Is It Cheaper To Book Direct Or Through A Travel Agent

Ignore the phrasing and grammar as I'm directly quoting here. In short, my answer is a controversial one given my industry, but the truth is no. It's not always cheaper. At least not in my experience having been on both sides of the fence. However, it depends on the type of vacation you're looking to book as sometimes that answer is a resounding yes.

Here's the much longer answer though and a look beyond the price tag. If you choose to read it, just keep in mind that this is my take on it, and not necessarily travel industry gospel.

Prices can be somewhat cheaper booking directly with suppliers online when it comes to City Breaks, All Inclusive Package Holidays or Flights Only, but only mildly, and often come without the perks and assurances of booking through a Travel Agent. Such as personal customer care and direct 24hr emergency access. A Travel Agent is also your personal researcher and spends the time it takes finding you the perfect holiday and filling out all the online forms you need to actually get your vacation booked.

The amount of time a Travel Agent can save you is incredibly invaluable in comparison to the slightly higher price you might pay on some holidays. For example, you have 1000s of options to sift through in todays saturated market, and you have to guess at if you’re choosing a good option for yourself. Travel Agents take that stress away by asking the right questions and narrowing down your options to better suite you. A good agent wouldn’t allow you to book a bad option, or one that doesn’t quite match your needs. A good Travel Agent will also do all the legwork for you to ensure your vacation fully ticks your boxes, such as emailing the hotel to ask if they have hypoallergenic pillows or offer fragrant free shampoos.