Would you pay extra for Custom Travel Planning
Oct 13th, 2005, 11:06 PM
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Would you pay extra for Custom Travel Planning
I am trying to put together our trip for Munich and Prague. We are going in March, renting a car in Munich doing the Bavaria scene, after that we will fly to Prague. I know what I want to see and do, my problem is I can't pull all the info. together and make an itinerary; So I called a travel agent who specializes in Custom Travel Planning...the problem is she charges 150 for 6 hours of planning and working with me.
Is this worth it? or can I do it by myself? I don't know where to begin. pls help.
Is this worth it? or can I do it by myself? I don't know where to begin. pls help.
Oct 13th, 2005, 11:29 PM
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Hello sglw, well for a travel specialist to charge $150.00 for 6 hours of work in not unreasonable IMHO.
But if you have and take the time to plan this trip yourself you will save yourself the fee. It is all a matter how how much time you have, how much money you have for your trip etc.
Fodor's can supply a lot of information but you should do some research first to figure out the basics and then post here with more detailed questions. Your local library or your bookstore (Barnes & Nobles perhaps) will have a wealth of information. Past posts here on Fodor's should give you a lot of information also.
Even if you use this travel planner you should have some idea as to what you want to do and see so that she/he can plan a trip that you will enjoy.
Since you know what you want to see and do you should be able to do this yourself. Especially since you are not going until March. Best wishes to you.
But if you have and take the time to plan this trip yourself you will save yourself the fee. It is all a matter how how much time you have, how much money you have for your trip etc.
Fodor's can supply a lot of information but you should do some research first to figure out the basics and then post here with more detailed questions. Your local library or your bookstore (Barnes & Nobles perhaps) will have a wealth of information. Past posts here on Fodor's should give you a lot of information also.
Even if you use this travel planner you should have some idea as to what you want to do and see so that she/he can plan a trip that you will enjoy.
Since you know what you want to see and do you should be able to do this yourself. Especially since you are not going until March. Best wishes to you.
Oct 13th, 2005, 11:37 PM
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If you know what you want to see and do, but you can't put an itinerary together, then I guess it's worth $150 to have someone do it for you. I don't see why you can't do it yourself, unless there are some extraordinary circumstances involved.
You'll need a good guidebook (or a couple) and don't forget you can google almost any attraction and get a website that will give you current information on it -- hours, admission cost, location and directions for getting there on public transit, etc.
I would begin by listing the sights you want to see and note which days might be best for each. Some places like museums might be closed on a particular day, or open late a particular evening. You may want to avoid some places on the weekend when they may be especially crowded.
Also note an estimate of how long you think you will want to spend at each. And finally, check out the locations so you can possibly group several things together, with a break for lunch.
Once you do this, your itinerary will start to come together. Don't forget: you can always change it when you're there!
You'll need a good guidebook (or a couple) and don't forget you can google almost any attraction and get a website that will give you current information on it -- hours, admission cost, location and directions for getting there on public transit, etc.
I would begin by listing the sights you want to see and note which days might be best for each. Some places like museums might be closed on a particular day, or open late a particular evening. You may want to avoid some places on the weekend when they may be especially crowded.
Also note an estimate of how long you think you will want to spend at each. And finally, check out the locations so you can possibly group several things together, with a break for lunch.
Once you do this, your itinerary will start to come together. Don't forget: you can always change it when you're there!
Oct 14th, 2005, 12:19 AM
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I think you can do just about any amount of planning <b>yourself</b> if you want to and you already know that.
I think the <b>real</b> question here is whether or not you feel that fee to be charged is cheaper, and perhaps easier, than spending your own time doing the work.
If it is, then go for it. If not, then keep planning.
One big advantage, IMO, to doing your own is that if you are disappointed with how some aspects turn out you won't be angry at someone else or for paying money for something it turns out you could have done better yourself.
I think the <b>real</b> question here is whether or not you feel that fee to be charged is cheaper, and perhaps easier, than spending your own time doing the work.
If it is, then go for it. If not, then keep planning.
One big advantage, IMO, to doing your own is that if you are disappointed with how some aspects turn out you won't be angry at someone else or for paying money for something it turns out you could have done better yourself.
Oct 14th, 2005, 12:52 AM
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A $150 for 6 hours of work by someone with specialist knowledge sounds cheap to me. If you are in a quandry about what you should be doing and seeing it seems like money well spent to me. To keep it in perspective, don't forget you have no doubt budgeted X$000 dollars for your entire holiday. $150 is tiny compared to what the whole thing is going to cost you.
