| Not that long ago, anyone who had to travel | | | | that you trust yours to choose the travel |
| anywhere called their travel agent and they | | | | products that are right for you. |
| arranged the trip. At that time, travel agencies | | | | Using travel agencies is a smart idea, if: |
| received commissions from airlines, hotels, and | | | | * You're going on a cruise for the first time. Most |
| rental cars companies. So, in most cases, | | | | cruise-only agencies know all the cruise lines and |
| consumers didn't pay any extra for the service. | | | | cruise ships well and they are pretty unbiased. A |
| And travel agents would assist their clients if | | | | good agent will make sure that you end up on a |
| there were any problems. | | | | ship that you'll enjoy. He or she will know whether |
| By the middle of the 1990s, travel websites like | | | | you'll get a better deal on air through the cruise |
| Travelocity and Expedia made the technology | | | | line or not. And you probably won't pay any more |
| used by agencies available to consumers. And | | | | for the service. |
| soon, consumers could reserve their own flights, | | | | * You have very specific requirements. If you're |
| hotels, and rental cars using these online travel | | | | willing to pay a fee, a travel agent can arrange |
| agencies. | | | | virtually anything you'd like to do. Want a private |
| Other travel sites like Fodors and Frommers | | | | tour of the Sistine Chapel, followed by dinner in |
| provided plenty of trip planning information, and | | | | the home of a Baroness? A travel agent can |
| sites with user-generated content, like Tripadvisor, | | | | take care of everything. All you do is show up |
| provided unbiased feedback from other travelers. | | | | with the itinerary that he or she created for you. |
| It didn't take long for cruise lines to figure out | | | | * You want to travel independently in a country |
| how much they would save by letting consumers | | | | that's off the beaten path. Find a destination |
| book direct. So most of them followed suit and | | | | specialist for the area you want to visit and hire |
| developed web sites with reservation capabilities. | | | | them. They usually have contacts in the region |
| Many people liked the control and flexibility of | | | | with up-to-the-minute information. And the |
| making their own travel arrangements. And once | | | | amount of time it would take you to make all the |
| broadband Internet access sped up the process, it | | | | arrangements yourself will make their fee a |
| was quick and easy. Nowadays, comparison sites | | | | bargain. |
| like kayak and hotelscombined let you see all the | | | | * You don't have the time or inclination to do lots |
| available options at once. | | | | of research yourself. It's not hard to find out |
| For simple reservations - a flight from A to B, a | | | | when it's monsoon season in India, or which airline |
| night at a hotel you've stayed at before, or a | | | | workers are planning to strike, but a good travel |
| rental car in a U.S. city - there's not much reason | | | | agent will know all sorts of things that could |
| to use a travel agent. But there are several | | | | affect your plans. Things that might never occur |
| circumstances when it's a good idea to use a | | | | to you. |
| travel agent - even if there's a fee. | | | | You'll likely be fine on your own for simple travel. |
| Although travel agents are supposed to be | | | | But for a once-in-a-lifetime dream trip, you should |
| unbiased, most agencies do get commission | | | | probably let a reputable travel agent plan your trip |
| overrides from certain suppliers, so make sure | | | | for you. |