You’ve put in your time off request, picked the perfect location and now you’re at a crossroads between using a travel agent vs. self-booking your next vacation. Should you use a travel pro or dive in and research the whole trip yourself? This important decision determines the entire planning process.
According to the American Society of Travel Advisors, 50 percent of Americans are more inclined to plan with travel agents than in previous years. There’s a reason the industry is growing: They simplify the planning process for millions of users annually. For example, AAA offers savvy travel agents who can help you plan every step of your next adventure. This is a complementary service for members.
However, not all travel bookings require a travel agent. You’ll need to factor in your budget, comfort level with research and availability to assess which option is truly best. And we’re here to help you do that, with a handy comparison guide that clarifies if you should book solo or seek support. Below, we detail your options between using a travel agent versus self-booking your trip, to find what's best for you and your vacation.
Using a Travel Agent: Your Personal Concierge
These days, travel agents offer much more than the ticket bookers of the past, who simply arranged flight details. What does a travel agent do? They work as dedicated concierges and personal travel assistants, helping trip planners turn general hopes and dreams into a specific, customized itinerary.
At the beginning of the process, you and your dedicated agent discuss preliminary vacation plans during an in-depth consultation. This helps your advisor to best understand what you want to do, how you like to travel and what works best budget-wise. Next, your agent conducts research and taps their roster of travel connections to find the best activities, flights and stays for your travel style. The agent then presents you with an itinerary and makes final adjustments based on your feedback. When both parties agree on a final draft, your advisor will book the vacation on your behalf. The support doesn’t end there, as agents are ready for any questions or emergencies you have before or during your trip.
Benefits of Using a Travel Agent
Working with a travel agent lets you rely on their expertise, dedication and patience, making the process smoother and reducing trip-planning anxiety. Any snags your agent comes across are quickly and professionally resolved, giving you time to plan the more personal bits of your vacation.
Why use a travel agent? Here are the main benefits of enlisting a professional for your next journey:
- Save hours of your time: The average adult in the U.S. spends 16 hours crafting just one vacation itinerary, per Priceline’s research. With a travel agent, you can shave that time in half or more.
- Travel expertise at your fingertips: You’re traveling to discover a destination, not because you know it like the back of your hand. It can be frustrating to start from scratch, but travel agents have specialized knowledge on certain destinations and can make sure you don’t miss any must-sees.
- Insider access: Most travel advisors belong to exclusive networks that offer incentives like complimentary upgrades, resort credits or free breakfast. These aren’t always available to the public, so you’ll have more options and amenities than the average traveler. If you plan on taking a cruise, AAA travel agents can secure exclusive deals for AAA members, for example.
- Payments over time: When booking through a travel agent, you can usually pay in installments.
While travel agents handle the details of your trip, you can kick back and enjoy the journey, knowing that your agent will promptly report any problems and correct them.
Potential Cons of Using a Travel Agent
Even with the many benefits of booking with a travel agent vs booking yourself, there are a few potential limitations that won’t align with every vacationer’s preferences. This usually comes down to the level of control or customization you want and the compatibility of the travel agency or independent agent you work with.
Here are a few potential drawbacks to consider:
- Potentially higher prices: Travel agents may charge a direct fee or receive compensation from travel vendors, which can mean slightly elevated costs. AAA members, however, receive free travel agent services.
- Not ideal for spontaneous planners: Since booking a trip with an agent can take at least a couple of days, it may not work well for last-minute trips.
- Itineraries are tied to trusted vendors: Many travelers appreciate agents hand-curating a list of premium options. But if you prefer to see every option out there, a travel advisor’s list of accommodations and activities might not be expansive enough.
- Occasional communication gaps: If you have a travel issue and are in a different time zone from your agent, their response may be slightly delayed.
To avoid these limitations, choose a reputable travel agency with a strong track record among travelers and experience in the travel industry. If your agent is experienced in the type of travel and regions of travel you prefer, you’ll have a smooth experience.
Booking Yourself: Create Your Own Adventure
Booking your own trip gives you complete freedom over the process and unparalleled options for customization. It may be a good fit if you enjoy vacation planning and have the time. Self-booking is research-heavy and you’re responsible for arranging every part of the itinerary, but it gives you the most control over the process.
Benefits of Self-Booking Travel
Self-booking a trip is an accessible option and there are many different tools and platforms, like AAA’s Trip Canvas, you can use to make the process go more smoothly. Arranging an itinerary can be empowering, not unlike creating a piece of art and it can create an air of excitement around your upcoming trip.