Oct 14th, 2005, 03:36 AM
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i agree that 150 is a small price to pay if your trip is enhanced by such a service.
whether it would be is a tough question. i can only speak for myself and my own usefulness for such a service. i think there are 2 things here:
1. selecting the hotels, trains, planes, etc (the mechanics)
2. selecting the choice of destinations, attractions, etc that fit with your very personal tastes (the essense of the trip).
for the first point, this information is very easy to get over the internet.
for the second, i don't see how a person can have enough information on my tastes and enough personal experience in the destination to provide much help. as usual with these things a normal service like this will provide a common denominator approach. i'm sure they will customise your trip according to some vague characteristics like young person, likes art and nightlife, etc. and try to fit this into some formula.
i would only find the planner useful if, for example, i had an esoteric interest with which the planner had a great deal of knowledge and experience. for example, 18th century scandinavian art. even if i had such a specialised interest (and i don't), i think that I would have enough information and opinions to plan my own tour.
whether it would be is a tough question. i can only speak for myself and my own usefulness for such a service. i think there are 2 things here:
1. selecting the hotels, trains, planes, etc (the mechanics)
2. selecting the choice of destinations, attractions, etc that fit with your very personal tastes (the essense of the trip).
for the first point, this information is very easy to get over the internet.
for the second, i don't see how a person can have enough information on my tastes and enough personal experience in the destination to provide much help. as usual with these things a normal service like this will provide a common denominator approach. i'm sure they will customise your trip according to some vague characteristics like young person, likes art and nightlife, etc. and try to fit this into some formula.
i would only find the planner useful if, for example, i had an esoteric interest with which the planner had a great deal of knowledge and experience. for example, 18th century scandinavian art. even if i had such a specialised interest (and i don't), i think that I would have enough information and opinions to plan my own tour.
Oct 14th, 2005, 05:24 AM
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Tell me what you want to see and do, your budget, any special requirements you have (A/C hotels, handicapped, etc.) and when you are going, and I'll put together a great itinerary for you for $125.
Oct 14th, 2005, 06:09 AM
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I agree that you can probably plan this trip completely by yourself with the help of the internet, guidebooks, and Fodors, but if you're really feeling overwhelmed with the planning, paying someone $25 per hour (a pittance, IMO) may be worth it. I plan trips for people and charge more than that. A good travel planner is well worth the money if you really can't pull all the details together yourself, and at $25 per hour you're getting a bargain.
Oct 14th, 2005, 06:52 AM
#12
I agree w/ the others that 1) you can probably do it yourself, and 2) $150 is a reasonable fee if you choose to do it yourself.
As a small side business/hobby, I actually plan itineraries for folks -- I'm not a travel agent and don't do any of the bookings, etc. I work w/ the clients asking their likes/dislikes, budget, etc. Then I provide itinerary, maps, accomodations suggestions in each locale, opening/closing times/days for all the sites along the way, special events, and generally work out the logistics. It usually ends up about a 6-8 page itinerary plus maps if required.
But this is really only needed by folks who don't have much idea of what to see/do and how to get there and are nervous to do it themselves. It souinds like you already have a pretty good idea of these things.
I charge by the complexity and length of the trip - Normally between $100 and $200. Weirdly - about half the time people pay me more money than my fee.
As a small side business/hobby, I actually plan itineraries for folks -- I'm not a travel agent and don't do any of the bookings, etc. I work w/ the clients asking their likes/dislikes, budget, etc. Then I provide itinerary, maps, accomodations suggestions in each locale, opening/closing times/days for all the sites along the way, special events, and generally work out the logistics. It usually ends up about a 6-8 page itinerary plus maps if required.
But this is really only needed by folks who don't have much idea of what to see/do and how to get there and are nervous to do it themselves. It souinds like you already have a pretty good idea of these things.
I charge by the complexity and length of the trip - Normally between $100 and $200. Weirdly - about half the time people pay me more money than my fee.
Oct 14th, 2005, 07:34 AM
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You already know where to begin...you want to go to two specific places--Munich and Prague--so congrats on that part (we see plenty of posts here on Fodors from people who haven't been able to take that step!).
The $150 fee sounds too low for 6 hours of the time of someone who REALLY knows what she's doing and too high for someone who doesn't. However, if she's got good references and you're comfortable with her abilities, go for it. Are Bavaria, Munich, and Prague among the areas she knows really well from personal experience?
OTOH, you could get a lot of help here for free. Simply give us the following info:
1. How much time do you have for this trip (1 week, 2 weeks, more)?
2. Have you ever been to either of these places before?
3. Have you ever been to Europe before?
4. What would you like to see?Mountains, castles, villages?
5. How much time do you want to spend in Munich and Prague--and thus, how much time will you have left over?
6. What's your budget?
7. Are you comfortable driving stick? Are you comfortable driving in the snow? (It may very well be snowy at that time of year in Bavaria...the again it may not.)
8. Where do you feel you need the most help? Choosing hotels, restaurants? Figuring out which villages to see?
9. What are your biggest worries? That you'll spend too much? Miss the most important sights? Will be overwhelmed?
I think if you sat down with a nice glass of wine and quietly worked your way through this list, you might be surprised at how much you've already figured out on your own. Or, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you'll have identified the "known knowns" and the "known unknowns" and you just need help with the "unknown unknowns."
Finally, remember a vacation should be FUN. Don't get yourself stressed out, focus on the pleasure, not the pain. Also who is the other part of "our" trip--can't he/she help you with trip planning?
The $150 fee sounds too low for 6 hours of the time of someone who REALLY knows what she's doing and too high for someone who doesn't. However, if she's got good references and you're comfortable with her abilities, go for it. Are Bavaria, Munich, and Prague among the areas she knows really well from personal experience?
