Do You Use Travel Agents?

[indimom]

We used one for our first Disney trip 5 years ago (no internet then, dial-up stunk). This time, I planned to book on line, but I went back to her again. Here is why:
I received a Disney pin code. I couldn't seem to use it to book via the internet. I called Disney to book and immediately started getting the "salesman" tactics on the phone. The guy was rude and pushy and I ended up hanging up. I called the travel agent we used last time and got the same deal/same price I had tried to book through Disney. No hassle, no trying to haggle an upgrade. Very nice and helpful.

 

[mrsmom]

For Disney no, But for cruises i use Costco travel.
Kim

 

[eliza61]

I'm 1/2 and 1/2.
Generally if I go to Europe, I tend to try a travel agent. At home, I never use them. One of the issues Ihave is that in my area there don't seem to be a lot of independant agents and I hate the "mall agencies" like Liberty. Prices may be a bit lower but they tend to herd you into a certain few hotels.
This year for my trip to Paris I found a nice travel agent (recommended by a Disser, yeah!!) who catered to my needs. She was great specifically because we changed our minds a lot before finally making a decision.
That would never have been possible on the internet.

 

[tinkmom2]

I went to a travel agent once when we were planning our first trip to WDW. I had done my homework and ended up walking out because the prices she quoted me were way above what I ended up getting on my own. From then on I have planned all our 5 WDW vacations and our three cruises DCL. I have looked at the different credits the TA's are offering but haven't found one yet that offsets the expense of actually getting the travel agent. When I bought our first DCL cruise I got the bounceback offer and we were able to take a 3 day cruise for $99/person this past November.
I am signed up with Disney and get pins in my email which helps too. I also plan our trips during free dining which also helps with expenses. This time I was able to plan my cruise so far out we got a great price.
This last trip to WDW I originally paid for dining and was able to call back and get it switched to the free dining plus one TS a day. I had all ready paid my bill and was able to get almost a $250.00 refund on my package. It just takes a little foot work on your part.
Also I learned the lesson of booking air fare on my own. I used DCL air to on my first cruise and it was a nightmare. We were overcharged about $500 over if I would have done it on my own and we had two flights each way. We flew in on the same day we were sailing and almost missed the ship and got on at 3:30pm.
Another tip: my DH's work offers discount tickets to things like Disney and the Petty Track at Disney. See if your work offers something similar.

 

[andrews_dad]

For places like DIZ and Vegas, no. When I took a 3 and 1/2 week tour of Europe, yes. TA's rarely look at flight prices on SouthWest, Allegiant, Spirit, JetBlue, etc. You get rooked on that.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I don't, but I like doing the research, watching for discounts, and making my ADRs

 

[phred52]

I don't use a travel agent, except for cruises .... Because I can get extra on board credit when I transfer my reservation to a travel agent.

HOWEVER, that being said, 3 cruises ago the same travel agent we'd used for 7 or 8 years took our $$$ and disappeared. !!!

The only thing that saved us was I had put the final (only) payment on a credit card. VISA credited it all back. And Disney was VERY understanding, they gave us our much lower than current price back, BUT we lost first seating and our carefully selected rooms. sigh.

 

[MN Disneyfan]

We have been traveling with my mother in law and father in law to Disney for the past 4 trips. My Father in law insists on using his travel agent. I have said for years I would rather book it myself and he wouldn't hear anything of it. My inlaws normally book their trips a year in advance with no discounts. The travel agent has never called back after Disney has offered discounts to the public saying she saved them money as the discounts come out. SO that just makes me angry that we/them have been overcharged over the years. So this year I called and got a quote from Disney for our trip and then my Father in law got a quote from his travel agent....which was way more then my quote. The travel agent ended up giving us our trip for what we were quoted from Disney direct. So hopefully, from now on, I'll be booking our trips.

 

[jennz]

My dad is thinking about going to visit relatives in Scotland in late July and wants me to check flights, I've been looking online and considering a travel agent to see if s/he can get it any cheaper. Does anyone know an agent in Orlando?

 

[labdogs42]

I love my agent at Small World vacations. I use her even though I could book it myself. I call or email her with the deal I want or two that I want to compare and she checks it all for me. She also lets me know if a deal comes out after I booked. And SHE spends the time getting me free dining on the day it comes out! She's awesome and I don't see any reason NOT to use her.

 

[arihillfarm]

The travel agent has never called back after Disney has offered discounts to the public saying she saved them money as the discounts come out. SO that just makes me angry that we/them have been overcharged over the years.

A lot of travel agents specialize in one area or another and ones that do not specialize in Disney may not stay on top of the discounts as they are released. I'm an agent specializing in Disney travel (although I book other destinations and cruises as well) and I definitely stay on top of discounts and apply them to reservations as they are released, for Disney and otherwise. My priority is getting my clients the trip they want for the absolute lowest cost and I'll even make suggestions for slight changes in itinerary that may save them a bunch of money, but then again I'm a bargain hunter by nature and like to make a dollar (mine or someone else's) stretch as far as possible.

-Astrid

 

[bopper]

I would think with thing like "Icelandic Volcanic Ash" that having a Travel Agent would be ideal as you would have assistance in re-booking.

 

[eyor44]

I love mine, Christine at Love the Mouse Travel is willing to take care of everything and cheerfully makes changes for me.