travel agents vs booking on web

What is your preference and why?

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

My best example was our honeymoon. Thankfully we used a travel agent!! There were flight changes made by the airlines, our resort knew exactly whose client we were and there were little perks that they arranged for such as upgraded liquor in our room at no extra charge. We loved our travel agents and will use them again. we found them on LIWeddings website

Edit: there was NO difference in price, just excellent service!

Message edited 3/31/2009 2:22:54 PM.

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

Posted by Moon

My best example was our honeymoon. Thankfully we used a travel agent!! There were flight changes made by the airlines, our resort knew exactly whose client we were and there were little perks that they arranged for such as upgraded liquor in our room at no extra charge. We loved our travel agents and will use them again. we found them on LIWeddings website

Edit: there was NO difference in price, just excellent service!

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

How funny, my TA (Travel Tom) was mentioned specifically!

Before booking our HM with Travel Tom, we always booked our vacations on our own and I inevitably found myself doing a TONNNNNNN of time-consuming research. I did use Liberty Travel once and I later found that the airfare for the flight we booked through them was $400 MORE than what I could have booked on my own. So I ended up paying much more than I could have.

For our HM, I already had a lot on my mind and to do with the wedding, and we wanted to go to French Polynesia, so I found it easiest to go with a travel agent. We really enjoyed the experience and the HM.

Since then, I've booked trips with our TA and without. Vegas I usually do on my own, sometimes through Expedia or the like, and sometimes getting the flights directly with the airline and the hotels directly with the hotels. Basically, whatever saves us the most money, and we've been there a few times so we have an idea of what to look for.

If you don't want to use TA's or even if you do, but want to price compare and research the locations and hotels, etc., I have found TripAdvisor to be an amazing resource!!! Highly recommend.

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

I personally prefer using a TA when going out of the country. I use Travel Tom as well, and I love not having to worry about anything. I like that a TA will set up all of the transfers so you don't have to worry about who you can and can't trust to get you from the airport to the resort. If something goes wrong, I can call him and he'll handle it, instead of me having to do so while I'm on vacation. I also feel like a TA can get you more perks than you can get on your own, such as upgraded room, freebies or credits, etc.

When traveling domestically, I don't use a TA just because I think it's a waste of his time and those trips are less complicated to book.

After our HM went off without a hitch, I vowed to use Travel Tom for every trip just because he makes it SO easy. Plus, he's been to all of these places so he's not sending me somewhere that he wouldn't go himself, which is important to me.

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

we use both, for little trips like within a few hours of driving range, i book myself, anything like our honeymoon, or something further from home i use our travel agent.

Re: travel agents vs booking on web

I work p/t at a travel agency owned by my friend... let me give you an example of one couple going on honeymoon in june... they booked club med in tahiti, in a year they had a bunch of flight changes, we had to reissue tickets for them... now they are closing club med in tahiti, thankfully club med is sending them to maldives, their best property but we have to refund their tickets and issue new ones.... totally complicated if you booked that online... I think travel agents are still the best way to go... I am totally honest with clients if I think you can get a better deal online, I will tell you lol