Pros of using a travel agent
- Connect you with trusted tour operators they’ve worked with before
- Find the perfect airfares, rental cars, and cruise ships/cruise lines to fit your itinerary
- Help you save money with exclusive upgrades, discounts, and perks that aren’t available to the general public
- Offer personalized service and peace of mind
- Help you organize a group trip or family trip that meets all travelers’ requirements, saving you time and effort
- Manage trip cancellations and changes, and find flexible fares that fall within your budget
Cons of using a travel agent
- Less convenient: many travel agents only offer services during certain limited office hours. On the other hand, by booking online, you can make your bookings any time you want. Some travel booking sites also offer 24/7 customer support.
- Biased advice: travel agents earn commissions from hotel operators and airlines, so they have an incentive to push you towards booking flights or hotels that they choose.
- Limited choice: many travel agencies, especially small consumer-facing agencies, have limited inventories. Online, you’ll find a wide variety of different travel products and tour operators to choose from.
- More expensive: travel agencies often charge large booking fees for their services
- Lack of flexible payment options: some types of travel agencies, such as business travel management companies, ask all their clients to sign a rigid one-year contract with complicated fine print