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Do Travel Agents Save You Money?

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Table of Contents

How much does a travel agent cost?

Do travel agents get discounts on flights, how can a travel agent help me, smart money move: book with the right credit card, how do i find a good travel agent.

With a few keystrokes, you can find cheap travel deals on the web. But travel agents can do that and more.

Often, travel agents receive deals directly from hotels and tour operators that you may not have access to. They also have contacts with resorts and hotels, so they can bargain for better deals. But just how much do travel agents cost? Some people assume that travel agents are expensive, which may keep them from using their services. However, that's not necessarily true.

Regardless if you go with a travel agent or plan on your own, it can be a smart money move to book with a credit card thats earns rewards on your bookings and helps you avoid foreign transaction fees if you end up traveling abroad.

The cost of using a travel agent is generally marginal, and often, they won't charge you at all. Much of their money comes from commissions the hotels and wholesalers pay them. Before you decide to book with a travel agent, inquire whether or not they charge fees.

Also, if you’ve booked a trip with a travel agent and for whatever reason need to cancel, they might be able to help get the refund more directly.

» Learn more: How to become a travel agent

Generally not, and especially not for short distances. For the most part, any discount you'd get from using a travel agent would be for a combined package. Still, it never hurts to ask if your travel agent can get you a deal on your flight.

If you're traveling internationally — especially to a country you've never visited — a travel agent can be a useful resource in helping you plan your trip. They can manage all of your booking needs, which can be easier than juggling a long itinerary that includes flights, hotels and excursions on your own.

Group travel is another common situation that can benefit from an agent's assistance. Coordinating bookings across multiple parties can get confusing. A travel agent can keep things organized, negotiate with services and personally work out any complications that may arise. Rather than trying to reserve rooms in the same hotels and seats on the same flights with multiple credit cards and names, let a travel agent do that work.

Travel agents can also be helpful by providing destination advice. Many specialize in particular destinations and can offer insight as to how you should structure your visit. Agents can direct you to the services, facilities and entertainment that best align with your interests and needs.

» Learn more: Other things a travel agent can do that a search engine can't

Whether you decide to use a travel agent to book your trip (i.e. flights, accommodations, excursions, cruises, car rentals, etc.) or plan the whole trip on your own, consider what credit card makes the most sense for your vacation.

If you're going abroad, use a card that waives foreign transaction fees so that you can avoid those fees. Also consider credit cards that include complimentary travel insurance so that you can be protected on your trip if things go awry.

Here is a sampling of cards that include travel insurance and also waive foreign transaction fees. These cards also earn rewards on travel, which you can redeem in various ways.

on Chase's website

on American Express' website

• 5 points per $1 on travel booked through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on dining (including eligible delivery services and takeout), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (not including Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).

• 2 points per $1 on other travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other purchases.

• 10 points per $1 on Chase Dining, hotel stays and car rentals purchased through Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on air travel purchased through Chase.

• 3 points per $1 on other travel and dining not booked with Chase.

• 5 points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 spent per year.

• 5 points per $1 on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 1 point per $1 on other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

• Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

• Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

• Travel accident: Up to $500,000.

• Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 6 hours.

• Travel accident: Up to $1 million.

• Rental car insurance: Up to the actual cash value of the car.

• Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 6 hours.

• Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

• Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

The cards listed above all carry annual fees, especially given all the perks they provide.

If you don't care about the perks listed and simply want a card with no annual fee that waives foreign transaction fees, check out this list of options .

Several websites can help you track down and contact suitable travel agents. TravelSense.org , part of the American Society of Travel Advisors, allows you to search by some useful parameters including specialty and geographic location.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Delay Insurance

Up to $500 per Covered Trip that is delayed for more than 6 hours; and 2 claims per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Should You Get a Travel Agent to Book Your Vacation? Here Are the Pros and Cons

Find out when using an agent is helpful and when it's not worth it.

Erica is a personal finance writer and travel expert with a decade of experience. She contributes to USA TODAY, Forbes, CNBC, and many other top-tier media outlets. Erica writes about travel tips, destinations, reward credit cards, and ways to save money on travel. Highlights: * Regular contributor to USA TODAY, covering destinations, trends, and how to save money on travel * Travel insurance expert for Forbes, contributing 50+ articles on travelers' insurance * Freelance writer covering health, real estate, business, and parenting with work published in Oprah Magazine, Reader's Digest, U.S. News & World Report, Parents, and NBC News

• Travel Agent Pros
• Travel Agent Cons
• How Much Does it Cost?
• Do Commissions Play a Role?
• How to Find an Agent

Sergey Chayko/Getty Images

If you’re getting ready to travel you may be considering using a travel agent to help plan your itinerary and book for your trip. Although there are scenarios and occasions where a travel agent could be a great asset in your trip-planning pursuits, you may not always need professional assistance. So, we’ve consulted with travel experts to break down all the pros and cons of using travel agents. 

