Ronda

I am just wondering is anyone uses a travel agent for purchasing airfare or hotels? Do you feel they can find you deals you can't find yourself or do you use them just for convenience?

Maggi

You should get many varied replies on this subject, but my opinion is if you are willing to put in the time, you are better off researching and booking your own trip. A friend recently called me to check her itinerary to Greece she had booked via an agent. Not only were we able to find cheaper flights online, but also the hotels that were chosen for her did not receive very good reviews. If you do use an agent, get one that specializes in the type of trip, i.e. cruises, or place you are traveling. Also, if you are booking a complicated trip involving many flights it might be better to go with a company, as long as they will be available to you by phone if there is a problem.

BeachBoi

Yes, I use a TA.It is someone I have known and trusted for a long time.It is a matter of convenience, but I can surely understand why many want to do the shopping themselves.I get great airfares and am very satisfied that the hotel rates he secures are some of the best available.

travel_addict

Never used one, but I am the type to research everything to death so I usually know I'm getting the best deal, staying at the right place, and going to the right restaurants and attractions. If you don't care to do all this work yourself, or don't have the time, then I think it's worth it to use one. In fact, I am considering using an agency to help with my trip to Mongolia - partially because of the complicated itinery we want to attempt, but also because of the difference in the language and customs.

LaRee1L

I use a TA - I search the web, find what I consider a good price, print out the info and take it into my TA and ask if she can meet or beat the price. So far I've gotten the same or better prices. I just feel more comfortable being able to talk face to face. Until I'm faced with the outcome of my TA not being able to get the same or better price I can't comment on whether or not I'd book online - I'd do a lot of searching for advice/comments on an online booking service.

SAnParis

Nope, never...what fun would that be ?!?

nytraveler

If you have the time/interest to do the research you will get a much better vacation - at a better price - unless you are doing a cruise (the cruise TA specialists can get bargains) or very exotic adventure travel.

Most TAs have never been where you want to go and just look to buy either packages or chain hotels/ rail services that will pay them commissions.

And it;s unlikely you would want to pay them the fees necessary for them to spend the time doing as much work as you would do to get what YOU really want.

I have not used a TA for at least 14 years. I had a great one - who had traveled extensively, knew all the ins and outs, and because she worked AMEX could atually get either better prices than I could or all sorts of free extras. She had to give it up to get a real job when she divorced (before that her salary served as her clothing allowance).

mikesmom

Never - Half the fun is planning the trip!

GoTravel

Yes, for big ticket trips and group travel.

Example, if I were booking an African Safari, I would find an agent who specialized in African Safaris through Virtuoso or my travel agent.

marleneawe

Nope never use them. I do the planning, booking, reservations myself. And I have traveled by plane, train and bus. Traveled all the US states. I do all the research and decide for my budget etc which fits into my plans and I book online. I also do my car rentals the same way. Don't feel they can do any better than I, they are in it for the money and I refuse to donate to them. Time you pay their fees which they tack on.

JJ5

I was going to post similar to nytraveler's answer. With cruises, you can absolutely do better with the TA- because they get group and quantity purchase credits for onboard shopping or fare reductions that always beat the internet personal booking etc.

For group trips to places where you need visa and governmental permissions I would absolutely use a TA in that specialty. Otherwise I do it myself.

I've never used a TA for the North American Continent, except for some long ago charters to LV. They are still cheaper than doing it individually or online, at times.

caribtraveler

What Mikesmom said.

shortcake05479

I haven't used one in years.

The last time I went to one was about 3 yrs back...we ended up cancelling the trip because of scheduling problems and we had to change the week. Well, we did a little research online and found the prices booking ourselves (flight through the airline, hotel thru hotel website) was over $400 cheaper!! And this was a trusted TA who worked with my friend's family all the time...

