Right. I passed by a travel agent the other day. Didn't even know those still existed. But I wondered if that's what they would do. I just assumed a travel agent was Expedia before Expedia. Maybe I'm wrong.
If you find the right travel agent that matches skills/experiences with what you are looking for, you will be amazed at the difference that they make.
Flying to Anytown, USA, finding a hotel and visiting the sites? No need for a travel agent there.
Trying to determine which country to visit for a safari that fits your budget? Absolutely.
Travel agents get paid on commission and they bust their tail to make sure you are happy and they beat your expectations.
Keep in mind, if you go to a travel agent that specializes in cruises and you ask them about land tours in Europe, you're probably not going to get much out of that experience.
There are tons of companies out there that specialize in planning all types of travel. If you are really just trying to figure out the best way to plan something, a travel agent is a no-brainer.
Here's just a few that you can search for someone in your area or town...
Travel Leaders - Largest consortia of travel agent locations in the US (7000+)
Virtuoso - High end consortia of travel agents that cater to luxury travel (20,000 agents around the world)
Signature Travel Network - Another consortia of 7000+ agents around the world
Cruise Planners - Franchise agencies that focus on Cruise but sell everything else too
There are so many independent consultants out there that work from home but plenty of brick and mortar agencies also (Expedia Cruiseship Centers, Liberty Travel, local travel agencies, etc) that you can visit in your town.
If anything, just wander in to an agency one day, pick up a couple brochures and have a quick chat with an agent. You're mileage may vary but it's worth a shot (and it doesn't cost a thing).