Here are a few compelling pros that emerge when you create your own itinerary:
- Travel tools make the process easier. Travel aggregators have gained popularity. With a simple search query, you can gather a variety of flights, excursions and hotel options, saving a lot of time.
- Accessibility: Travel agents are available during business hours, but you can plan your trip 24/7 on your own timeframe.
- Ultimate customization: If you’re planning a very specialized trip, self-booking lets you customize it to your exact preferences. You can even book directly on Trip Canvas if you’re looking for something specialized.
- Easy price comparison: Since you’re directly searching each travel item, you can more transparently see the range of prices and shop around for the best deal.
- Niche finds online: Self-bookers can scour forums, travel blogs and groups for hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path events that may not be in a travel agent’s vendor list.
Planning your own trip makes the process educational, not mechanical and lets you dive into destinations before departing. If you’re going somewhere you’ve never been before, you could benefit from research and strategizing, which will give you a feel for the geography, culture and attractions.
Potential Cons of Self-Booking Travel
Like any booking method, self-booking comes with its unique drawbacks. In summary, it takes a lot of time and it can be challenging to juggle the many pieces all at once. Even worse, availability can disappear if you hesitate, especially on popular flights and accommodations.
Here are additional hurdles commonly associated with self-booking:
- Extra responsibility: Every accident, cancellation or sudden change of plans is your sole responsibility to remedy, which can be challenging when you’re in the middle of your trip.
- Restrictive fine print: If you don’t comb through the fine print of your bookings, you may be bound to undesirable terms such as hidden fees or non-refundable fares. Travel agents know these terms and conditions upfront.
- Higher costs for group bookings: Online aggregators are great for solo or small group travel, but are less efficient for groups, because the system may search for the entire group instead of individual options. This could lead to higher prices overall. A travel agent has tools that may help you avoid this extra expense.
- Decision fatigue: Options aren’t always a good thing and if you’re overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices online, it may be better to have a travel advisor curate a limited list of selections to avoid information overload.
These setbacks can make it hard to fully enjoy your vacation, especially if you’re stuck navigating an emergency abroad. If you’re planning your own trip, it’s important to invest in travel insurance and plan diligently to ensure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.
When to Use a Travel Agent: The Case for Expert Guidance
Travel agents are great for travelers who value a white-glove experience, specialized support and a laid-back booking process. It’s the right choice for travelers who want to free up time or get frustrated ironing out every detail all alone.
Travel advisors shine in arranging:
- Large family reunions
- Bucket-list trips in highly coveted destinations
- First-time travelers who haven’t yet planned their own itinerary
- Busy travelers
- Complicated itineraries with multiple stops or large groups
Travel agents offer dedicated support and know-how, giving travelers peace of mind and the ability to focus on enjoying their travels without distraction or pesky planning tasks.
When to Book Yourself: The Case for Independence
Is it better to use a travel agent or book yourself? Independent booking might be more appropriate if you’re an independent traveler who thrives on the planning process and prioritizes total control over each step. If you’ve ever said to yourself, “Planning is the best part of a trip,” you fall into this category.
This option works best when planning:
- Last-minute getaways
- Emergency travel
- Weekend trips
- Budget travel
- Trips that require a flexible itinerary, such as a road trip or an open-ended trip
Even though self-booking a trip offers freedom and flexibility, there are a few things you can do to elevate your trip to agent-level caliber. These include protecting your trip with cancellation insurance, opting for travel insurance and planning well in advance so you have time to review booking terms thoroughly and find availability.
FAQs
Here are helpful answers to additional questions about enlisting a travel agent vs. self-booking.
What does a travel agent do?
A travel agent does much more than book your travel flights and hotel rooms. They work as personal concierges who meticulously craft a fully custom itinerary based on your preferences and travel style. They research flights, find relevant activities and leverage vendor connections to snag lower rates and exclusive perks.
Are travel agents worth it?
A travel agent is worth it if you don’t have a lot of time to plan a trip and are easily overwhelmed with decision fatigue. It’s also best for those who want access to insider deals and availability that can’t typically be searched on the web.
AAA travel agents provide a free service for members and can help you to book all aspects of your next vacation.
Is it cheaper to book with a travel agent or on your own?
There’s no clear-cut answer here, as every itinerary is unique and prices may vary. Generally, travel agents have experience in sourcing the best deals possible and are also familiar with more booking options, so there’s a strong chance they may find the most affordable options.
Plan Your Trip with AAA
Join the over a million people who are AAA members and start planning your trip today, whether self-guided or with a travel agent. Dream up the perfect trip with our Trip Canvas research tool and use your membership to get the best discounts on hotels, rental cars and entertainment tickets.