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Started By
Message
Travel Agent recommendations for Italy
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:52 am
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:52 am
My wife and I are looking to take a 10-12 day trip to Italy in April. We would like to use an agent to set everything up for us.
I know travel agents are kind of a thing of the past, but does anyone have someone they recommend using? Preferably someone I could schedule a FaceTime or phone call meeting?
I know travel agents are kind of a thing of the past, but does anyone have someone they recommend using? Preferably someone I could schedule a FaceTime or phone call meeting?
12
Posted on 8/11/25 at 1:32 pm to Simon Gruber
Figure out where you want to go and book it yourself. A travel agent is going to sell you canned tours. You can do much better researching it yourself and it's fun as you learn much more about the places you want to visit.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 2:25 pm to Simon Gruber
The reason that travel agents are almost a thing ofthe past is that the internet is putting them out of business. It is easier and cheaper to book trips yourself. I hate to say this because I have friends in the business.
I do my hotel. airline and restaurant research on Trip Advisor. then book directly if possible.
You can usually get better advice on this board than most travel agents can give you.
I do my hotel. airline and restaurant research on Trip Advisor. then book directly if possible.
You can usually get better advice on this board than most travel agents can give you.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 2:40 pm to geauxpurple
Ditto on the tripadvisor.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 3:25 pm to Simon Gruber
Natalie Tate with upannaway.com
If you are ok with staying in hotels and like taking tours, using a travel agent is not that bad because they take the commissions on the back end and get you some pretty decent upgrades.
If you are more of a discover it yourself kind of person and like staying in airbnbs (my travel preference) use the internet and plan it all yourself.
If you are ok with staying in hotels and like taking tours, using a travel agent is not that bad because they take the commissions on the back end and get you some pretty decent upgrades.
If you are more of a discover it yourself kind of person and like staying in airbnbs (my travel preference) use the internet and plan it all yourself.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 3:43 pm to jsquardjj
quote:
commissions on the back end
Which you're ultimately paying for. There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Book your hotels directly, schedule any individual guided tours you think you need on Viator. This isn't hard. Use Trip Advisor to figure out what you can do on your own, and what you may want a guide for.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 3:52 pm to Simon Gruber
quote:
Travel Agent
:whatyearisthisgif:
Posted on 8/12/25 at 5:14 am to Simon Gruber
When I was traveling a lot for an organization about 3 years ago, the organization set me up with a travel company called Travelennium in Memphis. They were very helpful especially when flights got delayed, connections were missed, etc. They have a website and if you are planning to use a travel agency I highly recommend them.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 7:03 am to Simon Gruber
Agree with everyone else on planning yourself
Another thing that helps when you plan yourself is that you are able to pivot and readjust when things don't stay on track (which will happen).
Oh this restaurant is closed on Tuesday? Well good thing I looked up two other places nearby that also look good - same thing with activities and sites to see. Makes it much easier to adjust and not waste time and frustration.
Another thing that helps when you plan yourself is that you are able to pivot and readjust when things don't stay on track (which will happen).
Oh this restaurant is closed on Tuesday? Well good thing I looked up two other places nearby that also look good - same thing with activities and sites to see. Makes it much easier to adjust and not waste time and frustration.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:41 am to LemmyLives
I also agree with booking yourself. For hotels and flights I use google or other tools and book directly.
I will use Viator and TripAdvisor to look at reviews of tours/experiences but book directly with the vendor on those too. I will say I went to Italy last year and used Get Your Guide for almost all my tours and tickets. Big fan of the ease and the app and how they connect you to the vendor and almost everything was in one place. Would highly recommend.
I will use Viator and TripAdvisor to look at reviews of tours/experiences but book directly with the vendor on those too. I will say I went to Italy last year and used Get Your Guide for almost all my tours and tickets. Big fan of the ease and the app and how they connect you to the vendor and almost everything was in one place. Would highly recommend.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 8:59 am to Suntiger
Get Your Guide is great.
Posted on 8/12/25 at 9:37 am to Simon Gruber
We recently used Clare Coleman from Lake Charles. Trips to Walkabout
She's willing to book it all or just advise or just book tours. There's ways you can pay her directly a fee or she can book specific tours that will cover her cost. Very easy to work with and reasonable from my perspective.
She's willing to book it all or just advise or just book tours. There's ways you can pay her directly a fee or she can book specific tours that will cover her cost. Very easy to work with and reasonable from my perspective.
