Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[charles1]

Hello to all

1) Saving Time – Having problems with a complicated itinerary, Travel Agents will do the work that saves you time and effort.
2) Customer Service – Questions? Comments? Instead of typing them, speak to us face to face to get your answer, something a website cannot do.
3) Expertise – There is a good chance that the trip you are planning, one of our Travel Agents has been there.
4) Documentation – Going to Asia or Russia? What do you need? A Travel Agent will help you get your documentation in order to avoid any problems.
5) Expert Direction – Travel Agents are pros at helping you get where you need to go.
6) All In One – From tours, airline tickets, insurance, car rentals, visas, cruises, we do it all.

Have a nice time ahead

[starlagurl]

Ew, no, I never use a travel agent.

[papayaprincess]

Hey all,
I agree with Patricia23! When your starting off travelling (especially solo) it can sometimes be nervewracking and travel agencies can alleviate some of the stress with flights, etc. Now as a more experienced traveller, I feel more than confident to arrange it all on my own, because it's simpler and cheaper (no commissions, etc.)...The only time that I use travel agencies now are to buy my travel insurance (I have only ever used travel cuts, both for insurance and travel info)!
Cheers all

[polydemic]

I used a travel agent, at first, when I began my traveling spree in 1989. Over time, I learned to do a lot of bookings on my own thru heavy internet research. So I'd encourage using travel agents for those who are just beginning to travel but over time, learn to do all the arrangements themselves.

[hunnytread]

Hi

Now, you're wondering if you have to pay to consult with your local travel agent. The answer is no. Travel agents are paid on commission by the travel companies, hotels, cruise line, and airlines they book with. So, agencies only get paid if you book with them, and they get paid anywhere between 5 and 15%.

So, say you book a trip online. You spend hours researching the best companies for the eco-travel trip you've been dying to go on since you read The Swiss Family Robinson. You finally make a choice, you book, and pay. You would have paid the same price for the trip if your booked it through a travel agent. You see, the tour companies, hotels, airlines, and cruise line don't pass that percentage discount along to you for omitting the middle man. Furthermore, you've paid the same amount, and you've done all of the work.

THanks

nO USE TRAVEL AGENT

[flipflops]

Travel agents are great for people who are inexperienced at planning holidays themselves or who just dont want the hassel.

But for most people they would just be an unessary expense. Even my parents (not the most tech savy people to say the least!) were able to plan their last few vacations by themselves.

They put thogether their own diy package flights+hotels+ car rental at http://www.hotelreservation.com/ easier than doing everything for yourself seperatly but much cheaper than booking with a travel agent.

[purplebuggy]

I book international flights by travel agent - they tend to get me better deals if I can prove I've found a price online, they've always beaten it looking for round-about ways to fly
Also, I've found if you use the same agent, they'll find discounts for you more often than if you swap who you use. My parents have used the same agent (local too not a city one) for over 10 years and get huge savings based on the fact they come in and give them feed back on what they've booked.
Travel agents are good if you know how to use them and when not to use them too. There is definately a place for them

[bibbie]

In defence of human travel agents, I have always booked ALL my trips through the same agent since 1984. I have had some interesting flight routes from Sydney. I have done some basic research on all my trips and then seen my agent with the questions and sought advice. She has changed agencies over the years, however since she has always worked in locations that are GSA I have always been able to book through her. This has meant that I was not required to take a product of the agency she was working for. She has managed to get me decent airline, accommodation and tour discounts and again this may reflect that I have always bought business to her. Sine she has worked for various Travel Adventure Travel Companies I have been able to tap into her great wealth of experience. Over the years – both here, in other online forums and verbally from acquaintances, I have heard more complaints and negative stories about the online booking experiences versus dealing with a human being. It appears (again only what I have heard rather than personal experience) there are times when you cannot get all the questions answered from an online booking tool.

[johnfred01]

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