| Sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity claim to | | | | Travel service sites proudly proclaim that they are able |
| offer the best price - sometimes even guaranteed. | | | | to further save customers money by selling large |
| They may even claim to offer the best rates on a | | | | volumes of travel and collecting a smaller fee. There is |
| luxury world cruise, a trip that travel wholesalers | | | | some truth to this. Orbitz and Travelocity do have a |
| publicly prefer to be sold by agents. Others offer to | | | | large volume of travel reservations made, but what |
| beat any price or to match it. The emergence of online | | | | little they make in commission they make back in |
| travel sites have put many agencies out of business, | | | | changed or canceled reservations. When you book |
| and claim to have conquered the consumer base by | | | | your package, the price may not cover a number of |
| offering quality product at a lower cost. The volume | | | | other fees, such as a daily resort fee, an out of state |
| done by these sites is said to make up for their | | | | car fee or some other taxes and fees that are asked |
| marginal profit. But these are no more than half-truth | | | | to be paid at the airport, resort or cruise ship. Agencies |
| cover stories. Let us debunk these myths one at a | | | | will include this in their pricing. |
| time. | | | | And heaven help you if you have a change in plans. |
| What it the Product Difference? | | | | Depending on which site you book with, small changes |
| When you call your local travel agency and ask for a | | | | to your itinerary can cost you between $50 to $100. |
| price quote on an air and hotel luxury travel vacation | | | | Most travel agencies offer a travel insurance that |
| package, most consumers will check against one of | | | | covers you and your travel companions if you should |
| the more popular travel websites to see what prices | | | | have to cancel for a medical or personal emergency. |
| better. True, two thirds of the time, you will find that the | | | | American Express Travel offers a cancel for any |
| Internet will beat the travel agent price by about $150. | | | | reason insurance that even covers your airline tickets. |
| So what is the difference? The travel website will | | | | These Internet booking engines are now beginning to |
| assure you that it is the same package. They will even | | | | offer "insurance," but it rarely covers cancellations in full. |
| give you the exact same flights. But when you book | | | | Should you have to cancel your Internet trip, you might |
| with Orbitz or Expedia, they often do not take the | | | | get less than half of the total cost of your vacation, or |
| seats off of the availability list immediately like travel | | | | none at all. |
| agents do. This makes it easier for your flight to be | | | | So buyer beware! The Internet is a beautiful thing, but |
| over sold. And because your seats were the last | | | | for travel arrangements, it is not always as good as it |
| tickets to be issued, you will be the first travelers to be | | | | seems. Your local travel agent is there to offer the |
| bumped on an overbooked flight. | | | | customer care you need back at home while you're |
| In addition, your hotel room will be in a "less requested | | | | traveling abroad. When it comes to planning luxury |
| area." This means that while your room will be the | | | | travel vacation, you are truly better off using a travel |
| category promised, you might have the ocean view | | | | agent. You will be guaranteed your place on a plane. If |
| room next to the ice machine or the ocean view | | | | you don't like your room, your travel agent can have it |
| above the resort nightclub. You may find your room in | | | | fixed in a matter of moments. And should there be a |
| the only wing that did not receive renovations. And the | | | | problem or if you should need to cancel, your travel |
| worst part is, once you arrive and discover your room | | | | agent will fight the battle to reschedule your plans at |
| to be lacking, the help desk with the Internet travel sight | | | | the lowest cost possible. Travel agents are not |
| can do nothing to help you, if you even get through in | | | | focused on quantity, but quality. In this day in age, travel |
| the first place. The resorts and hotels are aware that | | | | agencies stay afloat with their repeat clients, who |
| you are going to be in the most unfavorable rooms, in | | | | swear by them. So travel safe, not sorry, and call a |
| fact, that is why they sold them to the Internet travel | | | | travel agent to hear more benefits that each agency |
| site at a discounted rate in the first place. | | | | offers their clients. |
| How do These Sites REALLY Make Money? | | | | |