Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.  Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime. 

~Mark Twain

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  

~St. Augustine

Travel Advice

Making the Most of the Fall Travel Season
If you're fortunate enough that you can travel when you want, instead of when your employer or school wants, fall is a great time to get going. Ed Perkins offers up ideas.

Where to Search for the Best Airfare
You've probably already used one of the big online airfare search systems, but you may be searching in the wrong place for your specific needs. Ed Perkins explains.

Airfare 401: Want a Comfortable Flight? Read This!
When booking your flight, price is an important factor. But on some flights, you may want to fork over a little extra cash for a more comfortable experience. Ed Perkins explains your options.

Visiting the Cliff Dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park
Imagine what family life was like for the Ancient Puebloans as you explore the cliff dwellings in southwest Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park.

Shhh! Five Hidden Hotel Values in Las Vegas
More than just sensibly priced, these hotels offer a little something extra to make them stand out from the crowd!

Free Travel For Tour Organizers: Worth the Hassle?
"Free"travel may sound appealing, but don't jump so quickly. Ed Perkins explains the strings and responsibilities attached.

Tax-Free Airport Shopping: Bargain or Hype?
Do these stores really offer good deals, or are they there to feed off a bored and captive audience? Ed Perkins investigates.

Man Overboard! Staying Afloat After Being Bumped From Your Cruise
While getting bumped from a cruise is extremely rare, it's good to know what will happen if you do get bumped, and what actions you can take to ensure your vacation survives.

Airfare 301: The Buying Process Made Easy
Ed Perkins explains how to work your way through the maze of Internet-based buying channels—with a few necessary detours—to find the best airfare for your itinerary.

Year-Round Fun on Nantucket
With 52 beaches, great restaurants, and plenty of hiking and biking, Nantucket has it all. Find out what makes this island great long after the peak summer season has ended.

Feature Article

With so many destinations to go to, it's important to plan accordingly. A travel agent will be able to acquire your tickets, hotel reservations, car rental, and activities all at once, saving you time, and thus, money. Booking a vacation can be a lot of trouble for just one person, but with a qualified travel agent, it's easy! Of course, like vacations themselves not all travel agents are created equal so you will want to shop around for the best one.

1. The Benefits Of A travel Agent

Don't miss out on all that a vacation has to offer! A travel agent will be experienced with the top destinations at your travel area and be able to provide you with recommendations for where to go. As an industry insider, they can get special deals that you would not be able to acquire. You might pay a little bit more for this service, but overall you will save.

2. Do Your Research

Doing your homework doesn't have to take a lot of time. The best way to find a good travel agent is to do your research. You can talk to friends and family members who have used travel agents in the past. You can also use the internet to try to find the best agency or agent in your area. In some cases you will be able to read testimonials from other customers who have used a certain agency. Try searching for message boards that might give you some insight to good travel agents in your area. It is important to find a travel agent who understands your personal needs and desires when it comes to the type of vacation you are looking for. There are countless agencies that are available online as well where it is easy to select what kind of ammentities you are looking for.

3. Make Sure They Are Licensed

A licensed travel agent will be a member of the ASTA (American Society of travel Agents). Membership in the American Society of travel Agents allows travel agents to work with other members to get the best deals and rates for you. Membership also requires certain qualifications so by finding a travel agency that is part of the Society ensures that you will be getting excellent service. Of course, it is perfectly acceptable to ask questions in order to determine if a travel agent is right for you. Questions such as, How long have you been in the travel business?, can be helpful in giving you a better idea of your travel agents background. You might even want to ask your travel agent for references.

4. Your Vacation Package

Putting together your vacation package just got easier with a travel agent. They will be able to interact with you and help you choose what features of your vacation you want to splurge on and what features you can skimp on. Don't need a luxury car, but want a great hotel? Done and done. Perhaps you want a tour included and thus won't need a car at all. Of course, your travel agent is unlikely to make any final decisions before consulting with you first. It is your vacation and therefore you should have the final say on everything planned. This is why it is important that you make yourself accessible to your travel agent.

About The Author:
For more great travel agent related articles and resources check out http://travelinformer.info

Travel Tidbits

Off Off Off Broadway? Try Dublin
With top-tier actors and affordable tickets, the city?s theater scene is rich and intimate.

36 Hours in Silicon Valley
The area south of San Francisco buzzes with cultural spaces, lively restaurants and a hyper-educated workforce that has no problem keeping up.

Journeys: Vineyard Hopping, in Maryland?
With live music, food offerings and other activities, Maryland?s wineries offer a good time as well as a good sip.

Explorer: 6 Days, 6 States, 6 Peaks
Armed with a map, compass, hiking boots and a blue Honda, a hiker tackles the highest point in each New England state.

Next Stop: An Oasis Off London?s Beaten Path
East London feels light years away from central London, and is totally self-sufficient, thanks to a host of enticing restaurants, shops, markets and hotels.

Heads Up: Renaissance Portrait Inspires Gift Shop Goods
A portrait of Giovanna degli Albizzi Tornabuoni is the centerpiece of a show at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.

Practical Traveler: When Renting Cars Abroad, It?s Renter Beware
Several kinds of insurance can come into play and it behooves travelers to seek information on driving rules and road conditions in the countries they plan to visit.

Check In, Check Out: Hotel Review: The Radisson Blu Hotel in Madrid
Conveniently situated in the heart of the city?s densest cultural quarter, steps from the Prado, the Radisson?s first location in Spain is a bargain, and an ideal business hotel.

Foraging: Store Review: California Carnivores in Sebastopol, Calif.
This store in Sonoma County stocks 10,000 carnivorous plants and offers a self-guided tour for fans.

Want to Cut Your Baggage Fees? Try a Hotel
Finally, relief on airline baggage fees -- from hotels.

Sunday Preview
With top-tier actors and affordable tickets, Dublin's theater scene is rich and intimate.

Lectures to Go With That Mai Tai
Taheima Wellness Resort &Spa offers academic sessions on its idyllic grounds in Mexico.

A Sucker for Spanish Moss
You could take any destination - an anonymous subdivision, a dying factory town, a garbage dump - pop some Spanish moss on the trees, and the Frugal Traveler is happy.

The Worst Way to See San Antonio
I made the most ill-timed, bone-headed, rookie-error-filled, first-time visit to San Antonio in tourism history. And even then, I had a good time.

Into Cajun Country: From Po'boys to the Pink Panther
The Frugal Traveler leaves Mexico behind for swamp tours, jazz clubs and Southern cooking in Louisiana and Mississippi.