I'm procrastinating finishing work for an online inservice class and have noticed alot of HM threads....I've always self booked my trips and don't mind doing the research. Which do you/have you found easier and cheaper?
Snowflake08
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
i dont know - I have never used a travel agent and i have traveled kind of a lot
i search the internet and do my research and i dont think i overpay i always thought travel agents were more $$ than booking on your own
davenjess
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
I have been planning vacations and trips for my FH & I for 5 years now - road trips like crazy - with detailed stops and starts. BUT - with regards to our honeymoon - i feel its too important a trip to risk doing myself. There are so many venues and areas that an agent can help you uncover that you may not have found yourself.
Get in touch with Travel Tom - he's with Amex...he's been WONDERFUL to work with...and he truly uses every single thing you say for your trip....and will tell you if you can do better on your own as well!
lb9977
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
I did travel agent don't have time to reaserach but I would really choose a travel agent because I want to have a go to person in case something goes wrong.... Travel agents just know the industry and if something goes wrong with like your flight, they are on it.... I would rather pay a bit more for their service to use their knowledge and their skills....
beachbum05
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
i think travel agents get you better deals. They have so many connections with resorts, etc. that they can get you a lower price than if you went on an internet site to book.
I priced out the same HM vacation by myself and with a travel agent and the travel agent was able to get me a cheaper price.
jsta76
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
I think it really depends on what you are doing and where you are going.
Something like a cruise if you do the research yourself its cheaper. None of the travel agents I spoke to could even come close to the online sites I found.
However, I think some things travel agents can get better deals on. Personally I'd rather just do it myself though.
liangel901
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
every vacation i have ever gone on i have done through a travel agent... i feel like it goes smoother and that they get you better deals.
bemyyoko
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
even with Sandals half price sale my travel agent got me a cheaper price. Leslie from Travel Solutions is amazing FM me if you want her info.
emcheung
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
i think it depends on the person. i'm a little anal and controlling and need to research everything before i book it. but it's nice to get a travel agent's opinion and see what kind of deals you can get through them. i would do the research first and find out what places you would like to stay and then see what the travel agent can do for you with your budget.
iwannabmrsD
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
i' ve never used a travel agent before. .for my honeymoon i wanted some assistance so i tried a couple of travel agents.. i then priced out my trip on my own and although i had ONE connecting flight, the price was 1000 dollars less!!!
so were booking independently and going to get travel insurance.. the Travel insurnace company wlll help us with alternate arrangements if something should go wrong..
travel insurance was only $150.
hb123
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
FH and I travel a lot and I do all the planning myself. I'm a bit of a control freak who knows exactly what I like, so I find it easier to just research and book myself. I am planning out HM to Greece and have found tripadvisor.com to be very helpful!
jgl
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Re: self booking vs. travel agent
i was talking to FMIL about this (she is a TA) she said that the bad thing with booking online is that sometimes mistakes are made, and you cant change them. She says so many people call them asking if they can fix their booking online and they can't do it .
but im sure that if you use repritable co. online and do your reasearch and are careful.. you'll be fine
Oh and def use online as a resource then go to a TA, they can usually get the same price that you found online.
