Travel agent or DIY vacations?

Manderlin923 · January 2010

It's been my dream for years to go to France. I would love to go to Paris but also know there's so many beautiful areas (and probably cheaper too) and I want to save up for a trip. I am wondering if anyone ever booked a trip through a travel agency and if you would recommend it? I feel like maybe it's a dumb question- because they charge a fee, no? and it would be cheaper to do it on my own but I feel like they'd have the expertise to help me choose the best spot so in the end it might save money...wdyt?

dragon_chica · January 2010

Aside from group tours every now and then we've usually done it ourselves. I've never used a TA so I can't tell you the benefits of that. But, if you go on the Nest's travel section they have plenty of great advice to DIY vacation.

GeneGoddess · January 2010

I've been to England, Ireland, Australia, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg and I've never used a travel agent. Check out some travel books at your local library and use the internet!

hollyjodavis · January 2010

We used AAA for our honeymoon in Hawaii and no they did not charge a fee. Actually, with the savings that they get on different hotels and airlines, it was cheaper through them than if I had done it on my own. When we did our trips to Italy and Germany we did bus tours because we were worried about not speaking the language and getting lost etc. I don't know that I'd recommend a bus tour though necessarily, depending on what you want to get out of the trip, they can be very regimented. I would check out prices on your own first and then go to an agent and just have them price it out for you. You might be surprised that they can offer better savings and usually they can offer insight and advice on where to stay and things to do.

Manderlin923 · January 2010

good ideas

Thanks!

SusieQ1982 · January 2010

Use a TA if you need help. Nothing wrong with that.

TarheelsInNJ · January 2010

I always do it myself, and I love it! I think I was a travel agent in another life. I find the message boards on Fodors.com to be really helpful. In addition to the really helpful posts, you can read trip reports to get a feel for what it might be like.

tak2002 · January 2010

I have used AAA several time like a PP said. They were GREAT and charge no fee (as long as you are a member).

tashacu02 · January 2010

The biggest advantage to using a travel agent is you don't have to pay for the entire trip up front. You can pay as you get the money up until like 30 days of the trip. We used AAA for our honeymoon to Cancun and honestly, they weren't that helpful. She helped us picked an all inclusive hotel, but had no other knowledge really of the area. IMO, it only benefits you if the travel agent has been to your desired destination. And they didn't charge a fee per se, but they do make commission off of the trips. If I could do it over again, I would have booked it ourselves.

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