HOUSTON, Updated 11:07 p.m. CDT October 4, 2000 -- Many travelers assume that the Internet offers lower prices on hotel rooms, airline tickets and vacation packages, but Website Wednesday's Brendan Keefe tells a different story.

Travelocity.com, Expedia.com and other Web sites promise to offer discounted fares, but some say that consumers may not be getting the best deal.

Local travel agents and members of Houston Web site Houston Travel Network say that sometimes online computer companies push fares that they are contractually obligated to book seats with.

Keefe pitted various online sites against the Houston Travel Network.com and Houston Travel Agent.com and found surprising results.

For a round-trip ticket from Houston to Athens using Expedia.com the fare was $923. The same trip on Travelocity.com was $913. Through an agent at the Houston Travel Network.com, the fare was $635.

A trip from Houston to Tel Aviv on Expedia was $1,552 as opposed to $840 from the Houston agency.

There are 650 Houston-areas travel agencies on the Houston Travel Network that allows travelers the ability to work through the Internet, but have access to a travel agent if needed.

Another option available on Houston Travel Network is for consumers to post their itinerary on the network and then agencies bid for business.

Travel agents say that they will search the masses of fares to find the best deal.

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