Should I use a Travel Agent for a honeymoon trip to Italy?
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012 at
8:43 am
οr ѕhουld I јυѕt рlаn іt myself using travelocity, hotels.com, ect?
Fοr whаt іt’s worth, I’ve bееn tο Italy аnd speak Italian.
Alѕο:
Hοw dοеѕ a travel agency work?
Hοw dο thеу gеt paid?
Dο уου pay upfront, οr οnlу аftеr thеу рυt together a package thаt’s within mу budget?
Cаn thеу beat thе prices οf thе online sites?
I would never NOT use a travel agent. the websites you speak about always have hidden fees, extremely long layovers on flights, etc..etc… Then when you select a different flight, the price goes up a crazy amount.
The travel agency uses multiple travel means and gets the best price possible. They get paid by the company they book your trip through. For instance they may use Funjet or another company. With a travel agent, you usually pay a deposit, then the money is due by a certain date (normally 1 month before departure). Last year I went to Sabor in Cozumel, and agent was 500 per person cheaper than any site I looked at.
Why do you mention websites? Never heard of an airline? That’s how I travel.
That depends on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into booking the trip and your comfort level with doing your own booking. Travel agents usually get paid a fee on top of the cost of the trip these days. It used to be that the airlines, hotels … covered the cost of the travel agents entirely. Sometimes a travel agent may be able to find cheaper options and other times not. I book my own trips most of the time unless I was considering a particularly complex trip. Travel agents can help you tell you what your travel options are and help you decide where and when to go if you’re uncertain.
Here are some resources that can help you plan and check options and current prices if you choose to do this on your own:
http://www.kayak.com/ – airfares
http://www.skyscanner.it/ – budget flights especially good within Europe. For longer trips, this can be a better option than the trains. The places you’re thinking of are far apart and flying would be the best option.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ad1ce14114bc9110VgnVCM10000080a3e90aRCRD – train schedules and prices. It is rarely worth buying a railpass for Italy. Individual tickets are usually cheaper. There are discounts on individual tickets for the fast trains if you buy them in advance, but generally they will be available on the day of travel with a few exceptions like the Easter period or trains to/form Venice for Carnevale.
http://www.venere.com/ – hotels/B&Bs – prices for the same hotel can vary hugely depending on the season and what local events are going on.
http://www.hostelbookers.com/ – hostels.
http://www.monasterystays.com/ – monasteries & convents that offer accommodations
http://www.whatsonwhen.com/sisp/index.ht… – festivals, exhibitions and events
http://www.backpackeurope.com/ – information & advice