Hiring a professional to do something you could do yourself can be a good idea or a bad one. It comes down to the value you receive.
And so it is with travel agents, a species of advisers many consumers might assume went extinct. Today, consumers have the ability to book online for airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, cruises and all-inclusive vacation packages. But travel agents still exist, having evolved from travel bookers to travel consultants.
For some people, using a travel agent can be a great idea, said Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers' Checkbook, which rates local service providers, including travel agents.
"If you're going to an unfamiliar place or have a complicated trip with various people involved, in those situations it might make a lot of sense for you," he said.
However, do-it-yourselfers who are familiar with making travel arrangements online, have the time to spend researching travel offers and are traveling to known destinations domestically would probably prefer to book trips themselves, he said.
Here are considerations in using a travel agent.
Cost: Some agents will charge a per-hour fee for their time in planning a trip. Agents can earn commissions on some bookings, but it's not nearly as lucrative as it used to be because airlines don't pay commissions.
In general, however, using a travel agent will often cost about the same as booking it yourself, experts say. Chris Russo, president of the American Society of Travel Agents, argues that agents offer value for your money because they save time.
Sometimes, a travel agent will have a relationship with a vendor. They might not be able to get a better price but might be able to get you some extras, such as an onboard credit or free shore excursion during a cruise or a free hotel room upgrade.
A complicated itinerary that takes an agent many hours to develop will probably incur a fee, Russo said. Pricing is something to ask about upfront. Agencies might charge $25 to $30 to book a domestic flight, $50 to $80 to book a vacation to a single destination and about $100 per hour for research and planning advice, according to Consumers' Checkbook.
Even with their expertise, travel agents might not get you the same rock-bottom prices ultrafrugal consumers might get if they're willing to spend the time and assume the risk of blindly bidding on airfares, hotels and car rentals at such online sites as Priceline.com, Krughoff said.
Advice: How valuable would it be if an expert could tell you to stay at hotel A but avoid hotel B, or choose the great snorkeling excursion but skip the lame biking tour? Counseling you on what to do and which services to choose, based on personal experience or that of colleagues and customers, is where a travel agent can shine.
"Even if a travel agent didn't save you money, it might still be worth it," Krughoff said. "It might cause you to get a much better experience."
A good agent should also be able to advise you on exchange rates, travel insurance, crowds, weather, competency of tours, areas of a town to avoid, travel visas, vaccinations, passports, tipping etiquette, packing lists and trip cancellation penalties and restrictions. A travel agent can sort out which airlines charge for checked bags or roomier exit-row seating.
Choosing an agent: You can find one through word-of-mouth, via friends, neighbors and relatives. There are also ratings of travel agents from Consumers' Checkbook and Angie's List, which require subscriptions, and Yelp.com, which is free.
