I'm a corporate
travel agent, but I can give you some pointers.
Before you go to an agent:
First, have an idea of what kind of trip you want. You don't need to know WHERE exactly you want to go, but the more info you can give an agent, the better they will be able to help you. "Someplace warm" can mean Death Valley or Bermuda or Florida. Give 'em a little more to go on!
Second, have a budget. Figure out what you want to spend, then try to fit a vacation around that. You don't want to have your heart set on Hawaii only to find out you can't afford it!
Third, know what you DON'T want to do. If even the thought of a cruise makes you sea sick, or you can't stand beach vacations, you need to be able to tell your agent that so they don't include those types of trips in their search.
Once you've thought all that through, look for an agent or agency that specializes in the type of vacation you want. At a general all-service agency, they usually have individual agents that specialize or are experts in certain areas (like ski, Disney, Vegas, cruises, etc.). That's the agent you want. Or you can look for an agency that specializes in certain destinations, too. These can lead to good deals as they often have negotiated discounts due to their high booking volume.
If you can't find a specialist, then try for an agent that has at least been to the place you're interested in, first hand knowledge can be priceless! Also look for a agent that is pro-active. If they don't return phone calls or e-mails, or it seems like you've got to drag the info out of them, chances are they aren't a good agent all-around.
Once you've got a quote (or two or three) from an agent, feel free to look around on the internet and see if you can beat the price. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples, though. If you find the same or simular price online as with the agent, book through the agent. Not only to reward them for their hard work, but also because in the event of a problem, they go to bat for you with the travel vendors involved. That means he or she spends an hour on hold with the airline, not you! If you DO find a lower price online, also be sure to let the agent know. They may be able to make a few phone calls and match it (kind of like pricematching at
Best Buy or
Walmart). If they can't beat it, then at least they know WHY you didin't book with them, common curtesey goes a long way.
and was wondering how to find the best deal? 
Do most people just go to one travel agent and then keep an eye out online for a better deal and present it to the agent you booked with, or do you visit multiple travel agents to try to get the best deal?
