How do you plan a vacation?

I recently read a rather long "debate" on Facebook about using travel agents to plan a vacation. One side was extremely against travel agents as they feel they only send you to places where they will get a bigger "cut" and the travel agents firing back saying that's not true and that the public was denying them income by not using them as they could plan your trip for you for the same cost if not cheaper.

I recently booked a vacation, so I found this fascinating. :lol3:

I have never used a travel agent, except for my honeymoon to Bermuda almost 25 years ago. I always do the research and book things myself. I am a AAA member, plus I have signed up for rewards with some hotel chains.

Do you normally use a travel agent or book yourself?

I have only ever used Craigslist and researched the area via google search. I have never traveled outside of the states. I would def use a travel agent if I was to go on a trip or go to an all inclusive resort after reading the reviews.

Airbnb is a good place to research areas and stuff to do in addition to the rental.

I have had pretty good luck with tripadvisor. They have search engines you can select how many guests, dates and other stuff you want to include like finding a place that's pet friendly etc.

Rick takes care of everything. Seriously. Once we've decided where we're going and what we want to do, he starts checking hotels, B & Bs, etc. He takes care of everything, start to finish. All the reservations, for restaurants and the whole bit. If we need tickets for anything, he takes care of them. All I do is pack for myself. And drive. I'm the driver. 

He has rewards with a few hotel chains. We also have AAA. He makes the phone calls and we don't go through a travel agent at all. The only time that we even talked to an agent was when I was going to attempt the plane-thing so we could go to Ireland and Scotland. But I backed out.

My sister has been a travel agent for decades. The business has fallen off dramatically over the years since so many can plan on their own easily.

I sometimes will ask her opinion and have used her to book things for me when I'm pressed on time but I usually do it all on my own.  I can't use her anymore because AMEX prohibits her from taking on clients that don't have the specific card she is dealing with.  I don't even have an AMEX so much for that LOL

In country, I do all the planning. I usually have a binder which each town we are stopping in and the top five restaurants in the area. I include print outs of the town map with our hotel marked and/or the restaurants. Along with any touristy stop recommendations in the immediate area off we have time. For the destinations I do the same. I also have print outs of our route with alternatives for side destinations.

I live on my phone at home but when traveling I like having the folder as a backup just in case. Plus while driving it gives the others a chance to see where we are heading and make some decisions. Obviously, sometimes I misjudge time and we stop somewhere unexpected or have to detour but I usually plan in time for that happening by making a day towards the end a short travel day.

Yeah.... I probably have a problem.

If I was going out of country probably travel agent just because I don't know the customs or area very well. Repeat trips probably do myself though.

AbbysMom said:

I recently read a rather long "debate" on Facebook about using travel agents to plan a vacation. One side was extremely against travel agents as they feel they only send you to places where they will get a bigger "cut" and the travel agents firing back saying that's not true and that the public was denying them income by not using them as they could plan your trip for you for the same cost if not cheaper.

I recently booked a vacation, so I found this fascinating.

I have never used a travel agent, except for my honeymoon to Bermuda almost 25 years ago. I always do the research and book things myself. I am a AAA member, plus I have signed up for rewards with some hotel chains.

Do you normally use a travel agent or book yourself?

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FYI Bermuda is like my FAVORITE place of all.  I've been there 5 times.  Thinking about making it the upcoming honeymoon.  I/we have only cruised there so we are thinking about actually staying ON land this time around.  

Kieka said:

In country, I do all the planning. I usually have a binder which each town we are stopping in and the top five restaurants in the area. I include print outs of the town map with our hotel marked and/or the restaurants. Along with any touristy stop recommendations in the immediate area off we have time. For the destinations I do the same. I also have print outs of our route with alternatives for side destinations.

I live on my phone at home but when traveling I like having the folder as a backup just in case. Plus while driving it gives the others a chance to see where we are heading and make some decisions. Obviously, sometimes I misjudge time and we stop somewhere unexpected or have to detour but I usually plan in time for that happening by making a day towards the end a short travel day.

Yeah.... I probably have a problem.

Click to expand...

My soul mate! :lol3: I don't putt it all in a binder, but I always have a list of breakfast places,dinner places, printout of all of our reservation confirmations, attractions with notes on what would be better on which day, etc.

sivyaleah said:

FYI Bermuda is like my FAVORITE place of all.  I've been there 5 times.  Thinking about making it the upcoming honeymoon.  I/we have only cruised there so we are thinking about actually staying ON land this time around.  

Click to expand...

I have zero desire to ever go on a cruise :lol3: , so we stayed there when we went.

AbbysMom said:

My soul mate!

I don't putt it all in a binder, but I always have a list of breakfast places,dinner places, printout of all of our reservation confirmations, attractions with notes on what would be better on which day, etc.

Click to expand...

Yay!!!!! 

I do the binder mostly because my 9 year old niece is frequently along. It makes it so she doesn't mix things up or randomly put something in some little nook somewhere. 

AbbysMom said:

I recently read a rather long "debate" on Facebook about using travel agents to plan a vacation. One side was extremely against travel agents as they feel they only send you to places where they will get a bigger "cut" and the travel agents firing back saying that's not true and that the public was denying them income by not using them as they could plan your trip for you for the same cost if not cheaper.

I recently booked a vacation, so I found this fascinating.

I have never used a travel agent, except for my honeymoon to Bermuda almost 25 years ago. I always do the research and book things myself. I am a AAA member, plus I have signed up for rewards with some hotel chains.

Do you normally use a travel agent or book yourself?

Click to expand...

Never hurts to consult. They often know and have access to deals. There are so many online sites now. Reputable travel agents want you to be happy because they rely on return business as part of their regular income.  Traveling out of the country I think they are priceless.

AbbysMom said:

 

sivyaleah said:

FYI Bermuda is like my FAVORITE place of all.  I've been there 5 times.  Thinking about making it the upcoming honeymoon.  I/we have only cruised there so we are thinking about actually staying ON land this time around.  

Click to expand...

I have zero desire to ever go on a cruise

, so we stayed there when we went.

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I agree with you on that. If it was a big boat with very few people then yes..but 3000 people? um just NO. I don't even like that many people on land never mind a boat!!!

Someday we will go somewhere but it's hard with the cats. It's just easier to find a place that accepts cats and take them with us. I don't know what I would do if I had to leave the country or other long term trip...

foxxycat said:

I agree with you on that. If it was a big boat with very few people then yes..but 3000 people? um just NO. I don't even like that many people on land never mind a boat!!!

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I don't think it helps that I don't know how to swim. :lol3:

AbbysMom said:

I don't think it helps that I don't know how to swim.

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Me neither!

Well not well anyway. I never learned the proper way. I can swim underwater holding my breath but have no clue how to get my head out, breathe, go back in, come up again, breathe, etc.  

sivyaleah said:

Me neither!
Well not well anyway. I never learned the proper way. I can swim underwater holding my breath but have no clue how to get my head out, breathe, go back in, come up again, breathe, etc.  

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I think you are more advanced than me! :lol3: