Booking direct or with a travel agent

[gregandkelly63]

Which is better and why? What are the advantages either way?

[mbdelong]

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.

[Ras Walleye]

For hotels you can almost always get a better price by dealing directly with the property.

[Ratty2141]

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.

[Lola]

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.

[yetta]

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.

[billndonna]

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.

[Hussyband]

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....

[BIG SHINY n Rootsy]

What's a travel agent?

[Jaherring]

Never used one. I thought they were extinct.