Travel Agent Experiences

[rdhopkins2]

Do you use a travel agent? If so, who? What has your experience been like? What are the advantages of using a travel agent? What are the disadvantages? What makes a good travel agent?

Discuss your experiences and opinions of travel agents in this thread.

 

[Leper]

If you know where you're going, and the intinerary is reasonably straighforward, I wouldn't bother and book on line.

I recently booked a simple return international ticket with Flight Centre for my daughter (the rest of the family I'd booked direct with QF using FF points). The only reason I used FC was the QF website does not allow a child ticket to be booked without an accompanying adult (you can't book a child under 12 travelling alone).

I found the whole experience quite a hassle. FC quoted more than the airline, but with their price match deal agreed to match it. Fine, but then I had to sit there for an hour whilst they farted around, then had to pay immediately (which was easier said than done for reasons I won't go into), and 2 months later I still don't have the ticket. When the manager got involved and asked her girl "why is IT travelling alone?" I nearly walked out.... but having spent 30-40 minutes in there already I figured I'd gone too far to turn back.

I don't see any reason to use agents any more. If you're after impartial advice on destinations (which you won't necessarily get from an agent either given their vested interests), there's plenty of information out there on the net (just stick a thread up on bigfooty ).

 

[Childish Gambino]

If you know where you're going, and the intinerary is reasonably straighforward, I wouldn't bother and book on line.

I recently booked a simple return international ticket with Flight Centre for my daughter (the rest of the family I'd booked direct with QF using FF points). The only reason I used FC was the QF website does not allow a child ticket to be booked without an accompanying adult (you can't book a child under 12 travelling alone).

I found the whole experience quite a hassle. FC quoted more than the airline, but with their price match deal agreed to match it. Fine, but then I had to sit there for an hour whilst they farted around, then had to pay immediately (which was easier said than done for reasons I won't go into), and 2 months later I still don't have the ticket. When the manager got involved and asked her girl "why is IT travelling alone?" I nearly walked out.... but having spent 30-40 minutes in there already I figured I'd gone too far to turn back.

I don't see any reason to use agents any more. If you're after impartial advice on destinations (which you won't necessarily get from an agent either given their vested interests), there's plenty of information out there on the net (just stick a thread up on bigfooty ).

What are some sites that you would recommend to book hotels etc online?

 

[Macca19]

Used the local one up here for our three week trip to New Zealand. No dramas, no hassles, worked out real well.

 

[Leper]

What are some sites that you would recommend to book hotels etc online?

In Australia, the best are probably www.wotif.com (for hotels) and www.stayz.com.au (for holiday rentals). There's also www.lastminute.com.au

Overseas, I usually look up the destination on www.tripadvisor.com and if I can be bothered see if I can get a better deal with the hotel direct. This site is also good for (usualy) impartial reviews (opinions) of properties; although you do have to be wary of glowing reviews amongst dog reviews . they may stand out like dog's balls as an inside job by the owner / manager.

In Asia there's also www.agoda.com and www.asiarooms.com

 

[Hawk Dork]

I used a local travel agent to book a round the world trip a many years back ,she had stayed at a few of the hotels or had feed back on them from other clients,was well done,exit seats all the way too

Booked some accommodation and travel in Egypt from their Government owned MISR travel while in Cairo,turned out excellent about 24% of the price of doing it our selves and had to include a $27 dollar bribe to get a rail ticket.

Do most off my stuff online now.
Just went round the world again for a year a few years back and booked accommodation a few days ahead and caught trains or planes,it was good and cheap .

When in India(Mumbai) I booked accommodation from Australia online,it was expensive and crap.Booked a few nights on the way back by phone in India, it was a third of the price better location and nicer place.

So a bit of both

 

[Eagle87]

Follow leper's advice. It must be good as I agree with him on all points

 

[year of the roo]

Flight Centre will price match online fares, so do your research online, find a great price and then tell FC to beat it. Once that is done, so should your association with the travel agents.

Travel agents only really serve a purpose of dealing with travel nuffies and lazy people.

