question about travel agents?

hey so the Watermill's recommended travel agent is Creative Travel, and I met with their rep the other night at a showcase....she was soooooo nice and helpful!!!

i told her we already booked St. Lucia, but we're also going to do Disney and only need a one way flight to orlando, etc...

so she said that she can arrange all of that, get deals, etc...and that she'd call me...

she just called me this morning to tell me she called disney and they're not starting to book for May 2010 until August, so she said 'so just relax and do whatever else you need to do until then, ill call you again august 1'

so my thing is, do you know if when booking w/Creative Travel (or any travel agents) if i will be paying MORE than if i did it on my own??

Cuz shes been so nice, just offered to call me back and do all this for us, and ive heard u dont pay more for a travel agent...

but me n my mom get into HUGE fights over it!! she says 'How do u think they're getting paid if ur not paying more for them to plan the trip???' and i say, 'How can they say ur not paying more if u are?'

so i'd like for someone to just clear this up for me, cuz if we have her set up the Disney part of our HM, i know my moms gonna have a fit, i need some concrete info to have to back up my decision,.. so

- do u get charged more for using a travel agent??

- if not, how do they get paid?

thank u!!!!!!

I *think* travel agents do get a commission for booking trips, however, I do not know if that is true for just booking an airfare - maybe someone else can clarify that. . .

I would highly suggest using a travel agent for your honeymoon from past experiences I have had. Also, FSIL had a great experience during her honeymoon, returning from St. Lucia - on the way home they missed their connecting flight from Puerto Rico - called their travel agent - she got them on a different flight, no problem. They didn't have to deal or fight with the airline, it was seamless. FBIL, on the other hand, did not use a travel agent to St. Lucia, and I think they had some trouble. They didn't have transfers to and from the airport (which a ta would have arranged) and there were other small amenities they missed out on because they didn't know about them. This is JMO, but your honeymoon is too important to leave to chance! Even though you've already booked your trip, it would maybe be a good idea to have this relationship with a travel agent while you are away, just in case, maybe she could help you out.

I hope you have a great time!!

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Posted by CappyGirl

I *think* travel agents do get a commission for booking trips, however, I do not know if that is true for just booking an airfare - maybe someone else can clarify that. . .

I would highly suggest using a travel agent for your honeymoon from past experiences I have had. Also, FSIL had a great experience during her honeymoon, returning from St. Lucia - on the way home they missed their connecting flight from Puerto Rico - called their travel agent - she got them on a different flight, no problem. They didn't have to deal or fight with the airline, it was seamless. FBIL, on the other hand, did not use a travel agent to St. Lucia, and I think they had some trouble. They didn't have transfers to and from the airport (which a ta would have arranged) and there were other small amenities they missed out on because they didn't know about them. This is JMO, but your honeymoon is too important to leave to chance! Even though you've already booked your trip, it would maybe be a good idea to have this relationship with a travel agent while you are away, just in case, maybe she could help you out.

I hope you have a great time!!

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thank you! those are good things to know!!

i am still interested to find out if we would be paying more for her to schedule our trip...because if there IS a fee...if its quite nominal, im willing to pay it....

especially like u said, if for some reason something happens, i will know i can just make a quick phone call and have some assistance!!

thanks again

Travel Agents make commissions from the hotels they book you in. You do not pay extra for using them. However, some TAs charge a fee for getting flights for you. This is because a few years ago, the airlines stopped paying commissions to TAs.

For a big, international trip, I use a TA. For an 'easy' trip, I book on my own.

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Posted by geegee827

Travel Agents make commissions from the hotels they book you in. You do not pay extra for using them. However, some TAs charge a fee for getting flights for you. This is because a few years ago, the airlines stopped paying commissions to TAs.

For a big, international trip, I use a TA. For an 'easy' trip, I book on my own.

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oohhhhh ok!!!

thank u!!