We travel to Europe frequently, and I always make our own flight plans. Where are you flying from? If you are not in a hub city, that will mean an extra stop.

There are several airports that have direct flights to Paris--Salt Lake City works well for us, but then we are in Southern Idaho.

I'd also suggest flying IN to Paris and home from Croatia, rather than backtracking to Paris for a flight home. Book a one way ticket Paris-Croatia on a European LCC. I like Easy Jet.

I use a website call matrix ITA for finding flights--you can easily see what's available on all major airlines, as well as layover times, etc. You can't purchase the flights via Matrix--be sure to then book with the airline directly.

Just a note: Matrix does not show low cost European carriers, or Southwest airlines.

Happy Travels!

I think travel agents are like blacksmiths , a few people still need them but most people don't. We have more travel experience and knowledge about many destinations than most travel agents and we're very comfortable making any kind of travel arrangements on our own. Less experienced travelers may or may not benefit, I've heard of some doozy blunders that TA have made.

We used a travel agent to book our first cruise in 2012 because we had never done that before. She was helpful in cabin selection, as I recall.

However, it turns out that we failed to receive an entirely revised set of travel documents that had been issued before the trip and there was some confusion as to our booking in the hotel the night before the cruise (which she handled). When I told her about it afterward, I did not really get an explanation. I personally would not bother with one at this point unless I was planning something really complicated.

Tvq, thanks for the great info. We will probably fly out of Minneapolis, or Chicago if I need to bring the dogs to my sister's. Both are non-stop to Paris, I believe. And yes, had planned to fly home directly from Croatia. I will look into matrix. Snidely and Tacky, thanks for reminding of the blunders made my TAs! I've heard of a few good ones, too.

I've never used a travel agent. I'm pretty much a pro at booking flights, accommodations, etc. I frequently have people ask me for help in booking the best/cheapest/most logical travel deals.

When traveling to multiple cities in Europe, I do recommend doing as tvq1 says, and use the local low-cost airlines (similar to people coming to the US, and using Southwest to get around in-country). We also utilize the trains for travel between cities.

For example, in September, we are flying into Glasgow and out of London. We'll have a rental car from GLA for two days to drive to Fort William, drop the car back at GLA and take the train to Edinburgh for a couple of days, then a train from Edinburgh to London for about a week. We do this on a shoestring because travel is my hobby, and PLANNING travel is an obsession. lol

We travel a lot for pleasure and hubby travels a lot for work. We haven't used a travel agent since the internet came on the scene.

We used a travel agent for a trip a couple years ago and had 2 plane changes and a long layover. The year after, I booked our trip with only one plane change and a much shorter layover, at a lower cost. I did upgrade our seats to business class for 2 of the flights so we would be able to exit the plane quickly because of the short layovers. The one thing she did that I wasn't able to do was get us free pre-check, so we didn't have all the security line hassles with taking off shoes, etc. I think as of this year, you can enroll in TSA global entry yourself, but there is a charge.

I would think business class would have pre-check? Every time I fly first class it has pre-check. Just booked a sweet apartment in Paris that is a 15 minute walk to the conference. So excited!

We just went to Japan and didn't use a travel agent. My husband spent months planning the trip and it was difficult for him as we used the bullet trains, and a flight out to an island.The logistics were difficult as we don't know the country and he hadn't been there in 35 years. It was such a fun trip! My husband did an amazing job, but he didn't enjoy the planning phase.

I am our travel agent for all our personal travel and book all our airline reservations and after 20+ years have become pretty good at it. I know when I can call the airlines if I need help, and what to say so I won't get charged their fee for a phone reservation.

As to long layovers, I really don't mind sometimes. I've learned that some flights can be delayed and it's sort of like risk-reduction that has paid off. If it's the last flight out, for example, I'll book a semi-long layover to give us time to grab a meal, account for a flight delay on the first leg, and things like that. Usually it works out fine, and many times I've patted myself on the back for making a smart move.

Sleeperblues, yes, business class generally includes TSA pre-check. Remember, the foreign countries have no 'pre-check' as we know it, but usually do have a priority security line for First/Business class travelers. It's not quite the same but usually shorter and a little faster. Just remember they generally want your liquids segregated in a clear bag. DO NOT forget items in a cosmetic bag, etc. They will find it. Ask me how I know this.

