Travel Agencies

xKRISHNACOREx

I am planning a trip in about a year for India.

There are specfic places I want to go but feel that I will have a hard time getting around being this will be my first time there.

I have been gathering information from IM as to what other people suggest to other people in similar situations but my question is are travel agencies worth the time?

I hope I use the write word when I say travel agency...What I mean is a place where someone can help plan your trip for you and give you hotel reservations and whatnot.

Any advice?

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karuna

Assuming I've understood the question, my three cents:

1) I think it really, really depends what you are looking for out of your trip. Is it a sightseeing trip or an adventure? A summer holiday or a year out? Do you want a fixed plan or the freedom to roam where you wish?
If you have answered mainly (A) working with a travel agent to design your trip might be useful. Not necessary, but perhaps helpful.
If you have answered mainly (B), you should sort out your first few nights' accommodation, buy a rail pass and go.
(If you have answered mainly (C), you're doing a different test...)

2) I think it really, really depends on the quality of the travel agent. I can't think what I can add to that. By quality I mean knowledge and expertise, responsiveness and honesty. Are you talking specialist and bijou (Mom and Pop's Old-Fashioned Kerala Tour Company) or monolithic (STA)? Cuz I suspect they will be very different (one doesn't exist, for a start).

3) It also depends on your budget. Can you afford pay a premium for a bespoke holiday, lovingly handcrafted to meet your every whim by dusky maidens in a back office in Neasden (or Noida), or were you thinking of India as a cheap destination?

Are travel agencies worth the time is an interesting question because they're supposed to save you time, and effort! If they're good and if you don't like planning and if you prefer the security of a set plan and if you have the budget, yes travel agents are worth the time. If not, well, then no, they're not worth it.


Not sure if that was useful or not. I was trying to be comprehensive!

I'm curious - why do you feel you'll have difficulty getting around?




Edited to add: if you want personal experience, India was the first time I ever let someone else plan my holiday for me. It's the only time I haven't done all the hotel bookings myself or travelled on public transport when I've been abroad. I was originally planning it all myself, but given the number of places we went to, it was easier to leave to someone else to arrange. That's what travel agents are good for (if....well, see all the "ifs" mentioned above).

xKRISHNACOREx

Karuna - Thank you for your insight it was not only comprehensive but informative and humorous.

I feel I will have difficulty getting around because of my ignorance. Ive never been out of the country before and the thought not getting help/where I am going/etc. I guess is a fear I have going to another country as a foreigner.

I dont know if that made much sense..

I would love to have the feedom to roam where I wish but yet once again my ignorance decieves me making me feel that I wouldnt be able to.

Hope this wasnt too confusing.

Thank you again for your insight.

wonderwomanusa

When are you going to India? And how long do you think you will visit the country.

One option is to arrange a short tour with a travel agent, and then, once you are used to the look and feel of the country, to go off on your own... or make other decisions.

karuna

cross-posted with wwusa...I draft for tooo looong

OK, well, I've read back over some of your earlier posts and from what I gather you'll be there for a while. Given your concerns and that it's your first trip abroad, why not use a recommended travel agency to plan out your first week, or up to and including your first long journey?

Get them to arrange a pickup at the airport, book your first hotel or few hotels for you, and the train/car/bus/whatever from your first destination to the next. Then take it from there yourself. That way you have the comfort of knowing that you'll be OK on arrival and during those first few blurry jet-lagged days when your mouth is just hanging open, but later when your confidence has grown you can have the freedom you want.

If, by the end of the "pre-arranged" period your mouth is still hanging open, buy some tissues (drooling isn't a good look), call up your travel agency and tell them you want to continue using their services. You're an existing client so they'll want to do their best to keep you happy, and you've used their services before so you know they're trustworthy. Perfect.

The itinerary boards here have names of various recommended companies, or check out the city/state boards of the places you want to visit, take a look at some of the review sites out there and also tripadvisor.

Don't worry, you'll be fine. There's no need to worry (If you want a laugh, look up my first post on here back in March last year or something, the one where I was really panicking. Just don't tell anyone else... )

Nick-H

With a map of the country in one hand, and IndiaMike.com on your screen, your ignorance will be short-lived

Of course, nothing short of actually experiencing India will banish it completely, and even then, there'll be plenty left for another trip(s).

I used to use an agent for all but my most simple (single-city or two-city) stays. It takes a load of your mind, and gives you more time to get on with everything else --- planning a trip to India can become somewhat overpowering: I'm sure I've had colleagues who would, at times, have said, "Don't bother asking Nick to do anything: he's planning a trip to India" ! And that was with the agent.

A good agent will know personally all the places he talks about, and will have visited any hotel they recommend within the past two years. This was certainly true of the Kerala guys I dealt with in UK, although I was mid-to-high range travelling in those days. Their advice was invaluable to me.

Of course, I didn't have IndiaMike in those days!

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shrink64

After much research and deliberation I have opted for my tour of Golden triangle to be arranged by a travel agent to save the hassle of arranging every thing.I got so confused by reading contradictory views on different review sites for hotels, I have decided to trust the expertise of the local person who was recommended by my son.
I will be back in UK on 19th of November, and will detail my experience. If you wish I can give you the details of this agency if I find it worthwhile.
I am Indian but have never ventured towards North of India, and I can understand your anxiety.

traveler1

India - Lonely Planet Guide

xKRISHNACOREx

Thank you all for your advice and commentary. It is most appreciated.