more like using an on-line travel agent than Airbnb. Careful on the dates, make sure that you have a printed calendar on which you write down what you have reserved. Also, be careful on dates because in Europe the day and month are reversed. I once made the mistake of reversing the month and day on a non-refundable train fare--I intended to reserve of an early June trip and made a reservation for an early May trip: 5-6-2016 is not the same in Europe as in the States.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:28 AM
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It's not bad advice to use AirBnb for Italy. It is quite easy to do, and many b&b owners use Airbnb as an advertising platform.

However, it sounds like the planning overall is a real burden to you and I am sympathetic. Not everybody enjoys planning a trip, and it can be really stressful is you are worried about making mistakes. (And expensive if you do!)

Instead of a travel agent, however, I would recommend using a travel CONSULTANT who specializes in Italy. Travel agents are good for planning things like destination weddings, but it is better to get a travel consultant for Italy to help you identify where to go, where to stay, how much time to spend in each place going sightseeing, where to eat, and to book accommodations and train tickets (or a car rental) for you.

I can only recommend one such person -- Suzy Kane at Idyllic Italy. She knows all of Italy extremely well and will work with you individually to create an interesting itinerary whatever your budget is.

http://www.idyllicitaly.com
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:31 AM
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PS: I meant to add if that you want more recommendations you might try asking on the Slow Travel website message forum for Italy.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:31 AM
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So you are coming for 12 to 14 days to three cities, joined by a great train system (read seat61.com to understand)

You need 3 bases, In Venice (ie out on the lake, book it soon) Inside the walls of Florence and somewhere in Rome near a train or bus stop to help get around.

Do you need two rooms and how much do you expect to spend?

Dates?
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:46 AM
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Hazel - I have been to Italy 4 times, all planned on my own.. once with 6 friends, once with 4, once with 12, and the last one in October with 4... You can do this on your own..if you have any qualms tho - do go with a travel agent. It is really easy to get from each of those cities using the train. I can't recommend enough to book ahead any tours or sights you would like to see. In October, we booked ahead the Accademia in Florence and the lines for those that didn't book ahead were 3 blocks long. I would gladly help you if you would like. I have stayed in hotels and B & B 's ( which I prefer )... I can guarantee that if you do this on your own, do all the research, study the maps, - you will get so much more out of it. And my age is looking at 60 this year
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:48 AM
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and I am free... I just love to research travel..
but I did go to school to be a travel agent...
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 08:49 AM
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Given your background, a good travel agent could be just what you need -- however, they aren't free so maybe you just expect too much for little pay. I do think nowadays with the internet, a lot of travel agencies specialize or cater to either very unusual itineraries (this would not be Western Europe) or very high end travel, or else just for businesses. So that may be part of the problem if you want lower level stuff.

Telling someone with your background to just use Airbnb is a terrible idea IMO.

Have you tried AAA? They should be reasonable in cost and perhaps could handle a routine trip like you envision to major cities. My sister uses them as she isn't comfortable planning or booking any travel, although I'm not sure if they just handle prepackaged tours or will do itineraries. Worth asking them, presuming you belong to AAA.

Various magazines often list travel specialists by area, like CN Traveler, but they are always luxury planners, unfortunately. Here are some in N Calif. that are listed as Italy specialists

http://www.kerntravel.com/ (Flo Camota)

http://www.losgatostravel.com/ (Maureen Conlin)

http://ciaobambino.com/

http://www.dalianes.com/

You can also search the directory of ASTA, the professional assn of travel agents, by area and specialty
www.asta.org

I have no knowledge of the competence of the above, just saw them listed on some industry website. I think it is hard to find a travel agency nowadays for routine, budget travel like yours. And realize that working for hours for someone, they will expect to be paid.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 09:13 AM
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Airlines sell vacation packages.

If they fly there, they can take care of the rest as well.

I also feel that AirBnB is a terrible idea.

Mark
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 09:21 AM
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Hazel - if you send me your location, your dates, how many nights in each city, - I can quickly send you information and cost.. I have hired a driver in Florence twice, ( highly recommend him ) who took us to Lucca, Siena, and San Giamangno on one trip, on another trip, he took us to Lucca and Pisa... he in turn recommended a driver that picked up the 12 of us ( 2 vans) at the Naples train station, drove us to Pompeii, ( had a tour guide waiting) and to our hotel in Positano. That driver also drove us down the Amalfi Coast, Ravello, to a winery the 2nd day we were there. If you have 14 days - I think you have enough time to squeeze that in also if that interests you. I don't expect to be paid - I seriously do this as fun.. I think since I enjoy this so much, this isn't work to me.. its fun research.. I have only traveled to Italy in the spring and fall so summer will cost more than what I am used to ... Usually, my trips are around $ 2000... airfare, b & b's, train transport between the cities for 10 days and that is Rome, Florence and Venice.. I recommend the book " Italy for Dummies " - no offense - but, they are my bibles for every country I go to..they speak my language and are a wealth of information.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 09:29 AM
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If you engage a travel agent, you should ask some questions.

