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What's the best way to plan a trip to Hawaii? Via Travel agent or on your own? |
Travel Info I just got back from a trip to NYC and I had to do A LOT of research and planning for that trip. I'm wondering if planning a trip to Hawaii in the future is going to be twice as hard to research. And if it would be beneficial to just go to a travel agent. Any feedback would be great! Travel Tips Quote from "Just a Friend" If you use a travel agent, all you will do it pay them for exactly what you can better. In fact, they will probably use the same people to book the trip that you will. Just go on-line to Pleasant Holidays and you will get a better deal than any travel agent can give you. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~... First I would like to say thank you for asking even the question of if a Travel Agent is beneficial. Sounds to me that you do know a good agent really can be a great help and make your travel experience go smoother and oh so much more wonderful! I suppose I am bias, but I also know what I do in day in and day out and I know my services are very much of use and have many clients who can/will contest to that! I would like to comment briefly on this. Many agents will charge a nominal service fee of $10 - 20 dollars per person. For a Hawaii trip say you are spending anywhere from $2,000 - $12,000 (example). How can people really be willing to pay so much for traveling, but yet feel the need to book on there own just to save $20 - 40 dollars? If you go through a company direct you pay the same price it's only the company doesn't need to pay an agency, thus making more money. I can think of 12 companies just off the top of my head for Hawaii alone. A good agent also knows who tends to price out better as different vendors have better contracts for certain venues over others sometimes. Does a person really want to sit and call or surf there website. I don't know about some people but my time is WAY more valuable than that over $40 dollars. If you call an agent and you feel they aren't helping you then I would say try another. It is like any job industry there are good and bad agents. Once you find a good one who is knowledgeable and above all HONEST stick with them. Some agents will agree with anything you say, just to make a sale. You don't want this. The other thing with booking online is expedia, orbitz, priceline, etc. They will sell you any hotel, airline, car company, etc. Because really think about it, if you have a complaint what are you going to do call an 800 # and wait for the next available rep and never get the same person twice? You don't want that! Agents typically will do all they can to make there clients happy because we want repeat business, online sites they don't care if it's repeat or not. At least with an agent if your agent is out of the office I can't speak for all agencies, but our agents create a personal file for each of our client鈥檚 reservations. Please I just ask of you (not saying you would do this), to not call an agent have them spend all this time trying to come up with what they feel is what will be best for you only to contact the vendor directly in hopes of avoiding a nominal service fee. If you find a good agent, they will work hard for you in finding you the best rates. See with say hotel websites you can't rely on those as some (not all) rate themselves say a 5 star and really it's only a 3 star. I have seen this from many trips I have taken. Hey I just took 2 last month so we do try and get out there and see places to help our clients. Now granted we can't go everywhere so as agents we pull information from one another if we are faced with something we are unable to answer, either way we find the answer for you! You can't imagine how many problems I have heard over the years with online bookings. Plus they undercut agents for so long to where they are many consumers that don't even check with agents any longer and are actually paying higher prices! I had a girl tell me she booked her Cancun trip online last Jan. to stay at the Marriott and she got all the way TO Cancun and this property was not even open due to the renovations from the hurricane damage still underway. Others who have gone to the airport and have no ticket. From online sites defaulting back to a certain "city" or "date" and suddenly you put in a payment happen to over look it and well the mistake is made. It's no one but the consumers fault and you have to either pay penalties or buy a new ticket to resolve this issue. At least with an agent IF we make a mistake you have some recourse, online you have none. I have had people say they have been fighting for refunds after canceling a year later! Sometimes you never get your money back. An agent will fully make sure you understand cancel penalties because THEY all have them. It's just a matter if a consumer reads the fine print. I鈥檓 so sorry for the novel, but to sum it up I absolutely feel that a good agent is so very valuable and I would strongly advise to contact one! Again, if you call one and either you don鈥檛 click with them personality wise or they just aren鈥檛 helping you in the way you had hoped, try another! There are good ones out there! You just have to find them! Happy Travels to you and hey just got back from Hawaii a month ago, beautiful. I loved the Big Island! Source(s): Travel Specialist - 8 Years Carlson Wagonlit Travel Honeymoon/Destination Wedding Specialist Other Travel Tips a travel agent can always get a better deal on any kind of trip . I would definately say travel agent vs.yourself. good luck and happy trails to you . a travel agent is always helpful in helping you get tickets. if you want to go on a tour bus, i suggest you do some reaserch and then ask the travel agent if they can find a good and cheap tour for you Are you confident enough to stroll the streets of Hawaii on your own? Do you know which places you wish to visit? Where do you plan to stay? What type of accommodations do you want? So many things to prepare. It's really up to you. A travel agent is nice because they'll definitely do all the hard work for you. They can better plan your trip. You can actually do it both ways, allow them to plan your trip but give you enough free time to explore Hawaii on your own. As I said earlier, if you want it your way, then do so. Hire a travel agency if you don't know what to do there. Saves you a lot of trouble planning too. If you use a travel agent, all you will do it pay them for exactly what you can better. In fact, they will probably use the same people to book the trip that you will. Just go on-line to Pleasant Holidays and you will get a better deal than any travel agent can give you. http://www.pleasantholidays.com/pleasant... Hawaii is an easy trip to plan for anyone. The islands are all different so you only need to decide on what you want to do and go from there. Maui is probably the best bet for any first time traveler, and the Ka'anapali area is the best bet on that island. You can even book most of your activities with them at a discount. Just get a travel book by Frommer's and go from there. I've been to both quite a few time and can tell you that NYC is way harder to plan out. There just isn't that much to plan for Hawaii as there are not that many "hidden jems" to find. If you were asking about somewhere in a different country, or remote region, I might tell you to use an agent. However that isn't the case, Hawaii is just too easy to do yourself. Sometimes I use them, most of the time I don't. Travel agents don't have special discounts anymore or a special power to make sure you won't have any problems. Anyone who has used travel agents enough have a few horror stories about how they screwed up the trip...always through no fault of their own of course. Just because you use a travel agent, doesn't mean you will have a better trip. It's Hawaii for crying out loud, it's not like you wanting to go to Patagonia. Let's be honest, didn't you like the fact that you set up the NYC trip? Wasn't it great to know you took care of the details? Hawaii will be a piece of cake... Over two dozen trips to the Islands and counting. |
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