A Citizen Of The World...

[Howard]

Oh, so totally not rich, Slim Jim! This is why we're making plans, but have no idea when we can actually go.

Setting a date is the first part of planning. It's hard to find deals if you don't have a date in mind. Setting a date also allows you to figure out how much you have to save in order for the trip to be possible and then break it down into a monthly savings plan. My trip to Spain/Portugal was through a travel agent and I was able to break the airfare/hotel/train cost into three payments. MUCH easier to handle financially.

[Ed Hocken]

Oddly enough, when I set up the Austrialia trip. I also did the same thing. I broke it up into two payments. Granted, I had half the money at that point.

Maybe, I should call the same place I dealt with before.

[Howard]

If you have experience with this already then shame on you. Get cracking on that next fine vacation!

[Ed Hocken]

You sonuvabitch, you're right. Not to mention, it was a great job on the part of the travel agency.

Must bang out another e-mail, post haste!

[V]

I'm debating on where to go this coming spring. I'm too old for the non-stop party bit, and I'm too young for the tour group crowd. I was thinking either the Netherlands/Belgium or France...

[IggytheBorg]

I don't consider myself a really seasoned traveler; among those of you that are, what's the general consensus on travel agents? Yay or nay? What should they be used for, and what shouldn't they? Any things to avoid, or tips on dealing w/ them?

[Howard]

All depends on the agent really. In general though? I like them. Spend a little time researching the agent you choose and you can't go wrong. Why? It's their business to know the good deals. While certainly it's gotten easier to find deals without agents these days, agents add a personal touch and have deeper contacts than anything you can find on the internet. Like a good mechanic, when you find a good agent? Keep them. Pimp them out. They'll pass on better deals to you.

[Lisa]

Yeah, I know, we have to pick a date, but we're both so freaking broke right now that it's just talk. We'll figure it out!

[gravedigger]

I waffle on the idea of using a travel agent. My wife has really wanted to go to the National Finals Rodeo for a few years. It's in Vegas, which is easy enough to get to, but I second guess myself too much. One day I figure I can search the interwebs enough myself to find the cheapest deals individually and a travel agent is just going to rip me off with service fees and stuff. The next day I figure I'll probably miss the best deals and the travel agent knows some secret tricks to get super-awesome packages.

[Howard]

They do.

[Lisa]

If you're just doing something straight, point to point, doing it online is so much cheaper!

[IggytheBorg]

Yeah, There are so many hotel rooms in Vegas, & the competition for them so fierce at the best of times (I can't imagine it's done anything but get worse in this recession), you should be able to rock a deal that won't keep you up nights wondering if you've gotten the ABSOLUTE best deal in the city by yourself.