Travel Agents.....What's the point?
Discussion
Ok, so the likes of Trail Finder etc have a place in the market, but surely 95% of the people out there do their research and booking of holidays and flights online these days. So, why have an expensive high street presence, who uses them?
I'm about to book a long haul flight for next March, and I'm hanging on till after Xmas to see if any bargains come up. Looking on the likes of Kayak, Skyscanner, Expedia etc but is it worth dragging myself away from the laptop and down to the local travel agents. Can they compete on price these days?
I'm about to book a long haul flight for next March, and I'm hanging on till after Xmas to see if any bargains come up. Looking on the likes of Kayak, Skyscanner, Expedia etc but is it worth dragging myself away from the laptop and down to the local travel agents. Can they compete on price these days?
I think the internet is great, I dont mind using it, but there are still people who would rather visit Travel Agents, and talk over the fine details. My parents are one. Quite computer Savvy (they can use Facebook now - took dad 4 months) but the thought of spending a lot of money on there scares the living daylights out of them
You'll often get a lower price booking with a travel agent than if you book directly with the tour operator. I work for a tour operator and know that we pay some travel agents up to 15% commission. They'll happily give up to half of that away to pax as a discount to take the business. I'd imagine footfall from their locations makes it worth their while as well as the profits made from forex.
I thought that way too and so I did my own "package" of flight, car, accommodation, insurance, etc for the last 5-10 years.
Last year, though, planning a trip to San Francisco, LA, and Las Vegas I noticed travel agents advertising similar 3-centre holidays at great prices and when I contacted the agents I could get my holiday for significantly less, using the same flights but staying in their suggested hotels (1 of which was the one I planned on staying anyway, 1 was better - for rating, price and location - and the 3rd was about the same).
In short, I'll still check things out myself but I'll also get a TA price too - they do seem to still be able to offer some good value.
Last year, though, planning a trip to San Francisco, LA, and Las Vegas I noticed travel agents advertising similar 3-centre holidays at great prices and when I contacted the agents I could get my holiday for significantly less, using the same flights but staying in their suggested hotels (1 of which was the one I planned on staying anyway, 1 was better - for rating, price and location - and the 3rd was about the same).
In short, I'll still check things out myself but I'll also get a TA price too - they do seem to still be able to offer some good value.
Edited by GoneAnon on Sunday 16th December 11:18
I used the same agent for our breaks in Dubai last year and Oman this. I tried all the options of going direct etc and could not beat their prices. The nearest I came was via BA by combining hotel at the time of booking flight but there was still £100pp difference. The other advantage is that the agent I used had detailed knowledge of the resorts and on each occasion their descriptions were accurate and advice really helpful.
In contrast when I took the family to New York about 7 years ago I called one of the Manhattan hotels off the cheapest site to check on the room configuration for my kids. The reservations clerk asked what I had been quoted online and beat it easily.
In contrast when I took the family to New York about 7 years ago I called one of the Manhattan hotels off the cheapest site to check on the room configuration for my kids. The reservations clerk asked what I had been quoted online and beat it easily.
For packages, we've yet to find better than a Travel Agent. They have given us some great holidays to places we would never have considered.
The first was a last minute to Corsica (at the time the Rally cars were there too!), another was to Sri Lanka, and then a couple of years ago an activity holiday in Greece.
The problem we find with online is that if you don't care where you go, it can be difficult as they want you to narrow it down on the searches.
The first was a last minute to Corsica (at the time the Rally cars were there too!), another was to Sri Lanka, and then a couple of years ago an activity holiday in Greece.
The problem we find with online is that if you don't care where you go, it can be difficult as they want you to narrow it down on the searches.
I'm normally a book it myself kind of person, but have used Trailfinders a couple of times and found them pretty good. Prices are broadly similar to that you can find yourself, but the added advantages are the security of booking as a 'package' and only having to pay a deposit at the time of booking.
Oh and specifically for honeymoons you'll get better upgrades and perks when booking, and when there as it can be noted on the system!
Oh and specifically for honeymoons you'll get better upgrades and perks when booking, and when there as it can be noted on the system!
GoneAnon said:
I thought that way too and so I did my own "package" of flight, car, accommodation, insurance, etc for the last 5-10 years.
Last year, though, planning a trip to San Francisco, LA, and Los Angeles I noticed travel agents advertising similar 3-centre holidays at great prices and when I contacted the agents I could get my holiday for significantly less, using the same flights but staying in their suggested hotels (1 of which was the one I planned on staying anyway, 1 was better - for rating, price and location - and the 3rd was about the same).
In short, I'll still check things out myself but I'll also get a TA price too - they do seem to still be able to offer some good value.
same for me with a trip to the west coast of canada - a package deal from a (specialist) travel agent came in well under (like less than 2/3rds) what it would have cost to arrange myself. And they were flexible on hotels etc, so we got to stay where we wanted anyway. Last year, though, planning a trip to San Francisco, LA, and Los Angeles I noticed travel agents advertising similar 3-centre holidays at great prices and when I contacted the agents I could get my holiday for significantly less, using the same flights but staying in their suggested hotels (1 of which was the one I planned on staying anyway, 1 was better - for rating, price and location - and the 3rd was about the same).
In short, I'll still check things out myself but I'll also get a TA price too - they do seem to still be able to offer some good value.
You do need to be a bit careful with travel insurance - basic (not necessarily cheap) policies assume you're on a package holiday and that the tour operator will be taking care of you from check-in in to arrival back in the UK.
You need to make sure the policy covers independant arrangements and also that that "independant" doesn't get confused with "separate" arrangements for a joint annual policy. The Ash Cloud a couple of years ago brought a lot of this into focus - if your return flight is cancelled and you're not on a package then you're a bit stuffed.
You need to make sure the policy covers independant arrangements and also that that "independant" doesn't get confused with "separate" arrangements for a joint annual policy. The Ash Cloud a couple of years ago brought a lot of this into focus - if your return flight is cancelled and you're not on a package then you're a bit stuffed.
RealSquirrels said:
same for me with a trip to the west coast of canada - a package deal from a (specialist) travel agent came in well under (like less than 2/3rds) what it would have cost to arrange myself. And they were flexible on hotels etc, so we got to stay where we wanted anyway.
Yeah, I had a similar experience booking a trip around Japan with a very good specialist travel agent. Having said that, it was largely their experience and local knowledge that we wanted, as for us to book the same thing ourselves would have been tedious at best, and impossible at worst.They had us staying at a traditional guest house for part of the trip, which is not something we'd have even thought of. And they were flexible enough to allow for us to stay with friends for part of the holiday.
Not sure I'd bother with a high-street travel agent, though.
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