Often, we are asked if we use travel agents/agencies for any of our travel. The answer for us is simple…if it’s a cruise, we use Vacations-to-Go or Costco Travel. On a rare occasion, we may book a cruise directly through the cruise line when there is a perk-related benefit. We check multiple sources for pricing before committing.
We use Expedia or Hotels.com for hotels, which can be found on our site. We use our Expedia link or Costco Travel for car rentals, whichever offers a better price. For rental cars, we usually get the best pricing using Expedia. (We suggest you carefully review the base prices for any travel, plus any port charges, taxes, tips, and other fees).
(Please use the links on our site for Expedia, Hotels.com, and VRBO for vacation rentals. These are all located on the right side of our homepage on your laptop or computer and at the bottom of the page on your phone. We receive a tiny commission to offset some of the expenses of managing our site, and we appreciate your patronage. You do not pay more to use our links. They are the exact pricing you’d receive on your own. Thank you to our many readers who’ve been using our links for years).
Thus, whether or not to use an agent/agency is entirely up to you. However, at Costco, we get “shop cards” when booking cruises through them and rewards for using Costco’s Citibank Card. Plus, we receive monetary rewards from shopping at Costco since we have an Executive account (check with Costo for details here). A credit card through Citibank is not required, but the Costco membership is required to book travel through Costo Travel.
However, there are still over 500,000 travel agencies worldwide, which we expect will eventually be replaced only by online services/agents. In the interim, many seniors or others who are not adept at booking travel online use travel agencies, and if you fall into that category, we suggest you find a good agent you can use by phone, email, or text.
Booking travel through an agent versus doing it yourself comes with its own set of pros and cons. The best approach often depends on your priorities, experience, and the type of trip you’re planning.
Using a Travel Agent
Pros:
- Expertise and Connections: Agents often have insider knowledge and industry connections that can unlock perks like upgrades, exclusive deals, or access to fully booked destinations.
- Time-Saving: Planning a trip, especially a complex one, can be time-consuming. A travel agent takes on the research and logistics for you.
- Tailored Advice: Good agents take the time to understand your preferences, budget, and travel style, curating options you might not think of on your own.
- Support During Emergencies: Agents can quickly troubleshoot and adjust your
- plans if something goes wrong, such as missed flights, cancellations, or natural disasters.
- Special Packages: They may offer bundled deals for flights, hotels, and tours that can save money or simplify planning.
Cons:
- Less Control: You’re relying on someone else to make decisions that might not perfectly align with your preferences.
- Service Fees: Some agents charge fees for their services, which can add to your overall cost.
- Availability: Not all agents are equally knowledgeable or responsive, so finding a good one might take effort.
Booking Travel Yourself
Pros:
- Complete Control: You decide everything, from the itinerary to the exact seat on the plane.
- Cost Transparency: You can directly compare prices and choose the most budget-friendly options.
- Flexibility: When you’re in charge, making changes or experimenting with different routes is easier.
- Tools and Reviews: Platforms like Google Flights, Skyscanner, and Airbnb offer user reviews and tools to fine-tune your planning.
- Learning Experience: Researching and booking independently helps you learn about your destination and makes you a more resourceful traveler.
Cons:
- Time-Consuming: Searching for the best deals and figuring out logistics can take hours, even days.
- Risk of Overlooking Details: You might overlook essential factors such as visa requirements, transit times, or cancellation policies.
- No Backup: If something goes wrong, you’re on your own to navigate the fixes.
- Overwhelm: The sheer volume of options can make decision-making stressful.
When to Use a Travel Agent
- Planning a honeymoon, luxury getaway, or a once-in-a-lifetime trip.
- Traveling to a remote or less-known destination.
- Booking group travel or multi-stop itineraries.
- If you value personalized service and peace of mind.
When to Book Yourself
- Taking simple trips (e.g., one flight and one hotel).
- Traveling on a tight budget and you’re comfortable researching.
- If you enjoy the process of planning and learning.
- For last-minute or highly flexible travel.
We hope you find this information useful as more and more services roll into the digital/AI age and fewer and fewer face-to-face interactions for various services are implemented.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, January 10, 2015:
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