Never will use a TA again. I just think it's a waste of time and I would rather do the research myself, that's what half the fun is!!

crefloors

I have used a TA. When my brother and I were looking for hotels in Copenhagen and Stockholm last year, we found the ones we wanted and every site I went on, including the hotels websites, they said no rooms available for the days we wanted. I just got tired of messing with it and he called a travel agent he has used before and lo and behold, she came up with the rooms. So we just let her go ahead and book everything. I was happy with the price so it was a done deal. I just booked for Paris for November and I did that on my own. I didn't spend too much time. For most US flights I just go on line. I know some people really love the planning, researching etc. but it doesn't do a thing for me. I just want it booked, done over with. The only research and planning I want to do is for what I'm going to do when I get there. I think the "danger" with travel agents anymore is the fact that there's no money in it for them anymore, so if you don't have someone you have worked with in the past, or can't get a recommendation, then things could be "iffy". They also don't get the freebies and perks that they used to, so I think you have a better chance of having someone book you places that they have no personal knowledge of. Of course even in the best of times there is no way an agent could know EVERY hotel in NY for example, but it's nice to know if they hae even ever visited the city. I think also you can tell a bit about the agent by how they get the information to you. Do they return your calls, do they answer your questions, things like that. I had one that was looking into a trip for me several years ago, and I could never get her, she's never call me back, etc. so I just told her I'd changed my mind, wasn't doing the trip, and left her. I didn't trust her at all. So, everyone has their own style of trip planning etc, so you have to do what you enjoy doing and what you are comfortable with. You can also go online and check prices that a travel agent has quoted you..it's easy enough these days.

karens

The one time I used a travel agent was for our first visit to Europe. We wanted to fly from Barcelona to Madrid (this was about 8 years ago, before there was a lot on the internet). She looked on a computer screen, just as I would do today. She had no insights at all into Spain or either city, mispronounced the names, etc.

My husband's company uses a travel agent to book airfares, etc. for their award trips. We looked up our preferred flight from Phila. and requested which one we wanted. We noticed, once it was booked, the travel agency charged the company $200 MORE per ticket than we saw on USAir's website.

I later read in a travel mag that certain airlines, incl. America West and now USAir give travel agents FEES for booking travel at higher prices.

lcuy

I rarely use them, but there are some time when they are worth their weight in gold. I always do lots of research first though, so I know if they're doing right.

For example, I use an Indian TA for travel in India, as gettting rail/air/ drivers is a lot easier for them, and they seem to get better prices than I can find on my own. I did book hotels on my own in some spots as I had found some special deals.

I also used a TA for a trip where my DD and her Boyfriend flew to Thailand, then he needed to come back to Hawaii on his own, I needed to arrive in Thailand to meet her the day before he flew home, then the she and I flew together BKK-New Delhi, then I flew back to Hawaii two weeks later, and she flew New Delhi- Bangkok-Honolulu 4 months later! Whew! Its hard to even write that!

Since I couldn't book one person's tickets and chance that all the seats on the flight might sell out before I booked the partners, I used an agent, who was very good by the way!

I've also used a TA for a cruise, and again for Vegas junkets for our employees.

bagsarepacked

I use them when I book my bosses international travel.
Ours has found good prices and been there to make last minute changes, find flights if something gets cancelled etc. Takes the pressure off of me if something goes wrong. Better their 800 # than my home #!

nytraveler

Sorry -

For company travel always use tavel department - it's required. But they have all sorts of special deals with airlines and hotel groups based on volume usage - and get prcies a TA can;t touch - as well as upgrades to First Class seats, automatic upgrades to suites and all sorts of other freebies.

aussiedreamer

Both. I enjoy the research and planning so much that I would hate to just had that over to somebody else. I planned and booked our 6 week adventure to North America and Europe last xmas. Thanks to this great site, we had a wonderful trip, with great (mostly) accommodation.
So it looks like this will be our first fully booked via a TA trip for a long time...............I'll keep you posted!!
I did let my TA cousin book the RTW airfares.......just for peice of mind I guess. But as someone has already stated getting your TA to return your call/email is the hard part....even if you are related.

So, we look like we might be off to Zurich and Hanover in Oct. for a trade show. I did start to do it myself, buy as I knew 'nothing' about either place and the language difference and the fact that it will be a company expense, I have handed it to a TA.
But again I did a lot of home work and basically told her what we want.

aussiedreamer

oops.....edit and typed in the wrong spot. Sorry..........this should've been the last sentence...

"So it looks like this will be our first fully booked via a TA trip for a long time...............I'll keep you posted!! "