Why use a travel agent?

[Bbgrizzle]

Hi,
I'm just curious as to why people use a travel agent to book their cruise or WDW vacations? I've always just booked directly thru Disney. Do TA's offer some special savings or services I don't know about?

 

[Michelle]

Some travel agencies (such as Dreams Unlimited) offer rebates and special promotions to clients, which save you money. Dreams always offers rebates plus right now there is a shipboard credit promotion running for new bookings as well:

Dreams Rebate & Shipboard Credit Offer

That's why many folks go with TAs, along with the fact that a good TA will also continue to check for discounts for you and will have any applied to your reservation.

 

[mrsltg]

Definitely go with a travel agent! I used one to book a cruise last week and she saved $2200 over the high end brochure price, and $600 over what Disney is telling me for the exact same cruise/cabin etc.

I am using Josephine from Our Laughing Place Travel and she is wonderful! Try www.ourlaughingplace.com ... couldn't hurt to get a quote!


Erin

 

[prymsu]

there are pros and cons, at least IMHO. The pros are that some agencies can get you a much lower price than going directly through the cruise lines. For instance, on our Disney Cruise, we went through AAA. We got three free refillable soda mugs, $100 shipboard credit, and a $75 rebate when travel was complete.

The con is that the TA could not answer very many of my questions about the cruise. Thank goodness I found this board! For instance, the price of our cruise dropped $1200 after we were paid in full, and I had to call and tell her about the price difference, and find out how to get that refund. I also had to answer a lot of things she mentioned, but was not sure about, and all the info I came up with was from this board. Too bad more TAs don't use this resource to inform their clients...

 

[iluvorlando]

I booked directly through Disney for our first cruise. The customer service was great, and when FL res (sorry folks) rate came available they adjusted it.

I decided to go through DU this time becuase of the great things I had heard on this board. I like the fact that if I book my cruise by tomorrow, I can get up to a $300 room credit. Plus, if the price drops, I know it will be applied without me having to search for it!
Plus, I really like who I am dealing with!!!

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Thanks for the responses. One more question: I booked my next cruise while I was onboard the Magic so we could get the good rate and the onboard credit. Would it do me any good to utilize a travel agent now? Could I get any further discounts? Or would I lose what I already have? Thanks!

 

[iluvorlando]

I believe you could still transfer your reservation to a TA without losing anything. I would recommend DU, just because I have heard that they continue to look for the best price and will apply it to your reservation!

 

[inkkognito]

Being a compulsive planner, I used to prefer booking myself. But now we book through DU, mainly for the rebates and the fact that they watch for the rates to go down and adjust your price accordingly. For me, those are the two major benefits, but they are not offered by all TAs. I also like the fact that the people at DU are Disney experts, and if you book WDW through them, they will make your PS dining ressies and even prepare an itinerary. I do all my itinerary planning myself, but it's nice if you are not familiar with WDW (or are not as compulsive as me).
Barb
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