You understand the value of a financial advisor and a decorator, right? It's money well spent if your time is precious and I'm a great believer in paying for specialist expertise. I engaged Absolute Asia a few years ago to plan two family vacations to Southeast Asia. Our experience on both occasions was wonderful and, in fact, want them plan a third trip in 2010.

So, when we decided to take a family trip to Argentina for Christmas, I searched for a tour operator, which specialized in the region. The first agency I contacted was from Conde Nast Traveler's recommended list of travel agents with a South American focus. My contact at the agency was their "Argentina expert". I carefully explained that we were looking for - a soft adventure focus that my husband, 16 year old son and I could all enjoy. So they could explicitly understand our needs, I went on to say that we were not hikers and wanted to be comfortable. I wanted to hear what they had recommend - not accommodations, just activities.

The agent proceeded to give me what was obviously a standard speech on their itinerary options, not at all what I wanted, and mentioned hiking and boat cruises (the latter of no interest to a teenage boy). Short on creativity and expertise, the agent finished with the "recorded" message, and without my asking, was quick to tell me that we had to count on $1000 per person per day.

Experiences like this are what drive people to the internet to do their own trip planning.