OTOH, you could get a lot of help here for free. Simply give us the following info:
1. How much time do you have for this trip (1 week, 2 weeks, more)?
2. Have you ever been to either of these places before?
3. Have you ever been to Europe before?
4. What would you like to see?Mountains, castles, villages?
5. How much time do you want to spend in Munich and Prague--and thus, how much time will you have left over?
6. What's your budget?
7. Are you comfortable driving stick? Are you comfortable driving in the snow? (It may very well be snowy at that time of year in Bavaria...the again it may not.)
8. Where do you feel you need the most help? Choosing hotels, restaurants? Figuring out which villages to see?
9. What are your biggest worries? That you'll spend too much? Miss the most important sights? Will be overwhelmed?
I think if you sat down with a nice glass of wine and quietly worked your way through this list, you might be surprised at how much you've already figured out on your own. Or, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, you'll have identified the "known knowns" and the "known unknowns" and you just need help with the "unknown unknowns."
Finally, remember a vacation should be FUN. Don't get yourself stressed out, focus on the pleasure, not the pain. Also who is the other part of "our" trip--can't he/she help you with trip planning?
Oct 14th, 2005, 09:09 AM
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I knew I could get the kick in the pants that I need it. After reading the posts I realized that I have an answer to most of the questions:
1. I know what I want to visit
Munich/Bavaria and Prague
2. I know the time I want to spend
in each place: Germany 6 days,
Prague 6 days.
3. I have made a list of the things I
would like to see in each place.
4. I want to rent a car in Germany
(the husband will drive)
5. I have found the mappy.com site
6. My flight arragements are set in stone.
Things I don't know:
1. how to figure out where to kip at
night/ is it necessary to make hotel
reserv. in small town when traveling
in low season.
2. Is it easy to navigate the region by
car. (I don't understand a word of
German).
3. I am afraid that my time will not be
use wisely.
4. When do you know you are fully prepare?
1. I know what I want to visit
Munich/Bavaria and Prague
2. I know the time I want to spend
in each place: Germany 6 days,
Prague 6 days.
3. I have made a list of the things I
would like to see in each place.
4. I want to rent a car in Germany
(the husband will drive)
5. I have found the mappy.com site
6. My flight arragements are set in stone.
Things I don't know:
1. how to figure out where to kip at
night/ is it necessary to make hotel
reserv. in small town when traveling
in low season.
2. Is it easy to navigate the region by
car. (I don't understand a word of
German).
3. I am afraid that my time will not be
use wisely.
4. When do you know you are fully prepare?
Oct 14th, 2005, 09:59 AM
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1. Sleeping: Ask us. Somewhere here has been there. You might get several opinions.
2. Navagation: Lean the signs. The numbers are the same, but in kilometers. Rick Steves has the road signs in one of his books. Or look online.
3. Time management: only you can answer that.
4. Preparation: when you return.
2. Navagation: Lean the signs. The numbers are the same, but in kilometers. Rick Steves has the road signs in one of his books. Or look online.
3. Time management: only you can answer that.
4. Preparation: when you return.
Oct 14th, 2005, 10:02 AM
#17
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And one other thing: it's your vacation, enjoy yourself. If you want to see everything at the speed of light, fine. If you want to see everything at a snail's pace, fine. It's your vacation, do it your way.
Pick what's important to you and your husband and don't worry what others think about it.
Pick what's important to you and your husband and don't worry what others think about it.
Oct 14th, 2005, 10:56 AM
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sglw, we are always happy to administer a kick in the pants. 
Look at it this way: if you were suddenly on the trip tomorrow with no preparation whatsoever, you'd still survive and have a fine time. The worst that would happen is that you wouldn't do everything you wanted to. So don't worry so much!
I guess those of us who went backpacking in Europe in our youth with little more than a Eurail pass and a copy of Europe on $5 A Day are a little more relaxed about itineraries.
Sounds to me like you're well on your way to planning the trip yourself. Do ask those specific questions here -- someone will have had the exact experience you require. Have a great trip!
Look at it this way: if you were suddenly on the trip tomorrow with no preparation whatsoever, you'd still survive and have a fine time. The worst that would happen is that you wouldn't do everything you wanted to. So don't worry so much!
I guess those of us who went backpacking in Europe in our youth with little more than a Eurail pass and a copy of Europe on $5 A Day are a little more relaxed about itineraries.
Sounds to me like you're well on your way to planning the trip yourself. Do ask those specific questions here -- someone will have had the exact experience you require. Have a great trip!
Oct 14th, 2005, 11:22 AM
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Is the information this planner better than the standard guidebook/googling/country tourism board can produce? Standard information is new information to new clients. ( I'm not trying to discredit the planner but in this age of information over-abundance I may be a bit jaded....)
Oct 14th, 2005, 11:35 AM
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I'd be worried about the quality of the planning and how closely it fits what you want. I could ask our corporate travel planner to plan trips for me, but I really doubt she would find the deals I find, based on the reports I hear. On the SlowTrav.com site there are a few travel consultants who advertise there. The people who use their services seem satisfied, but again I am doubtful they would do it better than I would (to get exactly the trip I want for myself).
