Feedback: The return of the travel agent?
 

We’ve been receiving a lot of requests lately about recommendations for travel agents and it’s got us wondering; are travel agents coming back? The internet is chock full of information and “deals” that some travelers are finding it all overwhelming (we can’t blame them).

We want to know – are you overwhelmed when planning a trip? Are you considering going back to the days of travel agents? What are your go-to resources when booking a trip?

The only time I use a travel agency is for cruises. Other than that I do all other trips on line.

There was a good article in the NYT last spring about the return of the travel agent.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47121319...l-agents-back/

I personally would never have a need for one myself, unless I was going on an African Safari or something where I know I'd be in over my head.

Your competition, Wendy Perrin at Conde' Nast Traveler has been compiling and annual list of top agents worldwide for quite a few years.

http://www.cntraveler.com/travel-tip...el-specialists

I don't think so. AmEx is making massive cuts in staff for these services - since so few people use agents any longer. They have decided corporate travel is all that will survive - and are now aiming there.

There will always be room for upscale agents, specialists in a particular area - who can guide the wealthy to the most exclusive experiences. But the days of doing this for the average tourist are gone - there's no way for the agents to make any money.

I enjoy planning my trip about as much as the trip itself. I would never have someone plan a trip for me.

I've worked as a home-based TA for a few years (pretty much inactive now) but I've been much less an "agent" than a "consultant" for the majority of my clients. "Agents" generally work for commissions, and in the travel business virtually the only commissions paid now are for cruise bookings. It varies from country to country - there are more "traditional" TAs in some countries (e.g. the UK, Australia) than in the US, owing to more sources of commissionable sales, principally airlines. (In the US, only a few airlines pay commissions, and only on full-fare premium tickets, for example.) There are some additional sources of commissions, for example African safari lodges, and some hotel chains, but these are fewer and fewer daily.

Travel advisers or consultants, on the other hand, typically charge for their services, either an hourly fee or a fixed fee, depending on the type of service provided. Some are becoming more highly specialized, for example the majority of my clients hire me to help them with complicated (e.g. around-the-world) itineraries, or with using frequent flyer miles for extended travel, things like that. I can't compete with Expedia or the like for car or airline bookings, in fact I use them myself, especially for quick price comparisons.

I woud use a travel specialist for an area I didn't feel comfortable booking independently such a safari or a trip to a less traveled area of the world.

"I enjoy planning my trip about as much as the trip itself. I would never have someone plan a trip for me."

I've long suspected spirobulldog and I were cut from the same cloth...now I'm sure of it. :-)

To answer the question - no, I won't ever use a travel agent again. My go-to resources are many, including guide books, travel forums such as this one, free travel guides from the state/city/place I'm visiting, and online sites and articles. There is such a wealth of information at our fingertips these days, and I can really use it to tailor my trip to suit my interests.

"I enjoy planning my trip about as much as the trip itself. I would never have someone plan a trip for me."

I agree, plus if I screw up it's better for me to yell at me because I have a thick skin and can take my own verbal abuse.

((H))

I agree about the fun of planning the trip myself. If I were to take a cruise or perhaps stay at an AI resort, I think I would use an agent. They seem to be able to get good rates and more resort/ship credits, so ultimately it is a money-saver.

I've used a travel agent a few times for trips to Hawai'i. I found they were able to get better rates than I could find online, because they had access to programs that I did not. I enjoy checking things for myself and have mostly done it that way, but sometimes going the agent route is better.

I research everything myself and then contact a travel agent. Most times they can match or do better on prices I found myself. By using an agent you have someone to rely on if something goes wrong on your trip.

I'm with the others that planning a trip is (almost) as much fun as the trip itself. I get antsy if I don't have a trip to plan. It is almost like a military mission. I start reading the local newspapers. I cruise the message boards.

I'm planning a trip to California for my 25th anniversary. Only problem is I just celebrated my 23rd. Right now I'm strategizing about which loyalty points I should be hoarding.

I think websites such as Kayak have simplified the process of gathering information from different sources. I probably get better deals than I would through a travel agent because I can spend more time reviewing choices and have the luxury of waiting until a better deal comes along.

We have access to my DH's corporate travel agent - and sometimes use them (if they can get a better price for something)- but we have to have everything picked out in advance - since they are useless at providing info (I think most have never been outside of wherever they live). Good only if a flight is cancelled since they can get you priority access to the alternates.

Have not used a travel agent for at least 10 years - when I wanted plane tickets to St Pet and she refused to believe that I wasn't going to FLORIDA.

When I was still working we used a corporate travel agent for two reasons: (1) It is too expensive for executives to book their own travel, even if their assistant does it, and (2) it makes life much easier if things go blooey en route. When the flight was cancelled, I called Peter instead of standing in line or calling the airline.

Most of my British friends still use travel agents, and they can certainly take vacations in the US for less than the same vacation would cost me, but after Peter retired, I never found anyone, as nytraveler points out, who had ever been anywhere.

I would certainly use a specialist travel agent -- I see them in the NY Times and in the London papers -- to help plan a trip to somewhere off the usual routes, like Armenia or Georgia. My current dream is Iran, and you have to use an agent for that.