Michele says...
Absolutely. Travel sites are convenient, but surfing for deals takes time and patience. If you have neither, let a travel agent do it—they can save you money. Plus these days commissions are lower, or have been wiped out entirely. And let’s face it, when vacations get screwed up, it’s good to have a human being on the phone who can help. In any case, I recommend doing some research on your own so you can recognize what’s a deal.

A travel writer extraordinaire, Michele Sponagle has visited more than 40 countries around the world. Send her your travel questions here.