When was the last time you visited these hotels?
When was the last time you were in Italy?
How did you travel around the country?
Do you have a different relationship with the hotels you are recommending than others?

Last year, someone engaged a travel agent for a trip to Spain and that agent didn't have a clue about the country or the hotels. So just because Italy and the places you want to see are well-traveled, that does not mean the travel agent is expert in that area.

I would not go the Airbnb route the first time. Learn a little about travel and then see the next time.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 09:45 AM
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I haven't read all the replies, but I would say that hotels offer a way to have instant information on things from the desk.
AAA is a reputable travel agency. There are also tours which could book your air and hotels for you, and then you take it from there.
Travel agents generally book higher end hotels which is fine, but it can use up a budget when it would be more fun to spend it on a good meal.
If your family isn't helping much, whassup with that? Do they want to go? Another problem with that scenario is that YOU become the "tour director" and without experience, it will be a trial and perhaps stressful for you.
There are many tours which might be what you could at least investigate. Look at them for the itinerary and sights/sites.
Your choice of the 3 major cities/art sites and your length of time is quite logical. It is not hard to get between these places by train.
AND remember--travelling in Europe is really no different from a trip here in the US--you make the exact same arrangements, look for the places to eat and visit, etc. And the internet has made it extremely easy.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 09:47 AM
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IMDonehere.. I do not engage as a travel agent... in the last 6 years I have been to Italy 4 times... last time October 2015... each of the 4 times, I have traveled around the country on different routes..and have stayed at different b & b's or hotels. I have taken friends ( and their friends) as a group - largest being 12 .. I do not have a relationship with any hotels, b & b's, drivers, I only recommend places that have great standards.. I do not even mention any below average places that I have stayed at. I do not book anything - I just provide the websites or email addresses. I am not saying I am an expert - I am just offering any information or estimate of cost for Hazel to have some comparisons. That is all... My intentions were only to be helpful. This forum has given me so much information on so many different subjects that come up with traveling.

I agree with the Airbnb route.. not a good idea for your first rodeo. I have stayed at Airbnb's in the US and would again... but I probably wouldn't in Europe.. I favor b & b 's...
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 10:35 AM
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Get back off the ledge Frugal, that was a general statement about agents. It just so happened that it followed your comments.

Otherwise I would not wonder why you are so defensive.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 10:46 AM
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When my husband and I first started to travel in Europe our neighbors recommended a woman at AAA to help with logistics. She was very knowledgeable … having traveled a lot. And her input was an enormous help.
I really learned how to plan a trip from her. There was no cost other than the AAA membership fee.
If you go this route I'd make certain the person has actually traveled in Italy.
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 11:18 AM
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IMDonehere -

I remember the people you are talking about. The agent did not have a clue and had them bouncing around all over europe - versus just going where they wanted - to save a couple of $ on air routings that made no sense - and wasted a huge amount of their limited time. And had them prepay everythng so they were totally stuck by the time they came her for answers to detailed questions. (I seem to recall they were flying in and out through Greece or something - which they had no interest in - and the TAs itinerary had them bouncing to a new place every other day).

The sad fact is that many TAs don't really travel themselves and are not familiar with europe. They can sell packages to Disney and tours but that's about it. I one had one (when booking internet was not so easy - try to convince me that the only St Pet was in FL - when I was going to Russia. Turns out she had NEVER been to europe - only FL and HI.)
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 02:40 PM
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haha - IMDonehere- sorry to offend you or anyone else on this post.. I am not on a ledge or off a ledge..and I certainly did not want to appear defensive, I just thought I would clarify any misconceptions of my posts. I just love traveling, I love traveling on a budget ( I know it can be done )..I have nothing against travel agents ( they are a godsend to those that need them and their expertise )... I just wanted to offer any assistance or advice from my travel experience.. that is all...Isn't that what this forum is about ? I am sorry to Hazel for opening up this can of worms... I hope our banter hasn't scared her off this forum ! No more suggestions/advice from me unless Hazel specifically asks..
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Old Jan 31st, 2016, 02:59 PM
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My SIL has used a travel agent for years and she does a great job for them. I think it's becoming more and more difficult to find one and if you do want to talk to one, see if you can get a recommendation. Do you have friends that travel and may have used an agent?

The thing about the one my SIL uses, she travels a lot so when she recommends a hotel or something like that, or a particular cruise, it's more than likely she has stayed at the hotel or taken the cruise. I think these days, agents like that are hard to find.

Best of luck. The planning can sometimes be daunting, and unlike so many here, I'm not a fan of the planning part. That's just me. If I could find a good agent, I would probably use them.
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