[Rookie]

I have done a lot of reading and research and decided to book our November trip myself. It isn't too difficult doing that because our plans are pretty basic. For more complicated arrangements, it might be different. I decided to do it myself after I called a local travel agent and was quoted a "package price" that was over $800 more than it will actually cost me to book the same hotel, transportation, and tickets myself. I called a second travel agent, this time through AAA, and was told that they didn't offer any AAA discounts on rooms - only on packages. I decided that I could do better myself than these two agencies were offering.

I called CRO and had no problem getting the AAA rate. (Just have to show my card at check in). I also was told that I really should make the room reservations now, watch for the codes to come out over the summer, and call back when they do. If I am lucky, CRO will apply the codes to my existing reservation but it is more likely that I will have to book a new reservation with the codes and then cancel my existing reservation. I have to admit that when I called CRO back to inquire about making a change, I discovered that it really matters which agent you get - different ones seem to have different level of information and accuracy. It has taken me three phone calls now but I think that everything is straightened out. Perhaps that is what an agent would have done for me but I am more than willing to make a couple of 5-minute calls to save $800.