Question: What is the best way to go about getting show tickets? I realize that it should be done in advance, but is there a broker you would recommend or should I just call the hotel to have them book the shows for us? And are there any cheap ticket agencies?

Answer: My experience has shown that you can usually get cheaper tickets and better seats by just calling the hotel box office yourself. Brokers will often tack on extra fees and their seat selection is limited.

Here’s an example. I went to see Whoopi Goldberg at Paris a couple of years back. I checked with a couple of brokers and the best I could do was $85 for halfway decent seats. When I called direct to Paris I got a front row center seat for $77.

The only exception to that rule is if the hotel tells you the show is sold out. Sometimes a broker will have seats, although you’ll probably pay through the nose for them.

There are several "half price" ticket agencies in town but you'll never find tickets for the really in-demand shows like the various Cirque du Soleil productions.