Travel agent

ljhires

Hey ladies and gents. I'm thinking about using a travel agent to help with the arrangment of all the rooms and travel/plane tickets for everyone. They told me I don't pay them because they get reimbursed through the hotels and such. Would this be a good idea for the ease or will I be better off doing it my way. Would using them help me get some discount on the rooms?

Thanks guys!

kara811

It never hurts to get a quote from a TA, but do research on your own too. And yes, they don't charge, they get commission when they book for you. 

MNVegas

You might get some room upgrades going thru a TA because of their relationship with hotels.  No harm in checking it out to see what they can do for your.

mlroadifer

I'd definatly go through a travel agent.  Let them take care of the mess and count that as one more thing you dont have to woIrry about. 
I go on at least one large family vacation, (me, my fiance, and my daughter) once a year.  I have never booked anything online.  I always go through my travel agent and have always gotten thre best prices through her, and didn't have to worry about anything.

jess96672005

We are using a travel agent for our wedding and it is so much easier. She found us a great deal with fun jet group bookings so if my guests want to stay where we are staying they can and they get a discount. It is also great because I just sent my guests an email with her info and she takes care of everything from there. If you want her info it is Jenny Koeppen at Island Lake Tanning and Travel her # is 847-526-0680 tell her Jessi said to call !She can book from any state. The best part was you and your guests can arrive and return whenever( does not have to be on the sam flight, state, or even day as long as you are staying at the same place you get the group booking.) I went with a travel agent because I know there are deals they can get that we can't even touch, plus Jenny works with the hotels to get upgrades and such! Sorry this is so long hope it helps!

aegrish

LJhires i posted a reply on the other board, but my FI and our family/guests did not use a travel agent and we got great deals through soutwest vacations. 

Mango9

  I say book with a travel agent if it's going make everything easier for you and thats what you want to do.  If you are looking at saving a little money I say dont use a TA.  I only say that because you are having you wedding in Oct right?  Travel wise it's one of the slowest times to fly, which means there are discounts everywhere.  I know that last sep or oct the airline I work for had 10 dollar tickets(per segment)  if you flew out on a tue/wed.  I would check out some of the travel boards over on trip advisor too.  The have lots of good information!

mlroadifer

just a quick note:

my travel agent is waiving the commision she gets for both my wedding and my honeymoon if 5 other couples book through her.  This is going to save me about $800 on us alone.  So if shes not going to charge our guest extra and give us this kind of discount, YAY for travel agents!!!!!!!

ljhires

Thank you ladies! @aegrish- Thanks for replying to both!! @ mlroadifer- you are paying her commission? Not the hotel(s)? If I have to pay for the TA fees and such it's not going to be worth the money since I can do it on my own anyway. Thank you everyone for your knowledge!!!