Travel Agent or Book Direct

[PRH]

On 5/3/2023 at 8:30 AM, Moonlion said:

Although it can be less expensive to book directly with tour company, I often book with TripAdvisor because their cancellation policy is usually more generous (full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours before tour).  The price difference between booking directly with company vs. TripAdvisor is usually not that large (10-20%) and I have had no problems communicating directly with tour operator through TripAdvisor's online platform.  For our upcoming BIE cruise (departs in less than a week!), I have 3 excursions booked through TripAdvisor and 2 booked directly with company.  We'll see how it goes...

We often use Tours by Locals and have had outstanding ones.  None have been less than very good.  Our TBL in Belfast was incredible (Frank is a history professor, writer and personally lived through the Troubles—his picture is in Belfast).  My nephew (in his 20’s) went with us and was astonished by the stories, the miles and miles of walls still topped with razor wire, the various political murals by diffe rent perspectives, and the viciousness set free when good causes get taken over by power hungry men.  Our TBL in Lisbon, Vigo, Florence, San Sebastián, Dubrovnik, Tallin and so on have been wonderful too because we get a very local perspective on living in these places and cultural experiences we would not otherwise have had.  They have very good cancellation policies.