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Italy without an agent

My DH and I have been trying to plan a trip to Italy with a travel agent and it just keeps coming in WAY over budget.

I am trying to decide if I can manage to plan on my own.  Anyone who has been to Italy...think I can do it and save money vs. using an agent?

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Re: Italy without an agent

  • All you really need is a good travel guide book that rates restaurants and hotels based on stars and dolalr signs.

    Fodor's or Frommer's are two popular titles that will probably have helps for Italy.

    Plus, they usually have travel tips and

  • I've never used a travel agent. I use sites like Trip Advisor and Kayak to keep costs down. Trip Advisor will guide you to good housing options and things to do. Kayak is my favorite for inexpensive flights. 
  • I agree with the above posters, anything a travel agent can do for you, you can do for yourself. It takes time to do it online, but it can be a money saver.

    Depending on when you are going, check into www.tra

  • Well, that depends.  Are you being specific about what you want with a TA and they're still coming in over budget?  Is it because the hotels are higher end than you think you'd need/want?  Or are you being told that your budget is unreal

  • I've never used a travel agent for any of my trips to Europe. You can easily plan the trip on your own using web resources as suggested above and guidebooks.

    I would recommend that you first get some guidebooks on It

  • imageTravelingJen:

    I've never used a travel agent for any of my trips to Europe. You can easily plan the trip on your own using web

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  • Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!  We have been working with an agent and her plan came in over budget and she has been really discouraging about downgrading our hotels(she picked VERY nice hotels).  While I would love to say in a

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  • Cinque Terre is about the size of a postage stamp and I remember much fewer people speaking English. It is beautiful! But there's not much to do other than look at the water or walk along the water...from what I remember. 1-2 days there makes more sense t
  • i've been 3 times over the past 5 years. the itinerary you give above is fine but the time of year you go will make a huge difference. you cdan do that trip during the offsseason for less than budget. for middle of high season perhaps you can get it done.
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  • imageBJKL:

    Thanks for all the advice and encouragement!  We have been working with an agent and her plan came in over budget and s

  • skip the hotels all together and search for places on http://www.hostelworld.com/

    I would have rather died than stay in a hostel until DH and I traveled to Spain with another couple who ONLY do budget tra

  • We went to Italy in 2009, and did the whole trip ourselves.   I booked our flights, trains and hotels via europeandestinations.com.   They were great to work with, very responsive, etc.    We got everything via FedEx

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  • THank you all for the recommendations!  I wish I had asked all of this before engaging a TA.  I could have saved her a lot of time!

    I am still so nervous to do it myself but I think you all have given me the courage and some amazing r

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