Pros of hiring a travel agent

There are several great benefits of partnering with a travel agent. Here are a few of the standout advantages:

You get expert advice

Travel agents, after all, are experts in travel planning, and they often have inside information about a number of different destinations. “The best travel agents are experts in the place you’re traveling to, and will likely have experienced the trip they’re helping you book themselves,” says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet. “Given that, they can make personal recommendations and give advice specific to you, such as activities that fit your travel style or restaurants that fit your preferences.”

You have a go-to helper if anything goes wrong

Travel advisors can be a great resource to ensure you’re comfortable and have a smooth trip, and if something does go wrong, they’re also there to help you out, such as handling getting you rebooked in a different hotel room should something go awry, says French. “You might need support for a variety of possible disruptions, say a snowstorm delaying flights or an illness or injury to someone in your travel group,” French adds. “A travel agent is there to ensure you actually go on the trip, which means they’ll help make modifications to your itinerary in those events.”

You may get access to better deals or perks

Chris Gray Faust, executive editor of Cruise Critic , shares that travel agents have access to a treasure trove of travel deals, and can often offer special pricing that you wouldn’t have access to without working with them. “Beyond discounted pricing, they can also provide ways to save in other areas or [ways to] take full advantage of offerings available to you—bringing not just cost savings, but delivering an even greater overall value,” Gray Faust says. 

You get expert assistance with logistics, especially abroad

For many, the time and research it takes to manage the logistics of traveling, especially internationally, can be overwhelming, says Melissa DaSilva, president of Trafalgar , North America. “Advisors will step in to manage all of the logistics of in-destination transportation, score hard-to-get reservations at the best restaurants and deal with any hiccups, like flight delays or cancellations,” she explains. Travel advisors are also well-versed in the destination’s top accommodations to guide travelers towards exactly what they are looking for within their budget, says DaSilva. “Advisors can help travelers save money by keeping a pulse on the latest offers, special fares and deals, and book bucket list experiences that you may not have even known about if you hadn’t spoken to an advisor,” she says.

Cons of hiring a travel agent

There could be instances when utilizing a travel agent may not make sense. Here are some reasons you may want to skip using one. 

The added layer of communication may be unnecessary

Travel agents can be helpful in making and changing reservations, French says, but sometimes they can end up being an unnecessary middleman. “If you need to change your hotel reservation, often it’s easier to just call the hotel yourself, rather than wait for the travel agent to do it,” she acknowledges.

The enjoyment of planning your own travels could be missed

Sure, there is the convenience factor of outsourcing your trip-planning duties, but surrendering all those tasks could leave you with some vacation remorse. “If you let the agent do all the planning, then that might rob you of some of the joy that comes from travel—which is the very act of planning the trip,” cautions French. 

The travel agent may not possess the expertise you need

Gray Faust says, just like any other professional industry, the depth of travel agent knowledge and expertise varies from agent to agent, and not all agents are built the same. “When you’re looking for a travel agent, be sure to ask about their experience, their affiliations, any ongoing education and any specialties,” Gray Faust continues. “Many agents specialize in certain travel types, so their knowledge of those particular trips is even more expansive than a more generic agent.”

How much does it cost to use a travel agent?

Cost for travel agents can vary. “It depends,” says French with NerdWallet. “Sometimes, travel agents won’t cost you anything if their paychecks come from commissions paid by the suppliers who you end up booking with.” 

Other travel agencies charge fees for individual services like research, bookings and changes, in which case they might charge either by time or by service provided, French says. 

Be sure to ask that question upfront, Gray Faust says, so you don’t have any unexpected charges tacked on to your bill.

Are travel agents swayed by hospitality providers who offer higher commissions?

While it’s impossible to say definitively, as it varies by agent, French says to consider that “those who work on commission are incentivized to book you on trips that pay them out.”

Gray Faust offers a differing outlook. “A good travel agent will not be swayed by commissions, as it’s in their best interest to deliver a quality service to their clients to turn them into returning customers,” she states. 

How can you find a suitable travel agent?

Spread the news that you’re planning a trip. “Word-of-mouth is a great way to find a travel advisor—ask your family and friends to connect you with someone they worked with and loved,” DaSilva suggests.

