Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Thinking of taking my then 5 and 8 year old to the Bahamas next year. We haven't been to the Caribbean since before kids and we did it through an agent. Do people still do this lol? Is there an advantage to one over the other?

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

I love doing my own research. We always book our trips by ourselves online.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Dh and I book ourselves. We have not used an agent in over 15 years. I used an agent back then because I woked for a travel agency and had a discount.

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

We book ourselves. I actually wonder how travel agents stay in business nowadays.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

We do both.

I always do my research though. Sometimes a travel agent comes out cheaper, and sometimes it's cheaper to do it myself.

We do notice that some places/resorts, we get better perks booking through a TA than doing it ourselves. Any time we've used a TA for a more "upscale" vacation, we've gotten room upgrades, fruit baskets in the room, later checkouts, etc.

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

the only time i really use a travel agent is to go to Disney. not because i don't know what i'm doing... i've been about a dozen times. BUT because the Disney travel agents help do your meal reservations, ride fast passes, set up special things you want to do like a fireworks boat ride... its just nice to not have to do it myself. a like somebody else said, a lot of times you'll get little perks booking with an agent- like a stateroom credit on a cruise, or little extras in your room when you get there.... and it doesn't cost you any extra to use a TA, since they get commission from the hotels. so some of your money is going to a TA somewhere, whether you use one or not

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Totally off topic, but when people started talking about late check outs it reminded me.
Our last trip we got the latest check out on the planet.

How is 5 pm for a late check out?



We had a late flight home (8pm) and asked for a late check out the night before. They gave us 2 pm (from 11 am).

Then when we went down at 2 pm to check out- with all our luggage and our changes of clothes to change into before having to leave for the airport they asked what time we were leaving for the airport. We said 5 pm. She said- listen we are very very underbooked tonight. Why don't you keep the room until you leave at 5 pm so you can shower properly etc.

It was the BEST!

(and no I didn't use a TA for this trip! )

But it totally helped that the resort was super empty due to Hurricane Matthew hitting earlier in teh week. They wren't affected by it because it went north at the last minute but I guess a lot of people canceled.

It didn't cost them a thing to let us keep that room until 5 pm since it wasn't booked that night anyway. But it did gain them some great customer service reviews from me on yelp, Trip Advisor etc.
Very good business

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

I use the TA at AAA for everything.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

We use travel agents. We find they're helpful in answering questions and when we used one to book out most recent cruise, she was a Disney (and Disney cruise line) expert so we were able to get valuable info about the ship, stateroom locations, and other helpful info to help us plan,

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

We usually book online occasionally we use a travel agent.

My parents always use a travel agent

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Always myself on line. The less people I have to interact with, the better!

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

I book everything online. I don't like a 3rd party having control of my reservation. I like to be able to call my destination myself, etc., and many places won't talk to you directly if you book through an agent.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

I just booked a trip today with my TA. I looked online with Costco Travel, I looked directly at the hotel itself, I looked through expedia, travelocity, orbitz, etc. I basically spent a good week researching out the best price.

Then I called the TA, she got me the same lowest price I found myself BUT for that price, I got an ocean view room (instead of a partial ocean view), breakfast every day, a hotel credit for $100 to be used towards a spa treatment or in one of the restaurants) and a guaranteed late check out.

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Couple of times I got quotes from travel agents for cruises, Costco offered better perks so I booked directly through the cruise lines and transferred my reservations to Costco. The only time I used a TA was long time ago. Apparently they charged a booking fee which they never mentioned to me and I overlooked it on my paperwork. Now I do my research online and book myself.

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Cruises I use TA, other than that I do the rest.

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

For those that use travel agent, any recommendations?

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Message edited 12/22/2016 5:35:47 PM.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Obviously I am biased, but let me tell you why.

Depending on the agent, some like myself, do not charge any fees. Because of this it is not more expensive to book with a travel agent than to book direct with a supplier. Travel agents can often price match rates that you find on your own as well.

You may be asking, well if it's the same price, why bother with the travel agent?

The main reason to use a travel agent to book your vacation is to have someone in your corner should something go wrong. If there is an issue with your room while you are at Disney your travel agent can call and speak to someone while you go and enjoy yourself at the parks or at the pool instead of fighting with someone at the front desk. If something goes wrong at an all inclusive resort your travel agent can spend the time on the phone trying to get it resolved while you are on the beach, at the bar, at the pool, or enjoying the spa.

If there is a storm and your flight is going to be cancelled your travel agent can spend time on the phone with the airline and/or resort while you get to continue enjoying your vacation.

All at no additional cost to you.

Travel agents often know the properties and area that you are thinking about visiting and can help give you information that the websites may not do.

Travel agents may have access to different amenities than sites like Expedia or Travelocity. Many of my clients pay the same as they would on those sites but get an upgraded view, free breakfast, turn down service, welcome drinks etc that they would not get while booking on one of those sites or even if booking direct.

On a much different note, when you use a local travel agent you are putting money back into the local economy. You may be paying for little league registration, groceries, dog food, clothing etc instead of a new sports car for a major company's CEO.

There are so many good travel agents out there, that even if you do not use me, I encourage everyone to at least talk to a travel agent before booking on your own. The peace of mind is priceless.

Kerri Hill
[email protected]

Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Kerri, 1000% true, couldn't have said it better myself! I was a TA for 12 years.

Re: Does anyone still use a local travel agency or do you book your vacations online?!

Posted by NervousNell

Totally off topic, but when people started talking about late check outs it reminded me.
Our last trip we got the latest check out on the planet.

How is 5 pm for a late check out?



We had a late flight home (8pm) and asked for a late check out the night before. They gave us 2 pm (from 11 am).

Then when we went down at 2 pm to check out- with all our luggage and our changes of clothes to change into before having to leave for the airport they asked what time we were leaving for the airport. We said 5 pm. She said- listen we are very very underbooked tonight. Why don't you keep the room until you leave at 5 pm so you can shower properly etc.

It was the BEST!

(and no I didn't use a TA for this trip! )

But it totally helped that the resort was super empty due to Hurricane Matthew hitting earlier in teh week. They wren't affected by it because it went north at the last minute but I guess a lot of people canceled.

It didn't cost them a thing to let us keep that room until 5 pm since it wasn't booked that night anyway. But it did gain them some great customer service reviews from me on yelp, Trip Advisor etc.
Very good business