Warm Weather Escape
“I think the word tundra does a good job of describing what we as Minnesotans put up with.”
During the cold days of winter, Morgan Luzier of Minneapolis dreams about being anywhere else but here.
“I’m not picky. Just as long as it’s predictably warm,” says Morgan.
Every year, Morgan takes at least one trip to escape the cold. And she’ll often book herself using travel web sites like Orbitz.
“You sort of familiarize yourself with one web site and then you’re an old pro at it.”
But is Morgan getting the best deal, by using the internet instead of a travel agent?
This year the destination is Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in March. On Orbitz, Morgan found a direct flight on Northwest for $515.
With one stop, the price fell to $408.
When she added a 4-star hotel to the non-stop flight – meals not included – it came to about $1,400 per person.
We checked out the same trip with Kristi Mackedanz of Hobbit Travel in Woodbury. She quoted the non-stop flight with Northwest at just over $537.
She added a 4-star hotel and the package price was a little less $1,400.
But she also found a deal with Sun Country – non-stop flight, 4-star hotel, all-inclusive – for just over $1,500 dollars per person.
So the differences we found between book-it-yourself or have someone do it for you were quite small.
“Who gets the best deal? You know, there is no hard cold result,” says travel industry expert Terry Trippler with cheapseats.com.
Trippler says that deal difference will vary from trip to trip – and from destination to destination.
“What I really recommend people do is you could go online and call a travel agent. You can get an idea of what is a fair price and once you know what a fair price is, then go out shopping. When you find a fair price – buy it.”
There are benefits to both booking methods.
Terry Trippler says the internet offers a lot of flexibility.
On the other hand – while you’re likely to pay a fee – a travel agent is very convenient. And in many cases, you’re paying for the knowledge. A travel agent may know more about a certain resort or hotel than you looking on the internet.
And Trippler says if you’re booking a big trip, like a cruise or a tour of Europe – don’t try to book it yourself.
Use a travel agent.
