I want a Personal Travel Agent – with a twist.

Grady Clay · 05-29-2007, 01:56 PM

I want a Personal Travel Agent – with a twist.

In the Good? Ol’ Days I had a travel agent who made my airline reservations, booked hotels, lined up rental cars, etc. They made money with kickbacks/commissions from the airlines, hotels and rental companies. They couldn’t screw me too badly because they knew I was watching and in a moment I could switch agencies (and tell all my friends & customers). Potentially big money if the word got out about something negative.

This worked just fine and they even found me “deals” that I booked directly and they didn’t make anything on that trip. (Example there was Continental “adult standby” every night between Denver and LA for $38 each way with almost no one on a DC-10. This was in the era of Government price-fixed fares exceeding $300.

De-regulation helped.

Enter the Internet Era.

Now I have to deal with all these entities (hotels, airlines, internet booking services, and more). Perhaps it is just dumb ol’ me but the plethora of services, information, changing rates and “deals” seem designed to thwart a consumer like me.

Can I hire a service that looks out for my interests? All I want is air travel, car rental and an occasional hotel. I want to pay a fee, no conflict of interest like the travel agencies of yore. No aggravation my dealing with NO-CUSIOMER-SERVICE internet booking. All the normal protections I get with my CCs and AMX – and the trust I had in my long-retired Travel Agent.

I see all the current advertising – I don’t see the service.

I know what the on-line prices are. I know they can even be lower. How can I hire someone to simply sit at their computer and phone and both make things happen and provide security and protection for unscrupulous use of my info….

What sort of fee should I pay? I know what travel agency discounts are. Do I need to invest in a small travel agency? Form a co-op? Something else?

Best,
Grady

Jamie79SC · 05-29-2007, 02:34 PM

Call my travel agent Joel at Travel Network. I pay him $35.00 per trip to book everything I need. He is good at ferreting out the best fares and works very hard and fast. His number is 603.763.2800

Don't worry that he's on the east coast. I have used him from Seattle and now Chicago with no problems.

Shuie · 06:13 PM

http://www.americanexpress.com/travel

ronin · 05-29-2007, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jamie79SC
and now Chicago

what, d'you move?

M.D. Holloway · 05-29-2007, 07:25 PM

We use American Express Travel as well - all the service and great people as well.

Jamie79SC · 05-30-2007, 06:20 AM

Ronin,

Yep, just got here last week. The beer and seafood aren't as good as the PNW, but the rest of the lifestyle is great so far.

Come on out for a visit - it is a great road trip through the Cascades, Bitterroots, Rockies and some I can't remember.

Porsche content: we drove the 911 out - ran great.

ronin · 05-30-2007, 11:56 AM

and you didn't even tell me! well, at least you decided not to sell the Porsche

Jamie79SC · 05-30-2007, 11:58 AM

Last Porsche thing for me in the PNW was coffee at the XXX in May - then it was time to 'hit the road'

Grady Clay · 05-30-2007, 12:42 PM

OK guys, let’s stay on topic here.

I talked to Joel per Jamie’s recommendation. I went online to AmEX per Shuie (I have been there many times before). Great suggestions.

More recommendations please.

Another thing I want to discuss here is; what is I have a health issue somewhere. How do I pre-organize getting home? Obviously that would not be in a crisis situation but still possibly medically necessary.

What if I croak somewhere? How do I get my remains home? Of course I won’t care but it is worthwhile to prevent more stress on my family.

Best,
Grady

alf · 01:04 PM

Amex works. My wife used to be the AMEX agent that took care of all the Microsoft Exec's leisure travel, including BillG's. She rigs up all our travel and is great at it. I use AMEX for my work travel.

Maybe my wife should start a home biz doing high end travel arrangement...

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Grady Clay

Another thing I want to discuss here is; what is I have a health issue somewhere. How do I pre-organize getting home? Obviously that would not be in a crisis situation but still possibly medically necessary.

What if I croak somewhere? How do I get my remains home? Of course I won’t care but it is worthwhile to prevent more stress on my family.

You talking international travel? Or just within the US?

mtelliott · 05-30-2007, 01:13 PM

Just don't croak. I still need your advice for many years.

I'm with you on service. Forget it. I've used local agents but none that just knocked me over. I think it's tough for them because they have to find a lot more clients to make the same dollar they were making before, so service has to go out the window.

Michael

Grady Clay · 05-30-2007, 02:34 PM

Michael,

I don’t plan any sudden demise, I just read the warnings. I want to be here forever and Wayne provides that opportunity.

I’m sorry to hear your perspective. I hope I can find someone who is willing to provide this service on it’s own. Possibly we can encourage a few in the business to excel and benefit from the collaborative support of Pelican (or just lame me).

Capitalism at it’s best.

The question is:
Are we our own private travel agents with personal bookings? Is there an alternative solution with someone skilled in the industry where we (I) benefit? I’m interested in your take.

Yes, this is primarily in the US. Next summer I would like to connect Chris with horse people in UK, SA, NZ or Australia. A little Porsche racing might be included. He is skilled not crashing other’s GT3 Cup cars yet goes fast. At 21, he is also a skilled horse trainer.

Best,
Grady

mtelliott · 05-30-2007, 02:37 PM

I would do an internet search for travel in NZ, UK, SA etc that specializes in ranch country. That really sounds like world of mouth though so I would pull out your contacts from racing / porsche and see what you an dig up. One contact will lead to many - you know how that works.

As for US travel - I'm a do-it-yourselfer with either Expedia, orbitz, or worryfreevacations.com

AAA still gives decent service.

My take.

Michael

911boost · 911boost's Garage

I would also recommend AMEX Travel. That is who I use.

Bill

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

Grady,

I have no personal experience with this stuff, but someone on a motorcycle board I frequent went looking into medical evacuation type insurance for overseas travel. You know, in case you need to get flown back to the States from overseas due to some medical emergency. Is this something you're interested in? I can ask him what he ever found out about this stuff.

syncroid · 05-30-2007, 05:08 PM

I also use Amex Travel. The other we use is USAA. If you tell Amex that USAA has a better deal, they bend a little and visa versa. (other way around) Both companys in my book are excellent. One thing to note on USAA, you need to be either ex military or a family member of someone who is to get it. My dad was a Captain in the army so that is where I aquired it.