BeachBoi: Thanks for the info about package deals. However, this year my husband and I pretty much "were" ready to pay an agent for an internet rate we could get ourselves. We started to like the idea of a "seamless" vacation. That's why I told the travel agent I was Internet savvy and knew how much the current rate was. Then I added, but I was ready to use the agency "if" they could close to what I could book myself. I guess what I expected to hear was "I'll tell you what, Mrs. Cats Do Dance, do come in and trust me, I "can" meet that price". Instead, the response was "Oh, you can't get in "that" hotel for "that" price", even though I told her I could! I felt like the agent was so totally wed to the package, that she didn't even listen to what I had said! So instead of booking, I said thanks but no thanks. Of course, this is probably for the best; having a travel agent who doesn't pay attention to the client isn't a good thing anyway.

>>> "if" they could close to what I could book myself.<<<

Sorry. What I meant to say was: "If they could COME close to what I could book myself."

Cats_Do_Dance, travel agents can book with pleasantholidays.com and classiccustomvacatios.com(which will beat pleasant's price by $70). You can check rates for pleasant hawaiian on the net and take the rate to a TA for classic custom. There are a handful of deluxe hotels that don't discount to Pleasant but the majority do. When you are checking hotel websites don't forget tax is not included, with Pleasant tax is, which usuall ends up being a savings of an additional $300 or more for a week long trip. Hope this helps in the future.