This is a nit-pick, but: Travel agents are still around, but they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. They are absolutely fantastic to have around whe

This is a nit-pick, but: Travel agents are still around, but they’re not nearly as common as they used to be. They are absolutely fantastic to have around when you want to discuss rather than plan the rote particulars of, for example, a “we saved for this one” vacation. A good travel agent has near-direct booking access to $GDS, has relationships, and vets and cross checks everything with a level of detail and experience that you really only get by doing it every day. It has become something akin to the concierge industry.