Do I NEED a Travel Agent?

[Andi]

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.]

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!

[Jen_S]

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]

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!

[TammyWright]

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]

I would go for it and use Tammy!

 

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

[Hartyt509]

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]

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.