Own bookings or use travel agent?

[Kiwifan]

Just wondering how people get the best deals?

Last time I used a travel agent for most of my bookings (although I had researched everything first)

I found I couldn't book the cruise online - I'm not sure why it wouldn't let me so I had no choice but to use an agent. Fortunately I was still able to get the same online fare.

My hotel booking - if I booked directly with the hotel the best rate I could get was USD159 per night (approx NZD200) & I would have to pay a daily resort fee.(I think it was USD17 per day). My travel agent was able to get me NZD140 per night including resort fee for the same hotel.

My airfares - I saw a great special online which my agent was able to get. As it turned out I was so pleased I used her as the airline changed the flights 9 times. The last flight change would have meant we had a 12 hour stopover in Sydney on the way home - she managed to get them to change the airline for the last segment (same fare) so we only had an hour wait. If I had done the booking myself I think I would have been stuck with the airline's changes.

I booked my theme park tickets myself through undercover tourist & saved around NZD150 per ticket.

I arranged my own transfer to Port Canaveral which meant we arrived at the terminal as check in started. We were already in our cabin when we saw the Disney buses arrive. I wanted as much time on board as possible

For our trip next year I am hoping to rent DVC points so I will do that myself but I think I will still go with a travel agent for the cruise & airfares.

I'm interested in hearing what others do...

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

For our trips I have normally found the cheapest flight deals and taken them to an agent and had them match it. For our upcoming Europe trip I did it myself online. I always book accom myself in the US, using the AAA discount or paying in advance is always cheaper than I've found with an agent or through somewhere like Expedia. Booking.com though has been helpful for our Ireland accom, twas cheaper than going directly to hotel which was interesting.

Sounds like you have a good agent on your hands so perhaps a combo of both would work for you.

 

[gogo65]

We always use a mix of both. I usually book my flights myself but any tours or cruises I use my TA. Hotels depends on cost but generally I book them myself online.
WDW accomodation I book direct through WDW but would consider using DU or another specialist Disney TA next time

 

[Baliezer]

I make all of my own bookings. I have found that a TA deals are not much better than what I can find. After booking, I look at the prices a couple of times a day and wait for the price to drop. Then I call in and accept the new prices.

When using a travel agent, you have to call the TA and hope that they are available to accept the new pricing for you. Twice before I was burned when the TA did not call me back in time.

 

[zanzibar138]

We haven't had much luck with TAs either. We weren't happy with what they offered, so we basically did all the research and found the cheapest rates ourselves, then told the TA what to book. For our honeymoon, our TA booked both a flight and a train ticket for the wrong date/time. I won't use one again.

It sounds like you've found yourself a good one though, so maybe a combination might work well for you

 

[Lewdannie]

I like the idea of a travel agent, just need to find a good one.

Any recommendations for Brisbane in the city or south side would be appreciated.

Cheers

Dean

 

[zy144622]

I find a TA to be a pain when it come to WDW. Prices are the same and you are not able toile any changes to your reservation. TA plays middle man and Disney is not much easier on them for bookings either. To get the deals when they come out you must be paying attention to dis-boards, Disney and Disney visa rewards sites. When something comes up call in or book online ASAP. Calling a TA and hoping its as much of a priority to them as it is to you is a gamble.

 

[BecBennett]

I usually book everything myself. It drives me crazy when I send an enquiry through to a TA and don't hear back for over a week.

I would probably use them for the majority of my travel if they only got back to me sooner.

However I have used a US based travel agent before, who was able to get me a package for more then $2000 less then what I would have paid booking it myself, and that was for travel in Mexico.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I'm a fan of doing everything myself.

It can be a lot of work sometimes, but I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to travel, and I don't like the hassle of a middle man (or a middle man AND a supplier as seems to be the case for most NZ agents). If I'm sitting at home one night and I see a deal I like, I prefer that I can book it then and there without waiting for an agent to find my email and reply. An agent is paid to do only so much research. I am happy to do heaps.

Similarly, I'm yet to find an agent who was able to get me a cheaper deal than I was able to find myself. The exception seems to be cruises, where agents often provide onboard credits and/or benefits.

 

[aussie shaz]

I'm with Wanderlust. Also a lot of hotels that I look at staying at are not offered by Australian travel agents.

My last holiday I got a travel agent friend of mine to quote on everything. The only thing she could match the price on was the airfare, so I got her to book that. She may as well get commission on that. Everything else was heaps more expensive, or she couldn't offer that specific hotel I wanted.

I also love having control of everything, and being able to change to a better deal or hotel if one comes along.

