Travel Agents

FriendlySpartan

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We just got back from our honeymoon in Italy, and we used an agency that only does Italy trips. We went to 7 different cities, and our agent was able to book our hotels, car service, train tickets, and any excursions we wanted ahead of time. We added some things in while we were there on our own, but also had our agent available to suggest a replacement when our boat tour got cancelled. As it was our first time there, it was nice to not have to worry about setting all those things up / figure out the timings needed.

Would I use an agent for every trip? Absolutely not, but certainly for specific trips for sure.
I totally agree with this if you are targeting a specific country. Find a TA that specializes in that area and it can really be worth it. Did it for Ireland and Scotland and it went flawlessly.
 
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madguy30

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I used one in 2017 to travel to Mexico. She had experience of what all-inclusive resorts people liked. She also got us a room upgrade and several discounts on adventures.

id 100% use her again if we wanted to go to an all-inclusive again

I worked in an office with one and to me it seemed her personal experience with several places was actually really good for those going to unfamiliar spots.

She didn't try to sell everything, just gave good advice on what things really aren't that great, what to avoid, etc.
 
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I@ST1

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We use one when we go on a cruise. For whatever reason you can't just call up Royal Caribbean and book a cruise, the make you go through a travel agent so we just use somebody local. If I've got to pay somebody anyway for a service I'd rather keep my money local.

We're doing an Alaska cruise next summer partially to celebrate my mother in law retiring and we're using a local agent to keep track of 6 or 7 different families going. She makes it really easy.

You can and you can book online as well…
 

SEIOWA CLONE

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We use one when we go on a cruise. For whatever reason you can't just call up Royal Caribbean and book a cruise, the make you go through a travel agent so we just use somebody local. If I've got to pay somebody anyway for a service I'd rather keep my money local.

We're doing an Alaska cruise next summer partially to celebrate my mother in law retiring and we're using a local agent to keep track of 6 or 7 different families going. She makes it really easy.
Did not know that RC will not let you book directly through their website. We cruise on Carnival and just use the rep after we find a cruise we want to go on.
On our next cruise to Alaska I wanted to be on the 8th deck, she said that she gets a lot of complaints about noise on that deck, so we booked the 7th deck instead.
 

Cyclones_R_GR8

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So how are the travel agents reimbursed? Do they get a cut from the hotels, airlines and tour companies?
Yes
My sister and BIL used one all the time for trips. You call them up and tell them what you want and they can present you with all the options
 

8bitnes

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Nov 21, 2010
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Yes
My sister and BIL used one all the time for trips. You call them up and tell them what you want and they can present you with all the options
Impressive that they know what complaints will come in the future from a travel group that hasn't yet boarded the ship.
 

gocy444

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Used on for our honey moon. We didn't have to pay anything, she got paid directly from the resort in Mexico. She set up all the tours we wanted to do and organized our ride from the airport to the resort. I would 10/10 recommend using one if you don't have to pay a extra fee.
 

pourcyne

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Feb 19, 2011
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Yes, for this reason: my time is worth about $45 an hour and if there is more than one choice in an unknown destination, my guy is going to handle it for way less than the time I would spend wondering about everything.

On one-stop destinations to specific cities, I have been known to use the airline packages (such as American to San Antonio, it was a cinch). Also booked a very wonderful little house in Decorah this spring myself on Air BnB, but those guys are such sneaks that the price nearly doubles by the time you get through with fees and cleaning fees.

My recent trip to Maui was a special occasion, and my agent got us upgrades in view, with champagne and a gift basket from the hotel to welcome us. You won't ever run into that from Expedia or Travelocity.

PM me if you'd like his contact details. He's here in Iowa.
 

ScottyP

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Some people really enjoy planning for vacations and trips (booking flights and hotels, etc.) I don't enjoy the process as much as others, though.

I tend to get a little anxiety due to fear of screwing something up. Our flight from San Antonio to Des Moines got screwed up when I booked it because the website kept moving the dates around. I ended up with a return flight that was booked one month later than I wanted and I didn't catch it until I went check in for my return flight.
 

mramseyISU

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Nov 8, 2006
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You can and you can book online as well…
Even when you do that it routes though a travel agency called vacations to go. Doesn't matter if you book through the website or even doing next cruise on the ship itself. Royal Caribbean subcontracts them to handle all the bookings according to the girl we talked to at Next Cruise onboard.
 

3TrueFans

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My recent trip to Maui was a special occasion, and my agent got us upgrades in view, with champagne and a gift basket from the hotel to welcome us. You won't ever run into that from Expedia or Travelocity.
Translation: He wrote in the comments section on the booking "celebrating [insert special occasion here]".
 
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3TrueFans

Just a Happily Married Man
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Guess again, Sparky. The loot came with cards from the hotel AND the agent.
I don't get it, I've done the same thing a number of times and gotten champagne or chocolates or whatever waiting in the room for no charge.
 

JM4CY

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Ask people who’ve been there before if at all possible.
 

NickTheGreat

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I will always use a Travel Agent if leaving the US. We were flying to Europe and our flight over the Atlantic got cancelled as we were getting ready to go through security in DSM. I called the agent, and she had it taken care of by the time we landed in Chicago.

Also, our travel agent got reimbursed by fees from the airlines. You konw, the same way Expedia or whoever you use online gets paid.

We have traveled out of the country in 7 or 8 years now, and our lady was semi-retired then. But she made a believer out of us.
 

MisterO

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I think they get commissions from the hotels and airlines they book with.

I usually make my own arrangements, but have used them in the past and they were helpful…didn’t cost me any money either. They’re great- and may save you a little money. However, if you’re comfortable booking your own stuff, there’s probably not a huge need anymore.
 

BCClone

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Not exactly sure.
I’ve used one for international trips. We didn’t know exactly where we wanted to go for our last two, and she provided good recommendations based on cost comparison and her actual experience being at the local resorts. An agent takes care of the hard work for you, can help if something goes wrong with flights, etc., and they don’t cost any extra.

We use Destination Travel in Clear Lake. They can handle everything via email.
Wife and I are looking to travel international for the first time, was wondering who in North Iowa there was. With the Covid stuff, thinking one for international travel may be wise. In the US, I just handle it myself.