T&C Club will treat you like family-I would contact them directly.

It's late now, so I'll have to answer tomorrow. I've got much to tell you about both.

O.k., a good night's sleep, morning work is done, now where were we?...

I remember a similar question coming up many years ago on another forum and a few travel agents going "bonkers" over my answer. Hopefully, the internet age has changed the industry enough now that we won't have a repeat.

So, first let me say that I have worked with many travel agencies and travel agents in years past, and always found them to be very knowledgable and dedicated professionals. I believe that they still provide helpful services to some, especially those planning complicated International travel, and large groups (i.e., wedding parties).

A little history (I hope it doesn't bore you)...

When I was working in resort promotion during the 1980's and 90's, travel agencies were major players in the leisure market. We had full-time sales representatives who did nothing but promote our resort to agencies, because they were the ones on the front line selling our property to individual travelers. We gladly gave away free stays just to lure agents to see our resort, and local Tourist Bureaus hosted area-wide familiarization tours for agents with complimentary airline tickets, meals and accommodations. Travel agents were lucrative kings and queens, and earned the right to be treated as such.

Then, along came the Internet, and turned the travel industry on its ear. Hotels and airlines were ecstatic at the possibility of delivering their information directly to the consumers' home in real time, eliminating the need to pay Travel Agents their usual 15% commission with related costs. Tourist Bureaus began to establish websites where visitors could learn about their destination, then click to compare and reserve accommodations, transportion -- all the information and services that travel agencies provided for a fee.

Think this was the end of the travel agency industry? Nope. Someone got smart and came up with the idea of an internet travel agency. At first, the hotel / resort industry and even consumers scoffed at the idea, thinking, "Why do we need to go through a middle-man when we can get our information and book directly." So, hundreds of thousands of dollars were poured into sending the "Roaming Gnome" out to sing the praises and convince the public that Travelocity, Expedia, etc. could somehow do it better. Oh yes, and for the same fee structure that travel agents were being paid.

Travel agents and Internet agencies are paid by the hotels / resorts (usually 15%) of your total stay. But, the reality is that their commission doesn't come out of some special fund -- you are paying it. Most airlines no longer pay commissions, but particularly the Internet agencies have found that booking airfares is a great way to pull customers in and also sell them commissionable rooms, car rentals, etc.

Sorry to bore you with the "shop talk," but it's really an amazing phenomenon that's taken place.

O.k., here's what we do:

I use Travelocity or Expedia to compare airfares, then book directly with the airline. As I see it, eliminating the middle-man is one less chance for a screw-up.

Not sure when you plan to travel in June, but you'd better start looking now, as you don't want to wait until within three weeks when the airfares will skyrocket.

Send a direct e-mail to the Turks and Caicos Club -- info@turksandcaicosclub.com -- and address it to "Rebecca." She is the owner of the resort and answers all emails.

Tell Rebecca that you learned about The Turks and Caicos Club from Trip Advisor. Give her the dates that you plan to visit in June, and ask if she is willing to offer a special rate if you book directly with her, and not use the services of a travel agency.

You will LOVE The Turks and Caicos Club, and Rebecca is wonderful. We'll also be staying there for the second time this June -- can't wait.

CaribDesi summed it up perfectly. I was a travel agent for 20 years and got out just in time! When the customer started knowing more than I did and getting better prices and then wanting me to match for zero commission...time to get out. As a former agent I know how busy they can get and therefore you put in a request for Christmas space at a busy place and guess what it can sit there for a week before they tackle it (all agents hate Christmas and Spring Break requests)....now I book all my own vacations including air and hotel and train in Europe or whatever it is...I know it is done, I have control over the record, book my own seats exactly where I want to sit (not some generic request agents do) sometimes get better rates from the hotel and if at a hotel and I have a problem much better bargaining power to get what I want or make changes. I frequently see people standing at the desk "but my agent told me this would be such and such" and they tell them to go call the agent!! So to answer your question do it yourself. The only exception to this might be the rare dedicated agent that you have established a personal relationship with or if you are venturing into areas you know nothing about and then you need to seek out an agent with a speciality in that area...agents cannot know the whole world....good luck.

Thanks CaribDesi and gene. I learn something new everyday and this is a fasinating subject about how the travel industry has changed over the years. I, for one, always book everything myself when years ago I walked into a Liberty Travel and a women said I never heard of Cap Juluca and I handed her the brochure I received in the mail and she wanted to photo copy it!

Gene:

Since you worked as a travel agent for 20 years, you probably were one of those rare special agents and dedicated professionals. Unfortunately, so many like yourself have left the business, and have been replaced by part-time order-takers.

The cruise ship industry still promotes heavily through travel agencies because of the nature of their business. Profit margins are not made by cruise rates, but rather casinos, excursions and alcohol sales. Therefore, they don't mind paying commissions, discounting, whatever it takes, as long as they don't set sail with an empty cabin.

Back to the original question, a few weeks ago someone posted a concern about Grace Bay Club not honoring a package that was offered on one of the travel agency websites (I believe it was luxurylink.com, but could be wrong). When I asked him why he didn't just book directly with the resort, he said it was because the price was $3000 less than the resort's.

Now, that struck my interest, so I took a look at both the agency's website and Grace Bay Club's. The agency showed a summer package and compared the price to peak winter season, hence $3000 less. Grace Bay Club's website showed the same package and actually had it priced a little less per night.

I would have brought it to his attention, but he was so busy calling managers and treatening to go to another island that I thought, "Why bother?"

Book your trip on your own. It is very easy with he flights and you can book directly thru the resort for lodging and be able to follow up and give them any special requests directly!

I have done both- booked thru agents and by myself- honestly I like doing everything myself better because you do get rid of the middle man and you have a direct contact to the resort. I got really fed up with some of the agents who "thought" they knew everything but clearly I had done A LOT more research then them!!

There are obviously exceptions (we are going to French Polynesia this year and with all the interisland air transfers/boat transfer/helicopter transfer we used an agent for the trip) but going to Provo and booking on you own is very easy!

Aztecgirl,

I also usually book trips on my own, either directly with the resort or through an on-line booking site, depending on which is cheaper. I don't mean to criticize travel agents as a group, but for someone who is comfortable with the internet and willing to his or her own research, in general, travel agents don't add much value for a trip that just involves booking airfare and hotel. For something more complex (e.g., a trip to Europe that involved mutliple countries), I would look at packages and/or use a travel agent who specializes in that region.

Only thing I would add to the advice already given is that you check the internet on your own for best prices and then contact the T&C Club. The Tripadvisor comparison button from the hotel page is pretty useful for this.

Caribdesi and Gene,

Great information on the travel business...

I was all for booking my trip myself, however I started using a Canadian travel agent. Generally I save about 10% as there is more competition in Canada and the exchange rate. Then again I have a good relationship with my T/A I know her good points and bad points. I know when she is trying to sell me something and I take what is said sometimes with a pinch of salt. I do book my own air as I can wait and get a better price.