I guess it helps that I was a travel agent in a previous life

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

On our recent trip to the US, I booked all of the internal flights myself. Each flight was with a different airline due to timing and pricing.

We had several flights changed at the last minute and they would email me directly. I couldn't help thinking that if I had booked through a TA, they would've emailed her and if it was a weekend, how would I have found out about it.

Convinced me that I do like to be in control for some things.

 

[Kristin5]

A bit of both. Sometimes my TA can get accommodation cheaper than I can, so I book through her. Other times, I get it cheaper booking directly myself. Also, sometimes she can get availability, where I can't.

I have asked her to quote on some tours, so will see what prices she comes up with.

Usually I get her to book airfares too (as she seems to get them cheaper, especially if not just a straightforward direct flight, but instead has a few different stops), but this time the sale fares came up over the Xmas holiday period, so I just booked them myself. She didn't mind, she says she hardly makes any money from flight bookings anyway (as airlines have reduced commissions).

 

[Marlea98]

I'm a bit of both.

Our TA is booking our international flights and I'm booking the internal flights for when we're there. She has also booked our cruise but I don't think I'll use her for the next one as you can easily do it yourself and avoid the extra charge TAs charge for using your credit card.

TAs are often limited to wholesale stock I believe so don't have the scope we would have in booking certain things. I research where I want to stay or go and ask her what she can get it for, most of the time she can't beat the price I can get it for.

For the international flights, I like the security of knowing if there's any problem it's her job to sort it out. I'd rather spend my holiday enjoying myself and making the most of my time, rather than spending hours on the phone or internet trying to sort things out.

 

[Miss Red]

I have used an agent to book our flights but everything else I will be booking myself

 

[Snickals]

I research and find the best deals I can online, print it off and take it to my travel agent (at Flight Centre - my family and I use the same lady for all our holiday bookings now she is amazing!) and she prices matches it (usually by a dollar but still...). I find it helpful having her do the final bookings incase there is anything I would miss.

 

[sarefromoz]

In the past we have used a TA, but this time we have done it all ourselves. It has been a hell of a lot of work, especially researching, but there seems to be much more choice than what the TA advertise. I guess we're finding that we don't have to compromise on anything, because we're getting exactly what we want when we want it. Plus it has been a lot of fun doing it.

 

[SIMTRAC]

Can I ask who you all use for your own bookings? Have used a TA previously and find that a two day wait for a response just a bit frustrating!!! Do you go direct to the hotel and airline or do you go through websites like web jet or booking.com?

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Can I ask who you all use for your own bookings? Have used a TA previously and find that a two day wait for a response just a bit frustrating!!! Do you go direct to the hotel and airline or do you go through websites like web jet or booking.com?

Firstly, welcome to the Dis

I do a mixture of what you've mentioned. I usually use sites such as Expedia to compare prices, and then I go check the prices directly with the airline/hotel. If it works out most economical to do so, I prefer to book direct and online. Particularly in the case of flights, as it gives you a bit more freedom when picking options such as seats.

The more time and effort you're prepared to put into researching multiple sites, the cheaper deals you usually find. There are quite a few well-priced domestic US airlines that don't feature on major booking sites, but are worth doing some research in to.

Likewise, it pays to do some research into when discounts are released. For example, I would never pay rack rate for any of the Disney World properties when they just about always have specials for those who are patient.

 

[aussie shaz]

I usually look at all the options and travel sites etc. I usually end up booking directly with the hotels. This way, if a better special comes up, you can usually change the booking to the cheaper rate. I always join the email list and Facebook page of whichever hotels I am interested in to make sure I don't miss any specials.
For my latest airfare with Virgin Australia I booked through Zuji. Their airfare was actually cheaper than direct with Virgin themselves. I did find it a problem though when trying to book seat allocations. Zuji said that they couldn't do it, but Virgin told me that because I booked through a travel agent, the agent needed to book the seats. In the end, Virgin finally agreed to do it for me.

 

[Kristin5]

Can I ask who you all use for your own bookings? Have used a TA previously and find that a two day wait for a response just a bit frustrating!!! Do you go direct to the hotel and airline or do you go through websites like web jet or booking.com?

Welcome!

I mix it up, though prefer to go direct now than use "discount" sites as I have had problems with them in the past (specifically, a problem with hotels.com, who took 2 months, and many phone calls later, before finally refunding my cancelled booking, which they had rebooked to meet their promise of price matching a cheaper deals). I also booked airfares this time directly with ANZ, as it was cheaper than going through zuji or best flights. But I think it is a matter if checking each option and seeing which is better on that occasion, as it seems to change constantly! Generally though, if the saving isn't significant through a third party site, I will go direct.