Most of what you say is true, and the nature of tailor-making an itinerary is that we do a lot of unpaid work up-front in simply presenting ideas (brochures, websites). We do this in the hope that potential travellers will be impressed with our breadth and depth of knowledge book with us.

Much of the information which was simply unavailable to all but a few specialists is now accessible at the touch of the button. But making it all work together is where the skill comes in. Ask anyone who’s tried it. It’s very time-consuming. But possible.

You suggest that you also get the tour operator to do this planning bit for you. It happens more and more. We do the work, but lose the business either to a competitor or to do-it-yourself.

In an ideal world, I’d prefer you not to lift our skirts so that all the world can see up.

Magicians who reveal the “smoke and mirrors” secrets of their trade are vilified by the Magic Circle, but the public’s fascinated to know how the lady gets sawn in half and emerges whole again. But you wouldn’t try it at home.

It’s actually fairly common for people intending to do get us to do the planning to end up booking with us – up to us to demonstrate that we’re actually adding value.

And then there’s Consumer Protection.

If anything goes wrong with, or you’re unhappy with, the arrangements you book with us, we’re there to pick up the pieces. We have to conform to UK law, and EC law, and accept responsibility for the services we’ve said we’d deliver. We’ve also had (for 20 years) a 24-hour helpline for our clients.

In the last 3 months, clients affected by the collapse of Air Comet, the floods near Machu Picchu, and the Chilean earthquake have all had us on their side: not least in Chile, re-booking flights when not even LAN Chile could do it, and our own staff on the ground making contact with clients in person.

I know consumer protection usually comes lower than price in most people’s decision-making process, and I can go on about this, so if you’d like to know more, take a look at Journey Latin America’s website (click on AITO logo down at the bottom of the home page.)

By the way, I’ve no idea how consumer protection works in USA.

CP