Which is better and why? What are the advantages either way?
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Which is better and why? What are the advantages either way?
I would never use a Travel Agent. With websites like Tripadvisor and forums like these it is a cinch to read reviews, ask questions on forums. It is also cheaper to book online. I know a Travel Agent and she said flat out that travel agencies can no longer compete with internet pricing. Plus its more fun to do your own research.
For hotels you can almost always get a better price by dealing directly with the property.
Many of the internet booking sites (Travelocity, Expedia etc) employ travel agents to work "behind the scenes" to get you a good deal. A good agent can save you money, offer good tips and be there to sort things out when things go wrong. I was in Jamaica when a hurricane was approaching. People who wanted to have flights rebooked and had travel agents were in a way better position than people who booked on a website.
I look at the search engines to find the best deal, then book directly with the airline. Can be a mixed bag for hotel, just booked something tonight direct with hotel; I opted for free cancellation doing it that way.
After over 29 trips, I have found that I do better booking directly with the airlines and the resorts. It may be due to the fact that I live in a small state with few "special deals"....but I have researched all my trips and have found that I got a better price dealing with each privately. Maybe those that live in other areas can grab a good deal with Expedia, etc....but for me....no go.
Still, it works out fine. No direct flights locally, but only one stop in Charlotte, NC...which is fine by me. I can leave WV at 6:45 and be in Mobay by 2. Not too shabby for a local small airport. I would love to fly non-stop but it ain't gonna happen unless I want to drive 3 hours, spend the night...$$$$ and pay mucho for parking....it would have to be one hell of a deal for me to drive 3 hours. Locally, I can have family pick up my car at our airport, and bring it back the day of arrival...and I am good to go.
Have to agree that booking direct with the resorts is usually best but we always book through an agent if we go to Hedonism because they get group rates at certain times so it is cheaper.Always book the air ourselves so we can pick opur time schedule.We have used Hotels.com before and had great luck there also for hotels.
I used to always book with an agent. One year, we wanted to try something new, away from the chain resorts. My wife had found tensing pen online, and it looked amazing.
Her response to booking it was along the lines of "that looks like a dump" "it only has 2 stars, you will hate it" and more disparaging remarks to get us to book an all inclusive.
Four years later, she has never gotten our business again, and we have found places on the island we enjoy much better than the structured AI environment.
I book the whole thjng myself now. Plane tickets, hotel, travel insurance, club mobay, and the jumper when we decide we want to do that route. I guess if we were going to do a new country for the first time, I would us an agent again, but for JA, I simply no longer see the point.
Edited verbiage....
What's a travel agent? ;)
Never used one. I thought they were extinct.
I do use a travel agent sometimes (my BFF), especially when there is a flight involved, as she always finds the cheaper flights. Also if there are problems with the flight or the room, she takes care of it, and I've had some serious issues that she has had to straighten out, one time at 3 a.m. Like Jaherring said, though, they are becoming extinct, kind of like traveler's checks, which I also still use.
we book direct with our resort, and direct with Westjet, it will save you $500 to $1000 bucks, soon come
Never used a travel agent.
I book the cheapest flight possible. Then wait for the best hotel deal possible.
Is it still 1980? No?
Last spring when we went to Negril with a group, the resort tried to move us to another resort 3 times. The travel agent was a huge help getting things straightened out.
I know that doesn't usually happen, but I was glad we had him.
That's why I asked the question.
I always try to deal directly with the owner or the manager of a property,and preferably while still on property. Face to face seems to work better when possible.
I always book my own and then I purchase trip insurance for a really small via thru travel guard which is online. I had a travel agent two times that a hurricane and a tropical storm hit Jamaica when i was there. Wasn't much the agent could do either when flights weren't running. A couple years ago when I got that mosquito bite virus while there and had to have medical assistance to get home fast i did not have agent but made calls myself and was quickly flown to Dallas for treatment as was first flight into USA closest medical facility.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregandkelly63
There are the same sites the travel agents use that are now accessible to travelers online. Flight Matrix is what agents use and we now have that available. I have to LOL when I explain this next part. I never ever ever book a hotel for Jamaica with anyone other than direct hotel. Examples of why. Orbitz for Fun Holiday was 125 last Aug for ATI I paid 75 for friends by contacting direct. BarB Barn was +100 when we got for 65 by calling. I compare on all of the sites than contact hotel just in case they try to shoot me high. Never once have I not saved atleast 25 + a night by direct booking on phone or email. My trip next week FH was $115-125 both on their own site and many of the booking sites I booked direct for $60 night 2nd floor oceanview.
My trip insurance is usually 27-40 for a 7-10 day trip. This trip for 10 days for two it was $57. Gives me agents if I need them for helpmedical evac, covers anything lost or stolen etc. I go right online to travelguard and purchase.
The cheapest way of booking must depend on the part of the country you live in? We have spent countless hours of research before booking trips to Negril for
10+ years. We drive and fly direct from Atlanta, but fly Chattanooga to Atlanta on the rare occasion that the price is right.
We get the best price booking room and airfare together through Expedia or sometimes Orbitz every time. I have called places where we have been repeat guests and still do not get the price offered on these sites. The usual routine is decide it's time, we gotta get away and relax on the beach. We will plan to go 2-3 months away and start watching prices. Use matrix search (thanks Cap't D I think it was) with the flexible date setting to find cheapest dates for airfare. Then use those dates to search the packages on Expedia and Oribtz, usually finding the best price 4-5 weeks out.
The good thing about the short window between booking and trip, it's there before you know it!! This has been the cheapest route for us with our average price for 7-8 days room and airfare being around $1600 for two.
Nashville is supposed to have direct flights to Montego Bay by the end of the year. We also drive to Atlanta to fly direct.
Thanks, Greg and Kelly, for that info on Nashville. Memphis used to have direct flights to MB but don't think they do anymore. Loved flying out of Memphis and especially loved the Memphis airport.
I've had the most luck with finding cheaper flights on Kayak website.
I think I am going to have you do mine next year.... 10 days for me is just over $6000, and I have yet to book club mobay or Tim air for the puddle jumper to negril.Quote:
Originally Posted by davevols
Hussy-we fly out of JFK (NYC) stay for 16 days and it doesn't cost us anywhere near $6000. Yes that includes club mobay (but not Tim air)
We do not use orbitz, travelocity, etc because you have to pay for the whole trip up front. We stay at Coco La Palm and wait for negrilonestop.com to have the coco mad sale and then book thru them. It may cost slightly more than orbitz, etc but we only pay 2 nights up front and the rest 30 days before the trip. Since we go twice a year it works better for us. In Nov we go for 26 days. Trip has been booked since we came home in April. I have them take $300 per month from our credit card. By the time we leave it is basically paid for. Airfare is booked directly. Seems to work great for us and you find find any better to deal with than Negril One Stop. Love them.
A huge part of my trip is really the hotel. We book way more room than we need, but it keeps the wife happy. We could save $2000 on hotel costs alone if I rented a room instead of a cottage made for a whole family. Then there is the fact that I'm a big guy. I tend to fly first as it is more comfortable. My wife would be happy in coach, me not so much. Between the two of us, and our personal preferences, the prices get a bit out of control.
I think when you go in a group somewhere, or a very detailed trip, I would use a agent. But a trip to JA is so simple to work up thanks to Negril.com, and Onestop, etc. The Forum is very helpful as far as when to plan your trip, best places, time of year. But if I go to Europe, I'm planning with a travel agent. I've worked with agents in the past and they are a plus for areas of travel.