Personal travel Consultant- worth using?

[user68435567]

Just that really? I get totally overwhelmed researching holidays and all the available options. Would be interesting to have my own 'personal travel adviser'. Have seen a few ads on FB for people promoting their services and just wondering how it works?

Do they charge? Can they save you money?

I have friends who have used one for long haul but I'm looking closer to home, even UK breaks.

Have you posted this before? It’s very similar from the last few weeks.

Anyway, no. Book it yourself. I love researching myself.

No, my 1st post on this. Probably should've checked for previous advice!

Never used one but I imagine they don’t charge directly, just charge you over the odds for trips you could plan yourself with a bit of time and research

I've sometimes used an independent travel agent for complicated trips. They don't charge, & you pay the same price as if you've booked it yourself.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_advice_tips/3797877-Should-I-pay-travel-counsellor

Here is the link from a couple of weeks ago. It sounds like the sort of job description someone working from home with Google, Trip Advisor & Lonely Planet uses, but I may be very mistaken.

One of my facebook friends is now a "qualified travel consultant and is looking to recruit to the team". Lots of inspirational quotes and #beyourownboss. It all sounds very MLM which totally puts me off.

@housinghelp101 came here to say the same thing. A fb friend has begun a new career in travel. It has MLM written all over it.

I just used a travel consultant to book a three week trip to America this summer because it was quite complicated in terms of what we wanted to do and I simply didn't have the time. I set a budget and she stuck to it so although I might have been able to get it a bit cheaper I appreciated saving the time and I also appreciated her knowledge of where were wanted to go and Disneyland advice which I did not want to have to research. I'm delighted with the trip and she is also booking a car for us and sorting out some day activities. It's a win win for me but I do understand that some people enjoy booking it all themselves. Me, not so much!

One of my facebook friends is now a "qualified travel consultant and is looking to recruit to the team". Lots of inspirational quotes and #beyourownboss. It all sounds very MLM which totally puts me off.
Well that explains the sudden spate of faux innocent "should I use one of these travel consultants" posts. Answer: you can arrange most trips yourself if you have the time and inclination. There is a group of agents called Travel Counsellors who are usually experienced (actual) travel agents now working from home. If you want a travel consultant, they're probably what you're after, though many high street/online agencies will do the same thing, though for a price.

There is always a price! Whether it’s a home based Travel Agent or a Tui, there’s no fee for their services, you’re just paying over the odds for flights, hotels, transfers etc. A big firm like a TUI will get big hotel discounts so it may end up not costing the customer more in the mark up than they’d pay booking it independtly, but the ‘price’ is always the mark up!

Have also seen a number of these recruitment posts on Facebook -such a scam! It’s reliant on people wanting to work from home and then selling holidays to their network (which realistically is friends and family) on which they’ll make commission. If they recruit someone else into this they’ll also make a commission (hence the Facebook ‘bd your own boss’ bollocks). Realistically, these people unless they have huge networks of contacts and very very actively sell, won’t make a living off of it. Nor will anyone who buys off them get anything but marked up flights and hotels from someone who probably isn’t that experienced a traveller and has got all info from TripAdvisor. Loose loose basically.

Rant out!

Ugh I hate travel agents with a passion these days! Just out to make a quick buck especially with the demise of Thomas Cook.

I've been looking to book a 14 night trip to Egypt. 7 nights Nile valley and 7 nights in Hurghada. Lowest quote from an agent was £2900!!!! Did it myself for £1400 (granted we need to fly to Rome and get the train to Naples for cheap flights).

Do the research yourself. Download apps like Skyscanner, Kayak, Oporo, and Expedia. For all inclusive beach holidays look at On the Beach or Love Holidays. Shop around or let the Apps do it for you.