We're Global Entry (which includes PreCheck). Only $100 and good for five years. Makes a huge difference in customs/immigration. On our recent trip to/from London, from the time our wheels touched down at Newark until we were sitting in a different terminal, having a beer and nachos was 45 minutes. People we recognized from our LHR/EWR flight who didn't have Global Entry showed up at our terminal about 90 minutes after we did. The lines were awful for non-Global Entry passengers.

I used an agency only our trip to Italy. We were booking a tour and for no extra cost, he booked our flight.

I didn't want to take the chance of not figuring out the time difference.

I also use an agency when I book our yearly trip to Costa Rica. yes, I could definitely do all the arranging myself at this point as I have been many times. But, for a little extra, everything is arranged like a fine tuned instrument. Our trip always includes multiple stops, ground transportation and domestic flights. (I do my own air going over.)

If the trip is complicated, why not get help?

Took a couple long trips overseas and did everything myself. It was kind of fun. Hoping to go to Japan next year sometime and may use a travel agent. Have been having trouble finding cheap airfare and know of an agent who booked a coworker for around $700 per person. I got in touch with them and hope they're still in business by the time we go.

I haven't been to Croatia, but my SIL and her husband go every two or three years. Flying back, their reverse, Split to Zagreb, Zagreb to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Seattle. They find Amsterdam a much less harried and series of easier flights than leaving from Paris or London which they've done too, but not in some years now preferring Amsterdam to that route.

Her husbands sister is a travel agent. And a good one, she doesn't make mistakes and is still helpful though semi-retired now.

Seriously folks, sign up for Scott's Cheap Flights emails. They're free. And you'll be alerted the minute flights go super-low in price!

Chloe, how does Scott's work? Are you constantly bombarded with emails, or can you put your country of interest in so I would only get emails for France? Have you thought of upgrading to the premium service?

The last time we used a TA was when a group of us, 16 or so, traveled to Savannah, GA and we could not book that many flights at one time. We did it through AAA and it's been 7 years ago.

sleeperblues, I'm not constantly bombarded with emails, no. I get one or two a day. You can set your email preferences when you sign up, but if you opt to receive fewer emails, you'll likely miss the best deals.

You have to be ready to book RIGHT THEN, though, because the deals often last less than 12 hours.

There are lots of routes to cheap flights. What I can't find are lie-flat first class seats using AAdvantage miles for upgrades from coach. We want to fly ORD to OGG (Maui)) without a west coast connection -- out in January and back in March. This has involved hours on the phone with AA -- fruitless over the last two years. AFAIK AA only has what we want via DFW.

I've done both, travel agent, and booked my own.

Haven't used a TA in decades. But mist of my friends do if traveling abroad. They feel utterly incapable of choosing hotels in unfamiliar places. Most Aldo hire a guide - afraid of getting lost. It's why I have no one with which to travel - that mindset would drive me crazy!

Me, too, Anglo!

I have several friends that use AAA all the time and are very pleased.

We are planning an Alaskan cruise with friends, our first one. (I'm a little nervous as I'm prone to motion sickness.) Friend's mom is a t.a. and has made our arrangements, and I'm glad she can do it. Taking a cruise is quite different from any other kind of travel we've done.

Cruise ships have stabilizer planes that negate much of the motion.

sjerin, you won't know until you're on the ship or not if the motion will affect you. Be sure to bring some Dramamine, ginger capsules or motion sickness patches with you and take/use them if you encounter rough seas before you start to feel queasy.

We took a cruise through the Panama Canal in January and for most of the trip it was so smooth it felt like we were on land, but after we left the canal's east end and entered the Atlantic Ocean we hit some pretty rough seas. The waves were big enough to make the ship pitch back and forth despite the stabilizers and many of the passengers got sick. I took Dramamine as soon as I felt it start rocking and did not get sick. Hubby waited until he was feeling sick to take any medication and it was too late. He had one miserable night.

I think if you're prepared you'll be fine. Have fun - cruises are a fabulous way to travel!

Chisue, try using seatguru.com to figure out the seating. I use it all the time. You need to know the airline and the type of aircraft (767, for example or flight number and date, and it will give you a complete seating layout. It also tells you which seats to avoid because of limited recline, proximity to toilets, etc.

I do realize most people do not get sick because of the size of the ship and the stabilizers, as well as the fact that we'll be taking the inside passage from Vancouver to Seward. But just in case, I plan on buying this:

Motion Sickness Watch

A friend's husband used it after he dealt with sea sickness on a previous cruise and it worked great.

That sounds like a very good plan, sjerin. I haven't seen or heard of those watches before - what a great idea. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!