When planning a vacation it’s tough to know if you’re getting the best deals and making the best vacation plans. Should you do it yourself online or should you consult a travel agent? Here are the pros and cons for each option to help you make the best decision.
Internet Vacation Planning
There’s nothing like doing it yourself. You can make whatever plans you want to and you are not locked into any predesigned vacation package. That means if you want to spend four days in Costa Rica and two days in Nicaragua, you can without having to bend to the prepackaged itineraries travel agents provide.
On the other side of the coin, however, is the uncertainty. Did you make reservations at a safe hotel? What about the ATV tour you booked – do they speak English? Who is going to pick you up from the airport and how do you get around? When you make vacation plans yourself, it’s up to you to make the decisions and you have to live with the consequences.
Saving money? This is a toss-up. Sometimes you do save more money when you book your travel plans online yourself, and sometimes you don’t. Travel agents have access to all of the same internet sites you do and then some.
Travel Agent Vacation Planning
When you book with a travel agent, many times you’re paying for a package. This means that if you decide you want to cut your stay short in one city and move onto the next city in your itinerary, well you may just be out of luck. However, if you’ve booked it yourself, you have the freedom to change your plans on the fly. Customizing your trip to meet your needs is a bit tricky and can quickly become more expensive than you want.
Certainty – travel agents are experts in travel. They know the ins and outs of every location they promote, including taxes and the laws relating to visas and passports. They know where the best places are to stay and what the best activities are. In short, you’re sure to have a great vacation if you plan it with a travel agent.
Saving money? In a side-by-side comparison booking a trip to Las Vegas for the exact same length of stay at the exact same hotel, the travel agent’s package was $200 more. Both included airfare; however, the travel agent’s package included about $100 in meals, $50 to spend at the spa and also $50 to spend in the casino. All in all, it was a draw.
The Bottom Line
The decision whether to book your vacation yourself or to pay for the services of a travel agent comes down to a few basic questions. The most important question may be, “where are you traveling to?” If you’re going someplace you’ve never been or an exotic country, you may be better off going with a travel agent who can be assured to plan a safe and relaxing trip for you.
If you’re booking a trip to a familiar place, you’re as likely to find good deals yourself as a travel agent is. If you want certainty, a packaged vacation and the comfort of consulting an expert, go with a travel agent. If you want customization and the freedom to plan a trip that meets your needs and don’t need certainty, go ahead and plan your vacation yourself.
I’m surprised the downturn in the economy hasn’t done even more to hurt tourism in Vegas. I guess the lights on the Strip will continue to draw people in.
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Many web sites are phony. I have just been directed to one that “looks” real, but is not.
There are many reasons to use a CERTIFIED Travel Agent. Without one, you are on your own and that can be expensive and uncomfortable. There are many ways to see the world, but not all are right for you. Talk to a live person. Ask the thousands who have been stranded in Europe if they got any help from their computers.