Hiring a professional to do something you could do yourself can be a good idea or a bad one. It comes down to the value you receive.
And so it is with travel agents, a species of advisers many consumers might assume went extinct. Today, consumers have the ability to book online for airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, cruises and all-inclusive holiday packages. But travel agents still exist, having evolved from travel bookers to travel consultants.
For some people, using a travel agent can be a great idea, said Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers' Checkbook, which rates service providers, including travel agents.
"If you're going to an unfamiliar place or have a complicated trip with various people involved, in those situations it might make a lot of sense for you," he said.
However, do-it-yourselfers who are familiar with making travel arrangements online have the time to spend researching travel offers and who are travelling to known destinations domestically would probably prefer to book trips themselves, he said.
Here are some considerations when using a travel agent.
COST: Contrary to popular belief, a travel agent won't always cost more. In fact, it's possible you will pay less than booking a holiday yourself because agents might be aware of promotional offers and occasionally have access to exclusive deals.
Some agents will charge a per-hour fee for their time in planning a trip. Agents can earn commissions on some bookings, but it's not nearly as lucrative as it used to be because airlines don't pay commission.
In general, however, using a travel agent will often cost about the same as booking it yourself, experts say. But you save a lot of time and could get great advice that makes your trip more enjoyable. In that case, you end up getting better value for your money, argues Chris Russo, president of the American Society of Travel Agents.
"People always ask me, 'How much more is it going to cost me to use a travel professional?' I tell them, essentially, it shouldn't cost you more; it should cost you less," Russo said.
Sometimes, a travel agent will have a relationship with a vendor. They might not be able to get a better price but might be able to get you some extras, such as an onboard credit or a free shore excursion during a cruise or a free hotel room upgrade or free breakfast.
"I still subscribe to the notion that we're going to find you the best deal," Russo said. "What seems cheaper on the surface might not be cheaper in the long run."
A complicated itinerary that takes an agent many hours to develop will probably incur a fee, he said. Pricing is something to ask about upfront.
Even with their expertise, travel agents might not get you the same rock-bottom prices that ultrafrugal consumers might get if they're willing to spend the time and assume the risk of blindly bidding on airfares, hotels and car rentals at such online sites as Priceline.com, Krughoff said.
TIME: Some people enjoy trip planning, while others consider it an arduous chore. Research for even a simple trip can consume hours. Part of what you're paying for with a travel agent, assuming you're paying extra at all, is for someone else to do the research and present you with options, making the process less time-consuming for you.
Krughoff says he books his own trips, but a recent trip to New Zealand probably cost him and others in his party a total of 30 to 40 hours of planning.
ADVICE: How valuable would it be if an expert could tell you to stay at hotel A but avoid hotel B, or choose the great snorkelling excursion but skip the lame biking tour? Counselling you on what to do and which services to choose, based on personal experience or that of colleagues and customers, is where a travel agent can shine.
"Even if a travel agent didn't save you money, it might still be worth it," Krughoff said. "It might cause you to get a much better experience."
Besides counsel on bookings, a travel agent can advise you on such issues as exchange rates, travel insurance, crowds, weather, competency of tours, areas of a town to avoid, travel visas, vaccinations, passports, tipping etiquette, packing lists and trip cancellation penalties and restrictions. A travel agent can also sort out which airlines charge for checked bags or roomier exit-row seating.
"The airlines have created confusion in the marketplace with all the fees and things," Russo said. "That is actually good for us."
MCT
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