This post was edited on 8/12/25 at 9:38 am
Posted on 8/13/25 at 7:00 am to Yeti_Chaser
quote:
ChatGPT
+1
I have always done my own planning but ChatGPT has become a great help.
And within the large list of public GPTs AI from the ChatGPT menu, search for “ travel” and try the one called Travel Guide by CapChair. It has 25 K ratings and 4.4 out of 5 rating
It will create a custom itinerary that you can adjust to your needs.
Here is the result from travel guide on that one day in Paris question from eph4v29 LINK one day in Paris
quote:
1. Ditch the car early Drop it near CDG or at a suburban RER station, then take the train in. Avoid central Paris driving — trust me.
2. Iconic evening stroll Arc de Triomphe Champs-Élysées Place de la Concorde Then cross the Seine Eiffel Tower sparkle at the top of the hour.
3. Dinner stop Casual but classic: • Le Relais de l’Entrecôte (steak-frites) • Café Constant (French comfort dishes)
4. Optional Seine cruise 1-hour from Pont de l’Alma or Pont Neuf — lit-up Paris from the water.
5. Overnight Stay in Paris if you can; otherwise, Roissy-en-France near CDG has charm for an airport village.
Posted on 8/13/25 at 7:08 am to Pepperoni
PS to OP from ChatGPT
quote:
”You don’t have to use an agent for Italy, especially since the country is very DIY-friendly. Here’s the trade-off:
If Using an agent :
Saves you planning time.
Access to vetted hotels, drivers, guides, skip-the-line tickets.
Someone to fix things if trains get canceled or luggage goes AWOL,
BUT
Usually costs more (either via fees or higher hotel rates).
Less flexibility to change things last-minute.
IF Planning it yourself:
More control and flexibility.
Can be cheaper if you hunt deals.
Freedom to add spontaneous detours.
BUT
Time-intensive to research routes, tickets, and hotels.
You’ll handle problems yourself on the ground.
Since you’ve got 10–12 days in April, you could easily self-plan with:
• Trains for city hops (Rome ? Florence ? Venice).
• Rental car for countryside legs (Tuscany, Amalfi, Umbria).
• Hotels or agriturismos booked directly.
• Pre-book big sites (Vatican, Colosseum, Uffizi, Doge’s Palace) online.
If you want, I can sketch you a turn-key Italy itinerary that’s easy to book yourself in just a few hours — essentially “agent results without the agent cost.” Would you like me to do that?”
Posted on 8/13/25 at 9:37 am to Simon Gruber
Fly in to Naples, spend time in Amalfi, transfer to rome, spend some time there, transfer to tuscany and stay in a castle, spend time there and in florence, transfer to venice, spend some time there and fly out of venice.
Combination of private transfers, driving, and train.
I'll do it for you for a fee.
Mahootney@hotmail.com
Combination of private transfers, driving, and train.
I'll do it for you for a fee.
Mahootney@hotmail.com
Posted on 8/13/25 at 10:59 am to LemmyLives
quote:
Book your hotels directly, schedule any individual guided tours you think you need on Viator.
I don't even use consolidators like Viator. You can research enough to figure out who the actual tour company is and book directly with them. It takes a little work, but can be done.
To the OP, if you aren't willing to do the work you need on research, then I guess a travel agent or a tour group is your best bet. It will cost you extra and you won't have as good of an experience.
Posted on 8/13/25 at 9:24 pm to Simon Gruber
I’ve used chat gpt and I have used online sites and will never go back. Bad recommendations and with chat gpt I got old info on restaurants- some of which had closed down…
My last 2 trips were with an agent and the experience was far better. No worries about hotels, restaurants or tours. They had experience in all the places and even got perks unavailable anywhere else. I even got a free upgrade to a suite in a few spots.
Also and fwiw, I didn’t find cost savings with an agent and at this point in my life, fhr convenience is worth more anyway
My last 2 trips were with an agent and the experience was far better. No worries about hotels, restaurants or tours. They had experience in all the places and even got perks unavailable anywhere else. I even got a free upgrade to a suite in a few spots.
Also and fwiw, I didn’t find cost savings with an agent and at this point in my life, fhr convenience is worth more anyway
Posted on 8/13/25 at 9:26 pm to Simon Gruber
I used a travel agent in Nola BBR travel for a trip to Italy and they got me an incredible villa in Tuscany that was exclusive to their clients. The place was awesome. It came with a chef and cleaning service too.
Very reasonably priced
Very reasonably priced
Posted on 8/16/25 at 2:05 pm to Simon Gruber
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