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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder what travel agents do and is this cheeky?

9 replies

justwonderinglike · 04/01/2018 17:21

We have won a competition to spend £500 at a local independent travel agents. The woman I spoke to said we could spend as much or little as we wanted - she'd be as happy to do a weekend in the UK or long haul.
The planets have aligned and it turns out that next Easter our school holidays are different to many other places. We've therefore been thinking it might be a good opportunity to get to Florida with the kids once and for all.
I rang the travel agent yesterday and she has come back with a disappointingly high quote for mediocre looking accommodation. I know I can do it much cheaper and better (I've looked). I'm a bit of a control freak with holidays, we don't have much money but we always manage to have really good ones. I've never used a travel agent and I don't know what they do. Can I ask her to just book the flights and we'll do the accommodation or is that cheeky? Can they book flights through budget companies such as Norwegian? I'm taking it that they would have to book villas through their own suppliers? Any advice from travel agents welcome, I don't want to offend her when we have been really lucky, but I equally don't want to be disappointed when we've spent more than we ever have before...

OP posts:
GetYourRocksOff · 04/01/2018 17:25

Usually they will match what you can put together

You've also got better protection booking it through a travel agent all together. With airlines starting to go bust again that is never a bad thing.

Tippexy · 04/01/2018 17:27

Sounds like she’s added the £500 onto your quote, what a shame.

GetYourRocksOff · 04/01/2018 17:28

Yeah you might be better using it for a break that costs £510

justwonderinglike · 04/01/2018 17:34

You are probably right. I'll try going to her with what we have found and see what she says.

OP posts:
Neverender · 04/01/2018 17:37

Don't tell them up front, ask for prices and then see what they say when you ask about cheaper airlines etc. Of course they can book with cheaper ones, and they can book accommodation only. Tell them you have the voucher after you have a quote!

Neverender · 04/01/2018 17:37

If you pay by credit card for your bit you'll be covered.

lessthanBeau · 06/01/2018 15:21

If you're going to florida can you use the voucher for your attraction tickets via the travel agent? £500 would be a nice chunk off that, and then book everything else yourself. You can't usually pick the exact villa you want when booked via a travel agent. We do florida a lot, and I'd never book via a travel agent. Go to the dibb forum they have all the advice you'll ever need regarding florida holidays. At worst ask the agents to book your flights to redeem the voucher they'll book with whatever airline you want.

lostinspaceyetagain · 06/01/2018 16:16

Can you just book 1 flight with it and do the rest yourself? Ie 1 flight for 1 person

lostinspaceyetagain · 06/01/2018 16:17

Or ask them to look at flydrive -just flights and car hire and do the accommodation yourself?

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