Clark Howard's Tips

August 7, 2007

Back in the dinosaur days, Clark used to be a travel agent. For a while it looked like travel agents themselves were going the way of the dinosaur, but recently Clark was surprised to read in the New York Times that travel agencies are starting to grow again.

When airlines stopped offering commissions on ticket sales with the advent of the internet, it was assumed they wouldn't be needed anymore. But it turns out this industry won't be affected as much as predicted, because people have discovered that when the chips are down, the internet can't help you.

Travel agents are there, though, because they work for you. Sixtyfour million people per year are booking with travel agents.

Depending on the trip, it just may be worth an extra $20 to book with an agent — you'll have to make that call. But with international travel, especially, agents can often find deals you can't find yourself. You could save you more than you spend on their commission.

However, if you're going on a cruise, Clark always recommends you book it with an experienced agent, since there are so many traps there.

Consumer advice courtesy of