The Washington Post has an interesting article about the current mindset of travel planners. The article is written as a guide to travel planning. The Internet is suggested as a useful and cheap tool but when things get complex, it’s probably better to hire some expertise.
Bottom Line: If you want to stay at a chain hotel or someone has recommended a lovely little property or resort, do it yourself. If price is your chief concern and you’re willing to do the legwork to ensure that you’re in the right part of town, skip the agent. If you’re not sure where you want to stay, or have a special request — say a villa in Provence — you might be better off getting the help of a travel agent who’s been there or has heard back from a lot of satisfied clients.
