Online travels sites VS. travel agent

do you think you get better travel packages from sites like expedia or cheapcaribbean.com OR from a travel agent like liberty?

Re: Online travels sites VS. travel agent

Well I'm not sure, but I know for us we use a TA for our big trips. This usually includes everything from insurance to transfers to and from the airport, plus there are generally bonuses (spa credit, etc..). When I have compared it online it's usually very close since they get pretty good dicounts too. I just like the security of booking through a TA so that when something goes wrong I have someone to call. For smaller trips where we are only getting the hotel I always use the dicount sites though.

Re: Online travels sites VS. travel agent

It depends on what you are looking to do.

If it's a simple air res (JFK - MCO) then on line is great.

but if you're looking to do a special trip (cruise, Europe, etc..) I would definately suggest a TA.

I am coming from experience since I worked at an agency. Some different scenarios for you to think about.

Clients booked a very big expensive cruise during hurricane season. The TA got notice immediately of a schedule change. We were able to notify the client immediately and their were no "surprises" when they got to the pier.

A TA will also ask you lots of questions to get to know you and what you like. They'll offer suggestions and options.

One of the agents I worked with was amazing with Europe. She knew Europe like I know NY. When someone wanted Europe we sent them right to this agent. She would spend so much time with you and would really make sure your trip was a dream come true.

Most TA will also have the experience of a destination and if they dont have the first hand experience they will know someone who does. TA go on familiraztion trips and off site trainings when they are available. Last year I got to go on my first cruise which was a 4 day RCCL cruise. So when I got back I was able to sell cruises with a lot more confidence because I had the experience.

TA will give your a trip a personal touch. One of the other agents I know had a client that she was working with for over a year on a honeymoon trip. She had a bottle of wine sent to their room.

I had a couple that was going on their honeymoon and the hotel they picked for the night of their wedding I had flowers and champagne sent to their room congratulating them. The hotel for their actual HM I had a sign done when they checked in.

It's little touches a TA can do that an on line service can't. It's the personal service they provide, the one on one and TA have relationships with vendors that they can use to get you a good deal.

TA will always check everything so you wont have to worry. Whenever I was booking cruises I always had the cruisers fax me a copy of the type of documentation they are using. Here is the reason (not all TA will do this, but I did it b/c I learned a hard lesson)...lady calls in and says she and some friends want to cruise. ok. need names. lady says well my name is mary ruth, my friends are jay smith and lonnie smith. ok is that their legal names. lady tells me i've known them for 30 years and thats the names i know them by. ok are you sure. yes.

well turns out Jay is James and lonnie was lorraine.

cruise doc's come in. get sent to the people. and guess what names dont match and I had such a horrible time with the cruise line to get them to change the names. It was a nightmare.

So TA will double check everything. I had cruise doc's come in and something was missing. So I contacted the cruise line got everything taken care of and my clients had no idea.

I am in full support of TA

Message edited 9/8/2007 7:09:20 PM.

Re: Online travels sites VS. travel agent

I have to say that I usually always book online and have good experiences. The one time we used a TA we got to the hotel and hated it...hated the area we were in too. We were able to call the TA from the Carribean and they got us into a new hotel area the next day...that was great. I think we may have been stuck if we booked that trip online.

Re: Online travels sites VS. travel agent

i work for a company that works very closely with travel agents. that said, my perspective had changed enoromously since i started here.

With a TA, you are paying not only for them to book your trip but for their experience. if something were to go wrong, a TA is on the case immediately, vs. online where you willl likely encounter some challenges.

TAs also often get their prices from tour operators, at wholesale or near wholesale prices and in turn, can pass the savings onto you.

i wouldn't use a TA for a flight only, or an overnight at a nearby hotel or something but if you're looking into an extended vaca, i'd strongly consider using one. Also keep in mind that you can approach a few to comparison shop. If you like person A better than person B, but person B offers a better price, most likely you can go back to person A with the lower price and they'll match it.