When you guys book your vacations/holidays/overseas trips do you use a travel agent or just do it yourself through an online site? Any + or - to one or the other? Thanks!



"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

If it's just a round trip to any global destination, I will log on and book on-line.

When I travel and have multiple segment, I will call my travel agent, because I often have itinerary changes and she helps me out with those.

Travel agents also have access to wholesalers and consolidators, where lower prices may be found for the same trip.

It's always worth the additional service fee

I hope this helps.



Montreal, Canada

I'm looking to do the once in a lifetime trip from the U.S.A. to the Amalfi Coast next year. Just a flight into Naples and then fly out of Naples with a hotel for 10 days +/-. I will look into both travel agents and online. Keep your great travel reports comming! I really enjoy them .

"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

Scott,

I almost always sort myself out with flights, hotels etc. Went to the Maldives once and picked up a package, which is almost obligatory.

One of the benefits of a package is that you have minimal hassle when making the arrangements and you will certainly find some places that you would never have dreamt of arranging yourself.

Doing things yourself makes you feel a little more 'indipendent' I think. You can go where you want, when you want and how you want.

The DIY option can sometimes cost more and other times cost less. The economies of scale cannot be reached on your own, but some locations/agents have huge mark-ups, so you have to do your home-work, which is one of the drawbacks of the DIY option, I.e. that you have to dedicate a little time to making arrangements yourself, and getting them right, as there is no one to blame if you don't.

Happy travels......with ya GMT PAM I hope!

Clive

PAM141, PAM233, PAM279, PAM329

'Englishman in Milano'

I have become quite a pro on the DIY sites so far for basic/local travel. Just hope the same will hold true if I use this route to go international

"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

for certain destination which have communication issue i will choose to take tour package. or else will book through online for ground arrangement.

nt>


"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

I always go DIY. Since the internet took of back in the 90s I have never used a travel agent and think that it is actually fun to research the trip (airfares, lodgings, sightseeing, food, etc...) and then see how things turn out. Especially when staying at B&Bs and going off the beaten path, I think doing it yourself is more work, but more fun.

My two yen,

E

PS Asking for help here at P.com or at another watch forum like TZ seems to elicit some great advice, too. When I ever get a chance to visit Europe, I will be sure to seek the collective wisdom of other Ristis!

You are right. There is a wealth of knowledge to be found on Paneristi from other Risti's. Like the saying goes..."So much more than a watch".



"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

I always feel like I'm probably paying too much?

Then I look at doing everything individually (flights, hotel, car rental etc.) and end up deciding it's just to much of a hassle to deal with each component on it's own, and go back to travelocity.

________________________________________

If plexi is wrong, I don't want to be right.

Do you prefer the Travelocity over the Expedia, Hotels.com, Bookings, etc....? I have used a lot of online site for local travel but have never tried Travelocity. Thanks.

"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg

American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts has been great for me. They give perks like early check in, 4pm check out, free massages, free meals, etc.



Ask, Believe, and Receive...........

I'll check them out.



"If I was on death row and given one last meal I would ask for a fortune cookie. "Come on 'long prosperous life!'"-
Mitch Hedburg