Travel Agent Help Needed ASAP

Hey ladies, so FH and I decided on our HM!! We are going to Costa Rica!!! Yipppiiiiiiiieeee!!

We are going tomorrow to the travel agent to put down a deposit to lock in our rates and packages and things.

How does it work with a travel agent? Do you get a contract of some sort?

They sent us an itinerary for the bulk of our trip which they are using some sort of 'guide type' travel group and then in addition to that we are booking 2 nights at a place that this 'guide type' group travel place isnt affiliated with so we need to book it seperately and put all the pieces together with transfers and things...

SOOOO...my question is, alot of the correspondence and pricing has been through emails but its not like they have provided a formal quote on their letter head or anything.

What should we expect when we go there tomorrow?

They told us all of the rates that were given to us included insurance yet the itinerary that they sent us mentions nothing of it, but I am wondering if the travel agent themselves winds up working up some other formal document with details that includes the insurance when we go in to put deposit down??

FYI: we are NOT dealing with Liberty Travel... its a different travel franchise not as big (i think)

Please help!!! I don't want to be nieve and have ourselves taken advantage of spending this kind of money.

Sorry so long!!!
TIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just booked a Las Vegas trip w/ a small travel agency in Baldwin. My advice is - Do your RESEARCH. I let the Agent book us w./ Delta airlines and I discovered that I could have had a slightly cheaper flight with Jet Blue. Apparently Jet Blue is a better airline than Delta. So I blame myself because I didnt really do the research for what is a better airline.

Other than that, tell the Agent what your plans are and your estimated budget. I wouldnt hand over a credit card until you have at least a few days to think about the options they present to you re: Hotel and Flight selections.

Hope this helps!