re: When was the last time you used a travel agent?

I'm on a corporate board which regularly holds meetings outside the U.S. The accommodations are blocked through a travel agency, so I have to deal with them then. The hotels where the board stays are usually booked up or, if not that, they are more expensive to even online shopping for a private individual.

For personal travel I use the interwebs.

Travel Hint: For small hotels or B&Bs you find using a Travelocity-like site (an "amalgamator" in the industry, I'm told).

Call the hotel directly and ask to speak with the owner (not manager, in my experience). If you can get the owner and you two can speak the same language, tell them you found their place on Travelocity and the price was "X", they can give you a better rate over the phone as they have to pay 15-20% to the online booking service. Works well in the Caribbean. I sweeten the deal by telling them I'll hold the reservation with a Credit Card but pay for it in cash. Everybody likes cash. Even June Carter liked Cash.