Most good travel agents use word-of-mouth advertising. So, ask your friends
who travel to recommend an agent. Then call and explain what you want. Most
travel agents are eager to work with new clients, so don't work with an agent
who is abrupt or who you get a bad feeling about. You need to trust your agent.
Ask questions. Include information about your budget, your travel experience,
and your flexibility. If you are very restricted with your travel plans, your
bottom line will increase. Travel agents know all of the ins and outs, so take
advantage of their expertise.
Then do a comparison. See if you can get a better deal online. Ask yourself
if this is a time-intensive trip. Are you likely to encounter problems? If you
would feel comfortable going it alone, and if you can get a better price
elsewhere, go for it. There are some times when travel agents can't compete with
the last minute deals airlines run.
What Sorts of Clients Do Travel Agents Hate?
Travel agents hate clients that try to haggle by saying, "I found a better
price on the Internet." You may very well have found a better price on the
Internet. But chances are that you are comparing apples and oranges. If you are
booking a flight and you tell your travel agent you only want to fly non-stop,
then that's the price your travel agent gave you. If you check online for the
best price, chances are the best price is not on a non-stop flight.
Travel agents hate people who waste their time asking questions and seeking
advice with no intention of ever traveling. By all means, use all of the
resources you can to get the best prices you can get. Just remember that these
people are busy with clients who travel. They aren't there to do free research,
so don't waste their time.