Lifestyle

Travel

Planning Your Getaway

by Jeanne Burke
There are so many ways to do your travel planning nowadays that it can be very overwhelming. There’s a variety of Internet options, you can call a travel agent or you telephone the airline or property. So what is the best way to book your airline travel? The answer is actually “all of the above” depending on your situation. If you are looking for a simple airline ticket, the internet is probably your best bet. I suggest either going to one of the travel websites such as Orbitz or Travelocity first to research which airlines are traveling where - but many of them are charging added fees.

There are also great search engines that search all the travel websites for the best price such as mobissimo.com and kayak.com. These search engines direct you to the airline or travel website offering the best fares. The best deal is most often found on the website of the airline carrier. Right now, there are usually no added fees when you book on the airline website, although that can change, and you usually get more frequent flyer points by booking your travel on their website.

If you have a complicated airline ticket, want to travel first class or are booking your air in conjunction with a hotel stay, then I recommend you contact a good travel consultant in a reputable, preferably large agency or one that has the Virtuoso connection. They can sometimes get better fares or discounted fares if booked through a wholesaler. They also have more clout with the airlines so if you have a problem their services might prove very useful.

Another good reason to use a travel consultant is if you like to be serviced or you consider your time too valuable to spend researching airline options and bargains. You must be willing to pay a fee for their services – but keep in mind that it might not be significantly more than many of the travel websites that are now charging. Plus, you gain insider expertise from your travel consultant, remember, who does this for a living.

So, before planning your trip, look at your time and budget. Then decide whether the best option for your time and money is to work with a travel consultant or to plan your trip on your own.

Travel Tip: Check out JetBlue for special offers and promotions.
Jeanne Burke is a leisure travel consultant with Stratton Travel. She can be reached at jeanneb@poisemag.com.