Travel Agents are a Good Deal.

Why is a travel agent a good deal? For one thing, you don't pay them anything. If you book a hotel room, a flight, or a cruise with a travel agent, the hotel, air line or cruise line pays them a persentage. Travel agents know where to look for the best prices. The people they talk to at a hotel, for example, would never think to quote a rack rate to a travel agent. If the agent hears a low quote, they are more likely to call that hotel again, and throw the business their way.

What is the rack rate? It's the list price, or highest rate for that room. The desk clerk might ask you to pay rack rate, but not if you book through a travel agent.

Travel agents are also travelers. Chance are that they know from experience, how good the service is on a cruise ship. They know what facilities the ship has and how big the staterooms are. They will tell you how much it costs to park your car or hire a van from the airport. A good travel agent will remind you to take your passport. They can even tell you how to pack so as to get through airport security smoothly.

Your travel agent will get you the best trip possible for the best price, because they want your repeat business.