We’re asked frequently whether using a Hawaii travel agent for a vacation is a good idea. For most of us the answer is no. We haven’t used travel agents in decades. Yet at the same time we’re often presented with questions regarding complicated itineraries. For example, reader Ronnie wrote:
“Hi my husband and I and 8 other family members from Canada are planning a trip to HNL July 22 to July 29. We are flying in from Houston and my family are flying from different city in Canada, Vancouver and Calgary. Per your suggestion on purchase timing my husband and I should purchase our tickets now. Does that sounds right or should I wait? Also for my family in Canada, should they wait or purchase now? Thanks in advance for your advice.”
While we can advise on when best to purchase tickets, a Hawaii travel agent might help Ronnie. They can build the high season itineraries from multiple cities and handle the ticketing for 10 people who, while it is a long shot, might even be eligible for group pricing. Sometimes it just comes down to how much time you have and how comfortable you are doing requisite research and planning. We love it. Many people don’t. Then too keep in mind that travel agencies operate on a fee for service basis.
Top 6 reasons for using a Hawaii travel agent for your vacation:
1. First time visitors needing help choosing the right island(s) to see. This can sometimes be overwhelming if you’re not familiar with researching new destinations. One caution we’ve mentioned is trying to visit too many islands in one week. When self-planning for those unfamiliar with the Hawaiian Islands, you can also start by reading the Hawaii Revealed guidebooks. And for first time visitors, we enjoyed and suggest the four-island NCL 7 night cruise. 
2. Where to stay is an issue, especially if you’re not familiar with the Hawaii hotels and vacation rental companies. Many visitors ask about and may want to consider Hawaii vacation packages that include air, hotel and rental car.
3. Complicated itineraries for people going to and/or coming from multiple locations.
4. Planning a honeymoon or wedding in Hawaii.
5. Group travel of 10 or more for extended family vacations and business meetings. You can chase that down or have someone else do the work for you.
6. Cruise related travel. There can be significant coordination for overnights before and after, air transportation, ground transportation and off the ship activities.
When using a Hawaii travel agent:
If you decide that your upcoming Hawaii vacation does require a travel planner, be sure to choose the right person for you:
1. Are they accredited by ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents)?
2. Ask your travel-experienced friends for a referral.
3. Find out about all fees you will incur before you start.
4. What if any discounts can the agent obtain on your behalf?
Beat of Hawaii Tip: When you plan to use a Hawaii travel agent for your vacation, find out what their exact experience with Hawaii is. How many times have they been to Hawaii personally. What islands have they visited, when were their trips, and what were they composed of? How do they charge for each aspect of your travels and by whom are they compensated?
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Thanks for the advice to use a travel agent if you are planning a destination wedding or have a complicated itinerary. I’m in charge of planning my little sister’s wedding because our mom passed away. We’re trying to plan for the summer of 2022 to avoid COVID restrictions. Would a travel agency be able to help us plan out that far in advance?
So my wife and I will be in Hawaii this October for the first time. One of my best friends is getting married on Oahu on a Thursday an we are planning on getting there the weekend before. One of our dreams is to visit all national parks so we want to be on the big island for a couple days for Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and then a couple days on Maui for Haleakala National Park.
Suggestions for using a travel agent or how we should best go about this? Might be the only time we make it to Hawaii so we want to do it right. We are willing to spend a bit of money but don’t need to stay at super nice hotels or anything.
Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Justin.
How you handle this depends on your travel skills. Hawaii is an easy place to plan for. You’ll easily find everything online – from parks to accommodations, interisland airfare. You can also fly into one island and out of another so as to need less interisland flying.
If you’re comfortable planning trips, then this is a great one to do. If you don’t, then perhaps you are better suited to using a travel agent. Hope that helps.
Aloha.
Hello
We are planning our first trip in December to Hawaii to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary! Many people have suggested visiting Maui, do you agree? Also I am attempting to plan this trip on my own!
Thank you
Jenn K
Hi Jenna.
You’ll get as many different answers as people you ask on that. Suggest you just do research as each of the islands has a different feeling. https://beatofhawaii.com/which-is-the-best-hawaii-island-to-visit/.
Aloha.
Thank you for suggesting the use of a Travel Advisor. I think your comment about a fee for service that Advisors operate on is misleading. Since the airlines do not compensate Travel Advisors, in fact Advisors have to pay the airlines for each segment sold, that is where there could be a fee for air. Most other vendors (cruises, tours, hotels, and cars) do compensate Advisors. If there is a particular trip that involves a lot of research an Advisor may charge a trip planning fee but I would say that is the exception to the rule.
I am planning a trip to the Big Island with my family of 5 from New Orleans in July. When would be the best time to purchase tickets?
Thank you,
Victoria I.
Hi Victoria.
Probably good to buy now. Airfares with a good connection are just under $650 which is excellent for July. If it does go down it would be by very little.
Aloha.
Aloha!
I am planning a family reunion for 20 ppl. We seek recommwndations for best resource for finding a well informed and resourceful local agent for travel and Itinerary. Thank you.
Hi MF.
We don’t recommend any specific travel agents. For 10 or more people traveling together, we suggest you contact the group sales department at various airlines.
Aloha.
Hello,
my family of 11 are planning a Big Island hawaii vacation over christmas for 11 days. We would like to stay in one home or condos in the same resort area. Having trouble finding suitable vacation rentals online. Would a travel agent be able to help us with this?
Thank you,
Mitsu
Hi Mitsu.
Perhaps a travel agent would, although if you check across sites like Airbnb, Homeaway, etc., you’ll have probably covered the same ground that they would. On the other hand, no harm asking one.
Aloha.
My sister is getting married October 20, 2017 on Kauai. My family and I were wanting to depart from Sacramento International Airport to arrive on Kauai on 10/19/17 and be there until 10/22/17. We would like to transfer islands to go to Disney Aulani from 10/22/17-10/24/17 and fly back to Sacramento 10/24/17. We would need assistance with the flights and making hotel arrangements on Kauai. Do you have any resources you and point me to for our trip?
Hi Amber.
A couple of thoughts. First this is pretty easy to do if you want to do it yourself. Otherwise a few thoughts.
1. A local travel agent.
2. Hawaii Airlines Vacations.
3. Pleasant Holidays Hawaii.
Aloha.