Do I NEED a Travel Agent?

Andi · 05-26-2008, 08:02 AM

Ok everyone...I need some advice. Do I really need a TA? I see the benefits...guests have a place to go to book stuff and call should anything arise, rates on rooms cheaper.

So I would not need help from a TA on airfare just the hotel rooms. I already have a group rate on the airfare and was planning on just getting in touch with the hotel and getting a group rate that way. However I have read several different things about the resorts not responding to group rate requests so I just can't decide if it is worth it or not.

Any suggestions? would a TA be able to help with hotels only?

thanks!

Sandra E. · 05-26-2008, 08:07 AM

Andi, a TA will be able to help you with hotel rooms only. However, my suggestion would be to take advantage of the services she offers and see if he/she can get you lower rates and will also give you prices on packages. TAs are very valuable and they have access to information you may not have, it's a good idea to cover all of your options and a TA can help you with that. Good luck!

jkcz0702 · 05-26-2008, 08:10 AM

I went through the same thoughts as you. When we first got engaged it was a year out from the wedding no TA seemed to want to help us so we did all research of all islands, narrowed it down to Mexico then researched all the different resorts until we found one. I thought since we did all this I could book the trips or contact the hotel but our guest list grew and then one of the earlier TA got in touch with us and her rates were cheaper then what I could get even with her fee so we decided one less thing on our plate so we are using the TA. Good Luck!

July09 · 05-26-2008, 08:36 AM

I used to work as a travel agent up until about 6 years ago so I know a lot has changed since then, but some things never do.
As far as I know airlines no longer pay commissions to agents so that's why they sometimes charge a small fee.
They do have access to all you have access to and then some.
Remember if you have difficulty with any of your arrangements relating to travel, rental cars, hotels or the like, an agent has a little more pull than just an individual. Especially if that agent or agency does a lot of business with the specific vendor you're doing business with.
The vendor will feel more inclined to make someone happy who books multiple times over the years than just one person who only books maybe once in their lifetime.
So research agencies who are specialists in where you want to go. Some agents and agencies are very specific such as a cruise only agency.

Also, if problems do arise, what would have been your headache becomes her headache.
Seems worth it to me.

Cheers!

Tammy Host · 05-26-2008, 10:04 AM

i don't know why yu wouldn't to help negotiate your group block. i know 99% of the time i can negotiate a lower group block that a bride on her own especially since i book multiple times at the resort.

also, the resort pays us a commission so it isn't like you or your guests are paying the travel agent.

Yari · 05-26-2008, 10:24 AM

I would go for it and use Tammy!

I regret not using one, it would have saved me lots of hassle.

TA Maureen · 05-26-2008, 12:54 PM

I think it's always best to use a travel agent, especially when it is something as important as your wedding. I know there are a ton of travel websites you can book through and if you just needed some airline tickets or a weekend trip to Vegas that might be fine, but when you are trying to coordinate travel for multiple people you should really use an agent. As mentioned above, agents may have better connections or more negotiating power with resorts. This is true but if that doesn't sound convincing think about this, it's 11:00 at night you just settled into bed but one of your guests calls to wake you because they need to cancel last minute. Do you fully understand all of the airline and hotel's cancellation policies? Do you even want to deal with this? Do you realize if you go under a certain number of guests you could be responsible for paying because you signed the group contract and now don't have enough guests to qualify as a group. Who do you call for help?? Or just consider the simple fact that people are notorious for paying bills late do you want to have to hunt cousin Sally down to get her to pay off her trip? Wouldn't you want someone else to handle that?

I'm sure you can find an agent that specializes in destination weddings and your particular destination (such as the ones on this forum) and they can handle all of this for you and probably help you out in other ways you haven't thought of yet. I'm sure an agent can take over the group contract with the airline's that you have if they don't have better package rates. Then they can take care of all your travel needs not just the hotel plus they can offer you insurance that covers all your travel.

Hartyt509 · 05-26-2008, 12:57 PM

I've used a TA to book my hotel and flight just really because he got it cheaper for me, but to be honest I sorted the wedding myself because mine was a bit of a joke lol

All the TA's on here are really helpful it might be worth looking at

Karen · 05-26-2008, 03:15 PM

TA's are invaluable especially for something as important as a wedding. It's not like it costs any more to use one and why wouldn't you want to delegate some of the travel arranging to a professional. Before I met Jay, I never used one now I wouldn't think of booking a major trip without our TA. Ours help us out big time last year when we had to change travel plans and had no ravel insurance.