One of four tiers
One company
A single contract. If you can book it yourself in one sitting, you probably should.
Where this tier sits
One company
one companyA single contract. If you can book it yourself in one sitting, you probably should.
4 trips
Two companies
two companiesTwo contracts that have to line up. The join is where trips break.
4 trips
Three companies
three companiesThree contracts, three cancellation rules, one itinerary holding them together.
4 trips
Four or more companies
+four companiesFour or more. This is the work an agency exists for, and the tier we earn on.
2 trips
The trips in it
| The trip | Companies | Length | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland Escorted, Eight NightsOne tour operator holds the coach, the hotels, the guide and the entries. | one company | 8 nights | from $2,180 |
| Alaska Cruise, Seven NightsOne line sells the cabin, the meals, the entertainment and the moving between ports. | one company | 7 nights | from $1,390 |
| Caribbean Resort Week, All IncludedOne resort company sells the room, the food, the drinks and the ride from the airport. | one company | 7 nights | from $1,240 |
| Rhine River, Seven Nights AfloatOne line carries the cabin, the meals and the daily walk ashore. | one company | 7 nights | from $2,420 |
What each tier is good and bad at
| Tier | Good at | Bad at |
|---|---|---|
| One company | One contract, one rule, one number to ring. The safest thing on this site | You could often book it yourself, and on this tier we will tell you so |
| Two companies | Less costly than a bundle and far more flexible: one half can change without losing the other | The join between them belongs to nobody but you, unless somebody checks it |
| Three companies | Real range without real fragility. The tier most of this office's work sits in | Cancelling produces three answers, and reading three schedules is a job |
| Four or more | Trips that cannot be assembled from here without help. Where an agency earns its keep | Every extra contract is another thing that can move, and the joins compound |