Do I need a travel agent?

Def not cheaper to go through travel agent. Use tripadvisor and plan yourself ✈️

I would just comparison-shop (Trip Advisor, Expedia. Hotwire, etc) and then book yourself. I think it will save you time and money, (But, as a caveat, I've never actually used a travel agent..)

We went through a travel agent and it was cheaper than I could find. I also tried to go book the exact same itinerary that she sent me and I couldn't get it even close to the price she got us!! Travel agent was the way to go!!!

We found flights cheaper that she then booked for us as part of a package. They use a lot of the same sights we do, however they have a ton of knowledge about the places. My travel agent has been wonderful.

Travel agents can get you deals and itineraries that you can't get yourself, and they may be able to get you Honeymoon perks that you won't qualify for through TripAdvisor/Expedia/Orbitz/Etc. My travel agent from a few years ago was free through American Express, so I don't know how much they normally are - might be cheaper to go without - but she got us into a 4-star hotel in Venice for a STEAL, a deal we'd never have been able to find for ourselves. I am pro-travel agent. But again, I don't know what their rate is so depends on your budget and what you find.

It doesn't cost you anything to use a travel agent. I would do your research and see what kind of prices you can find and then compare with an agent.

If you can't do it yourself and/or your travel agent is free then it's worth it. When FH booked our honeymoon the travel agent screwed everything up so I had to fix it myself, so for us if wasn't worth the stress

I went with a travel agent and they saved more than what I could find on my own. With the money I saved we were able to add a private transfer to and from the airport and travel insurance. Also, we are going to Mexico during hurricane season, so if something comes up the travel agent can work on rerouting us to somewhere else. One less thing to worry about while wedding planning.

Hi ladies. St Martin, I'm jealous! I was also on the fence about using a travel agent for our destination wedding. The guest list has already almost doubled since we started discussing it, so my concern is more for our guests and coordinating their accomodations. Also the hotel we are having our event at does not book with non-residents (I know, weird right) so we HAVE to use a travel agent. Has anyone had any good experiences with a vendor they would recommend? We're you able to get good perks and what were they based on (# of guests, booking wedding AND honeymoon, etc)? Would welcome any feedback.

You definitely don't need a travel agent, but it wouldn't hurt to get in touch with one, and see what they come up with. You can always just say you are not interested if their quotes are too high!

Honestly, I heard that travel agents can save you money and get you additional perks that you wouldn't be able to find on your own, but that wasn't my experience. We're going to the Galapagos Islands, and we met with a travel agent and explained what we were looking for (land-based hotel stay with day-trip excursions to other islands), and all she had to offer were cookie-cutter packages that a) were way more expensive than what we had been looking at online and b) weren't in line with what we wanted at all. So I just booked everything myself and contacted our hotel to set up excursions. I'm sure it depends on your destination and the experience of your travel agent with that particular destination, but for us it wasn't worth it.

If you're familiar with travel and how it all fits together, DIY. Call the hotel you've picked out and ask them any questions or concerns. Although I do a ton of research online, when it's time to book, I phone the hotel and book directly with them; same with the airline tickets. This has saved me some drama when things go wrong---missed connections, disappointment with accommodations, etc. Having said all that, I have never had a bad experience with a travel agent---I prefer the kind where you talk to a real person and plan the trip together.

Having a travel agent is highly recommended. First of all, it doesn't cost you anything to use most travel agents' services. Most people don't know this, but when you do-it-yourself (using Travelocity, Expedia, Cheap Caribbean, etc.) you ARE using a travel agency-albeit an online one. They make commission off the work you do yourself! When you use a travel agency such as mine, I do the work for you and work to get you the best value for your honeymoon budget.

Another advantage of using a travel agent instead of DIY: Most online agencies require payment in full at time of booking. When working with a travel agent you need only put down a small deposit in most cases - sometimes as little as $100 per person!

Another thing folks don't know is that there are travel suppliers out there that ONLY offer their package deals to travel agents - which means you will never know about that great deal on your dream honeymoon because the price is not available to you as a consumer. Travel agents often get exclusive pricing and promotions on cruises and all-inclusive resorts.

And finally, if you have any problems while traveling - a missed flight, something's not right at your resort, etc. - one call to your travel agent and the problem will be worked on. You won't have to sit on hold with the airline trying to reroute your flights, and then call and be on hold with the resort or cruise line to let them know you'll be late, etc. Your travel agent will do this all for you.

Travel agents take all the stress out of your honeymoon before, during, and after and provide you with that personal touch!

We booked through a travel agent- it was the same price as what we found online, but with added perks! We were very happy we used a travel agent!

I found the same package for $300 cheaper than the travel agent and with no added perks so it was kind of discouraging. I even told her the place I wanted to stay so for me there is not a benefit to use one unless I look at another travel agency?

I have done both. I booked our trip to Mexico this summer because my travel agent couldn't match the price on Expedia. But I had her book our cruise honeymoon. I always have her book my cruises because she always gets the best deals with perks. So definitely check with a travel agent.