 

[Childish Gambino]

In Australia, the best are probably www.wotif.com (for hotels) and www.stayz.com.au (for holiday rentals). There's also www.lastminute.com.au

Overseas, I usually look up the destination on www.tripadvisor.com and if I can be bothered see if I can get a better deal with the hotel direct. This site is also good for (usualy) impartial reviews (opinions) of properties; although you do have to be wary of glowing reviews amongst dog reviews . they may stand out like dog's balls as an inside job by the owner / manager.

In Asia there's also www.agoda.com and www.asiarooms.com

Thanks for that.

I'm going to Europe in May and I have been using Tripadvisor a lot.

 

[Leper]

Follow leper's advice. It must be good as I agree with him on all points

Now there's some sound advice!

I should have just cut through the bullshit and told the punters to get on Thai Airways website and let the fingers do the walking. Followed by some navigational tips on how to find Soi Saam-sip-saam!

Chock dee na khrap.

 

[Tormented Tiger]

Just returned from a month in SEA where everything was booked online. No dramas and the hotels the cooked booked were top class without paying an arm or a leg or commission.

So follow Lepers advice.

 

[jacqui9]

Flight Centre will price match online fares, so do your research online, find a great price and then tell FC to beat it. Once that is done, so should your association with the travel agents.

Travel agents only really serve a purpose of dealing with travel nuffies and lazy people.

Pretty much agree with all this.

Booked my flight via Flight Centre because it was a good price. The accommodation was a different issue altogether. Being a single female travelling solo, I wanted safe, clean accommodation. What I got was my travel agent attempting to book me into the hotel voted the Fifth dirtiest in Europe!! I nearly died when she suggested it.

TripAdvisor has been a godsend. I have researched my own accommodation carefully and found some comfortable, clean and reputable bed and breakfasts close to the attractions and universities.

I have planned and booked my trip myself. Will do so again.

 

[Aries]

I recommend flight centre as well... just dont expect them (or any other travel agent for that matter) to perform miracles.

 

[mattyh]

Travel Agents are like any business service...you pay for someone to do the legwork.

If you are so inclined and happy for someone else to do the research and take the time in doing so, you pay a service fee (commision). The trick is like finding a good mechanic, hairdresser etc etc is finding a good travel who you trust and does a good job. If you do then they can be worth their weight in gold.

For simple point to point airfares I always simply book online and also do my research for accommodation on sites already mentioned in thread.

So in essence with a travel agent you pay a service fee which is fair enough for someone else doing the work. The key is finding a good travel agent!

Oh and the other thing, if something goes wrong on your trip I'd much rather have a travel agent invlolved in helping me fix it rather than trying to ring some internet hotel provider!

 

[Nardz]

I used a local travel agent to book a round the world trip a many years back ,she had stayed at a few of the hotels or had feed back on them from other clients,was well done,exit seats all the way too

Booked some accommodation and travel in Egypt from their Government owned MISR travel while in Cairo,turned out excellent about 24% of the price of doing it our selves and had to include a $27 dollar bribe to get a rail ticket.

Do most off my stuff online now.
Just went round the world again for a year a few years back and booked accommodation a few days ahead and caught trains or planes,it was good and cheap .

When in India(Mumbai) I booked accommodation from Australia online,it was expensive and crap.Booked a few nights on the way back by phone in India, it was a third of the price better location and nicer place.

So a bit of both

im in the process of doing a round world flight now - i think with those sorts of things its better to go through agent as the price is usually fixed with the alliance so there isnt really much they can sting u

i'm planning on organising my own accomodation though

 

[Eagle87]

Travel Agents are like any business service...you pay for someone to do the legwork.

If you are so inclined and happy for someone else to do the research and take the time in doing so, you pay a service fee (commision). The trick is like finding a good mechanic, hairdresser etc etc is finding a good travel who you trust and does a good job. If you do then they can be worth their weight in gold.

For simple point to point airfares I always simply book online and also do my research for accommodation on sites already mentioned in thread.

