just curious if there are any travel agents specializing in helping independent travelers book air tickets, train, accommodations to Europe based on customized itinerary?
Or do most travelers simply book each route and each day by themselves?
Sorry this is out first trip and I really liked Rick's back door series.
I know Rick recommends using travel agents, but in my 15+ trips to Europe I never used one. I book most everything myself through the internet. For me planning it out and looking through the various web sites is half the fun:) But if you don't have the time or don't think it will be fun, by all means use their services.
Travel agents seem to be reasonably adept at getting roundtrip airline tickets at convenient times, booking you into American style hotel chains and giving you a travel itenerary complete with plane, trane and opera tickets.
Some travelers like it that way, no hassle.
Others, like me, prefer to get off the beaten path, travel at my own schedule and find economic lodging without reservations. My air preferences are flexible when I can get significant savings. I spend hours looking at flight options online before deciding airports, days and times. I highlight at least 5 or 6 potential hotels, pensions, B&Bs for each destinantion so I have back-ups in case the first one (two or three) I call isn't available.
The only one who knows your tastes and preferences is you. A really good travel agent would spend hours learning yours (and then dump me because my style of travel doesn't generate enough income to be worth their time).
Brad bit on the key point. Travel Agents make no money on Airline tickets (except fees you pay them), if they make money at booking hotels, it is at your expense, and most places I stay may not even have a good reservation system. All of the incentives to help you are gone. I think Rick's references to Travel agents is valid if you travel frequently and have a mix (like he) of business and personal travel. For the trip-every-other-year people like me it is easier, cheaper, and more fun to do it yourself.
I personally don't use a travel agent, they all overcharge you for something you can do yourself.
You can get great deal on the internet. It's all free. I do all my bookings air/hotel , even car rental on line.
Depending on how many days your trip will be, I wouldn't book a hotel room or train ticket ahead of time, unless I know exactly when I will be there.
I used a travel agent one time, this was before the internet. Now I always do everything myself. I think it is worth it to do it yourself. Planning is half the fun. I suggest getting Rick's Best of Europe book. He also has a dvd about planning and tips maybe get that one to. Enjoy your trip. -Kim
Guess most travelers don't use agents. Do you even use agent to buy plane ticket? I was able to use an agent to purchase a ticket to Africa at a better rate than anywhere I can find on the Internet (searched at least two dozens of sites) thus I thought it might be a good idea to use an agent to at least buy plane ticket as well.
Regarding airfare, I would do some looking yourself, then ask an agent to look. If they come back cheaper, go with them.
I haven't used a TA in years, the last time I even bothered to venture into a TA's office I had already booked all my airline and hotel online, but was not sure about the Eurostar.
The TA quoted me an outrageous price for it, like 300 dollars each,, forget it I though.
I went home , went on the Eurostar website and played with my dates abit and was able to obtain tickets for 45 pounds each roundtrip. ( that was about 90 dollars) , no contest there.
I also think for a city like Paris TAs will book you into the large American chain hotels that pay them a commission, rather then cute hotels owned mom and pop, so I never use them for Paris. With the internet there is no reason to bother with TAs, unless , as pointed out, you are going somewhere fairly exotic like Africa..
I book my own air and have for years, and the airline I use is never listed on the discount cheap air websites ,, I check them for best deals and then usaully book my airline anyways.
We used the Travel Centre in London. I could try and get the information for you.
We were in London without any plans (bad idea, though an adventure) and had him book a trip to Calella, Spain for a week. It was expensive in US dollars, but we didn't make arrangements before leaving.
Rick used to name Elizabeth Holmes (Seattle area) as his travel agent. I used the services of her office a couple of times for plane tix and got excellent service. If she is still in business, you can probably find her on Google. The advantage of using a TA is that it saves lots of times, and if they are good they might save you some money.
thanks for the great info.
I placed a call today to Elizabeth Holmes http://www.elizabethholmes.com/ and they were helpful. However their price isn't any better than my web search.
We are leaving late Apr and will stay for one month. Our schedule can be flexible by one week for better rate. I am thinking to fly round trip to Paris or Amsterdam or open-jaw (to Paris and back from Amsterdam).
Here is the best fare I can find:
round trip (from San Francisco) to Amsterdam: 4/30-5/30 BMI for $781 (tax included)
round trip (from San Francisco) to Paris: 4/30 to 5/30 for $922
open jaw - more than $1000
Most travel agent quoted me more than $1000 round trip to Amsterdam including Holmes.
I guess it's way better to book online for tickets to Europe. I was able to book cheaper rate from an agent to Africa so i guess this is all different from country/continent to continent.
If you can get that BMI flight, jump on it. You won't find anything better for a trip beginning in less than 90 days. See some recent suggestions about getting some good prices on the Thalys, since you obviously want to visit Paris.
We use our AAA Travel Agent. They don't charge fees to members and we do all our own planning- they just book what we ask for. They do make some suggesstions, when we ask for them.
