Traveling with family abroad without a travel agent- need help!!

[Anonymous]

We are a family of 5 traveling out of the country for the first time (with kids). Going to London and Amsterdam. Kids are between 8-13 yrs old. Because we booked our own flights and hotels, (my husband is pretty familiar with the areas) no travel agent will work with us to plan tours, etc.

Doing 6 days in London and 2 days in Amsterdam. 1 day in London is already planned with a friends birthday event.

We know we want to do the tour of the Tower of London and Tate Museum and do an afternoon tea in London. Already purchased tickets to theater and to a soccer game. In Amsterdam we want to do Van Gogh Museum, canal cruise and Anne Frank House. Other than that, we want to walk around and explore parks, neighborhoods, etc. We also want to eat at some good restaurants that our kids will enjoy but we will also feel like we get a quality meal.

There are so many sites when you google tours/tickets/restaurant recommendations. First, is there a travel agent who will help with just booking tours and finalizing itinerary? Helping us with restaurant reservations, some car transport, etc? OR--- are there sites you can recommend to help with these bookings? We are thankful for any helpful tips and tricks!

[Anonymous]

Why on earth would a travel agent book attraction tickets when you are depriving them of any meaningful commission? Honestly you can figure this out yourself, it’s not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

OP here--- I understand that travel agents make most of their commission on flights and hotels. That is why I was asking if there was a travel agent out there that would help--- like work on an hourly fee to book things for us? Not looking to get something for free, just trying to figure out if we can do this ourselves or if there is a travel agent who works with people like us (who have travel booked but still needs help) for an hourly/flat fee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here--- I understand that travel agents make most of their commission on flights and hotels. That is why I was asking if there was a travel agent out there that would help--- like work on an hourly fee to book things for us? Not looking to get something for free, just trying to figure out if we can do this ourselves or if there is a travel agent who works with people like us (who have travel booked but still needs help) for an hourly/flat fee?

You've already figured out what you want to do. I'm confused why you need a travel agent? Just book your tickets - if you want a private tour check out viator or tours by locals and read reviews.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand why you can’t book this yourself? I run a business and still manage to plan trips for my family of 5 (plus sometimes 1-2 grandparents). It isn’t hard. Do a bit of internet research and find restaurant listings for the areas where you will be. Lots of message boards (including this one) give good advice for tours, restaurants and sites.
Or buy a good guidebook and book recommendations based on the guidance there.

[Anonymous]

You can do this yourself! Google “5 days in London with kids” and “2 days in amsterdam with kids” and you’ll get good ideas plus tips on where to but attraction tickets, whether it is worth it to buy a city pass (or whatever it is called in london), etc. I think you already have some great activities named. I always suggest for a first time visit to London to do a double decker bus tour upon arrival and sit on too open air deck - good way to overview the city and fight jet lag with the fresh air.

[Anonymous]

??? I've been organizing my own individual and family trips ever since my late teens and I've never used a travel agent. Travel agents are a pre-internet thing. My parents used them.

Nowadays there are special ultra-lux agents that give you private access to popular spots, but unless that's what you want to pay for... they're worthless. You can create your own schedule online. Everything is at your fingertips. Just do the work, OP.

YOU are going to work on your own itinerary. You're going to look at maps, and make a schedule with what you're going to visit on which days, what time you need to wake up, how long it's going to take from A to B, by which transportation (and whether there are family passes, weekly passes, or it's just easier to pay a day ticket), and what times you are less likely to wait in line for museums, monuments and attractions (early morning, maybe evening tours).

This is travel 101, OP. Get going.

[Anonymous]

Here are some tips-
Book Anne Frank house in advance - tix go on sale a certain number of weeks in advance and if you’re going in peak travel time, you need to get on it.
Van Gogh we also booked in advance.

Just look at a map and see where attractions are. Figure out an itinerary based on that.

Google 2-3 days in London / Amsterdam and you’ll get ideas for itineraries.

[Anonymous]

My own hack is to go to several tour companies websites and copy their itineraries. Then make modifications to that based on our interests, stamina, needs, time, money, and free loyalty rewards points and travel reviews.

Read up on the reviews and suggestions on the travel sites AND finally watch YouTube videos on the history, tourism, society, politics, geography of the places you will visit and even the spots you will skip - before you go.

[Anonymous]

OP. you missed the most obvious: Start reading a couple of travel guides. i love Rick Steves. Even after 30 years of international travel, I find him to be the most reliable source I use.

The only time I have used a travel agent was in the 90s for a 3-month around the world trip.

[Anonymous]

Will help you out with one tip regarding transportation. For transportation for the adults, just use a contactless credit card or your phone (Apple or Google Wallet) to pay for the Tube/trains/buses. The 8 year old (and any kids 10 and under) can ride pretty much everything for free- Tube, buses, Elizabeth Line, Overground.

For the kids 11 and over, buy an Oyster card at a ticket machine at Heathrow for 5 pounds for each kid. Then go to an agent and have the agent put the "Young Visitor Discount" on each Oyster card, and that will make all fares 50% off. Then put say 20 pounds on each card and you are probably all set for the entire trip.

https://www.londontoolkit.com/briefing/london_transport_child_fares.htm

Once you get to your very final destination in London (sounds like maybe St Pancras for the train to Amsterdam), after you exit the Tube for the last time, go to a fare machine and you can get a cash refund for any fares remaining on the Oyster cards. Unfortunately you can't get the 5 pound original price back. You can then cash in those pounds for euros at a bad exchange rate at St Pancras!

[Anonymous]

You definitely don't need a travel agent. Just book things yourself. Tower of London, etc. are walk up, buy tickets, follow a beefeater around and they will tell you all about it.

[Anonymous]

The first thing to book in AMS is the Anne Frank Haus. Do that now.

I hated the food in Ams, but I loved the coffee.

[Anonymous]

Hotel concierge

[Anonymous]

Oh, and I would not do reservations ahead of time for all meals. Plan a couple of nice meals and the rest can be done on the fly. There are tons of good places to eat and you are going to want flexibility. I often get a dinner spot for the next day at night on my phone after my kids are in bed. For breakfast and lunch, you can just get something near the attractions you are at. Find a cute pub, voila.