So in essence with a travel agent you pay a service fee which is fair enough for someone else doing the work. The key is finding a good travel agent!

Oh and the other thing, if something goes wrong on your trip I'd much rather have a travel agent invlolved in helping me fix it rather than trying to ring some internet hotel provider!

Really? I respectfully suggest that you are over-rating travel agents, underrating the service at, say, expedia.com AND alos overstating what can go wrong...

I mean you have a booking, you've printed off the voucher and you've confirmed the booking before arrival ... how many things can go wrong? And this is coming from someone who uses hotel rooms almost every week...

 

[Tormented Tiger]

2007 booked a hotel in Hoi An for 4 nights. When we got there it was a dog box with faulty wiring. Stayed the night, check out was at 12 which gave us time to hire a bike and find somewhere which better suited the standard we are use to. It ain't hard and the customer is always right.

 

[Scotland]

Surprised there are that many travel agents around these days to be honest.

Is there really that much that a travel agent can do/know that I can't from my PC?

 

[Hawk Dork]

If they liked you and were connected ,could get you exit row seats

 

[Tormented Tiger]

If they liked you and were connected ,could get you exit row seats

When your booking you just pay a little bit extra when buying your seats to get exit row seats with extra leg room. I know how to do them locks in my sleep now, just have to open my eyes to have a look out the window to see if theres any danger.

 

[Altum Volantes]

I mean you have a booking, you've printed off the voucher and you've confirmed the booking before arrival ... how many things can go wrong? And this is coming from someone who uses hotel rooms almost every week...

That's rather naive for an experienced traveller.

 

[Eagle87]

That's rather naive for an experienced traveller.

Is it? Why?

I have honestly never had anything other than minor glitches if I follow the steps I spelled out. Never.

Certainly nothing that would make me think travels agents are necessary or even useful.

Your experience differs how?

 

[Altum Volantes]

I assume you are talking about checking into your trusted hotel booked via your trusted website, something you do quite regularly?

Keep in mind, the vast majority of the population do not travel regularly and have little to no idea what they are doing.

Some of these people get themselves in all manner of bother trying to book everything for themselves via the internet. It happens A LOT. It's naive to simply assume because you are able to do something without the help of a professional that other people wouldn't need to use the service available.

 

[Leper]

An important point worth mentioning in this thread is that many budget airlines (Air Asia for example) won't sell tickets through agents - or at least not at the same price - you only get super cheap deals by booking yourself with the airline direct.

And as far as budget airlines go they are actaully pretty good. I just booked tickets Jakarta - Bangkok // Phuket - Jakarta with them for the equivalent of about A$100 return each (incl taxes) - not bad for a 3.5 hour flight. And as an added bonus we get to be in Thailand.

I doubt you'd get that deal through an agent - airlines selling tickets at these prices won't have fat in there for a commission - but I'm happy to stand corrected.

 

[Eagle87]

I assume you are talking about checking into your trusted hotel booked via your trusted website, something you do quite regularly?

Keep in mind, the vast majority of the population do not travel regularly and have little to no idea what they are doing.

Some of these people get themselves in all manner of bother trying to book everything for themselves via the internet. It happens A LOT. It's naive to simply assume because you are able to do something without the help of a professional that other people wouldn't need to use the service available.

Yes & No. Sure, I tend to use Trip Advisor and go from there and certainly using expedia or agoda etc may be more trusted than some, but they are pretty widely known and available.

Trusted Hotels is usually based on info from those same sites.... sure, when using the Starwoods chain, the risks are lesser.

I understand your point. If my mum (who is 70) was travelling to the US for the first time she would likely prefer a travel agent. That said, she has less chance (IMO) of finding a travel agent with a clue than she does of stumbling across trip advisor via a google search....

The chance of your clueless travel agent booking you into a shit hotel, or an overbooked one are reasonably high and frankly expedia and agoda probably send more work the way of the average hotel than any aussie travel agent - and a confirmed booking through them (expedia etc) will be treated accordingly...