saving money is a powerful motive...

our expert guide from Journey Mexico added so much to our visit of Chichen Itsa

Saving money is a powerful motive when shopping on the internet, but as strong as the impulse might be to click on the lowest price for a product or service, it doesn't always make sense. This is especially the case when:

(1) you do not know (or have someone to vouch for) the vendor
(2) you're purchasing a non-commodity item

If you're planning that bucket list trip, shopping for the absolute lowest price is not a good idea. Here's a true account of a trip to Cuba shared by a colleague. A client wanted to plan a tour for a small group, and my colleague quoted a package from a trusted vendor. The group planner, thinking the quote was too high, decided to save some money by booking everything online.

The trip turned out to a disaster. While their accommodations were ok...

(1) The guide he booked online never showed up.
(2) There was no one to contact for recourse.
(3) Communications were difficult.
(4) One member of the group suffered an illness during the trip.

Because of the difficulty with communications, two members of the group left Cuba and returned home early. Maybe they had saved a few hundred or thousand dollars. But because they were "shoppers," buying solely on the basis of the lowest price, they lost the entire investment they had made in their highly anticipated trip.

The alternative is to plan travel with a trusted travel advisor who, in turn, works with recommended and fully vetted suppliers with a track record of providing great service. You will pay more. But here's what you can expect in return.

The best guides. Guides are not a commodity item. While most guides are perfectly adequate (with a few who are unreliable and/or horrible), there will always be a select group of absolutely terrific guides who will take your trip to the next level! What are your specific interests? Whether you want to explore Cuban history, architecture, music, art, rum, or cigars, you can be paired up with a guide whose expertise matches what you want to experience.

Another consideration: do you have kids? Some guides are terrific working with young children. Others are best with an adult audience. How are you going to figure out on your own which "internet guide" to book?

A workable itinerary. Google is a great resource, but it is not a travel advisor. You can get lists of the "ten best things to do" in any destination, but that can't substitute for local, expert knowledge. What day is the museum closed? In what order should I see things? How long should I anticipate spending at each attraction? How long does it take to get to the next? Such information can help you pace your day. But more than this, what hidden treasures await, what authentic experiences unknown by most tourists because they do not show up on the "top ten" lists?

Things can go wrong. While we don't like to think about it, the unexpected does happen (like a broken arm). When you slip and fall, how valuable it is to have a trusted in-country supplier with a 24/7 telephone number who can help you manage the problem.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.