She also recommends searching for an advisor that’s certified or credentialed and use resources such as the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). “Good travel advisors will respond in a timely manner and ask a lot of questions about what you want from your next vacation to fully understand your needs so they can match you with your perfect travel experiences,” adds DaSilva.

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Should I Use a Travel Agent? Our Travel Expert Says It Makes All the Difference.

The new age of travel agents know how to find deals, book off-the-beaten path trips, and get you out of any jam. Here are our travel expert’s favorites.

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I’ve always thought that planning my own trips was the most cost-effective way, but I’ve been hearing more about travel agents making a comeback and saving their clients a lot of money. What kinds of outdoor trips should I turn to a travel agent for, and are there any who specialize in working with adventurers like me?

Technically, I’m a professional traveler. As a journalist, it’s my job to research and connect with locals to get beneath the surface of a destination. So I have never really used travel agents. What could they plan better than I could?

A lot, it turns out. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know many travel specialists, and I consider them magicians. My big aha moment happened two winters ago on a trip to Iceland . A massive storm shut down internal flights for a day, causing me to miss my return flight to the U.S. Normally, I would have spent frustrating hours on hold with the airline. But because I’d paid $65 to have Ana Gloria Garcia, an air-support specialist at the travel agency EmbarkBeyond, find and book the most affordable and convenient flight option for me, she handled the rebookings while I soaked in the Blue Lagoon.

During the pandemic, agents became advocates helping travelers get refunds on canceled flights and trips. As travel has come roaring back, an agent’s superpower is now their access to the best hotel rooms, most in-the-know guides, free amenities, and more, says Cory Hagopian, senior vice president of sales and partnerships for Virtuoso , a global network of travel agencies.

And they’re attracting a young clientele. According to a recent industry survey , 38 percent of millennials and Gen Zers are opting to use travel agents as opposed to booking on their own trips. That number is far greater than Gen Xers and baby boomers, of whom only 12 and 2 percent respectively use agents.

What Do I Gain from Using a Travel Agent?

I recently had a friend tell me she spent close to 40 hours researching a family trip online. She probably could have gleaned the same intel from an hourlong conversation with a travel adviser. Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks for things you might not have considered, says Erika Richter, a spokesperson for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Their firsthand knowledge, vast network, and on-the-ground connections all combine to provide a unique perspective for crafting the perfect itinerary for you.

Most travel advisers specialize in certain regions and countries and travel to them frequently, so they have up-to-date intel on not only the best safari camps but the perfect tent to book for the most incredible views and the best local restaurants you won’t find on Tripadvisor. They want their client’s trips to go well to keep them coming back, so it’s in their interest to have sussed out hotels and itineraries before they send you out into the world.

Nicole Forster, 29, considers herself a savvy traveler. She’s been to 20-plus countries and enjoys destination research. But when it came to planning her honeymoon in Africa, she felt overwhelmed, so she reached out to Danielle Meyer at Coastline Travel Advisors , which specializes in bespoke itineraries. “Originally, I wanted to go to South Africa, Victoria Falls, and Madagascar,” Forster recalls. “Danielle convinced me that if we wanted to relax, we should stay in South Africa and save the other countries for separate trips.”

Over five phone conversations and multiple emails, they crafted a 15-night itinerary that included Cape Town, the winelands, the Cape Peninsula, and a safari at the Thornybush Game Reserve. Forster established her budget early in the process, and Meyer sent her a variety of lodge options to choose from.

“I initially wanted to start with the safari, but she pointed out that we’d be jet-lagged and would need to wake at sunrise for game drives,” says Forster. “The safari was our highlight, so it was a perfect way to end the trip.”

Not only did Meyer book all of the flights, hotels, and transfers, but she created a detailed, day-by-day trip app for the couple that included useful information like check-in times at hotels and how much to tip guides .

Agents also act as advocates. If something goes wrong during your travels, they’re on call 24/7 to handle it. When Forster left the battery and charger for her camera at a hotel, Meyer arranged for an on-the-ground contact to go to a camera store and buy new ones that would be delivered to her hotel the next day.

The cost for the honeymoon planning: $150 per person. “I wouldn’t use a planner for a trip to Hawaii ,” Forster says, “but if I ever took a big trip like this again, I’d 100 percent work with an expert.”  

When to Consider Using a Travel Agent

For savvy trip planners, the best time to use a travel agent is for complicated international travel. It can save you hours of planning and peace of mind that if anything goes wrong in your chosen far-flung destination, there’s someone a What’sApp message away to handle it.

Domestically, I’d consider using a travel agent when planning a multi-week national park trip or multi-island trip in Hawaii. They will save you time, guarantee you get the best guides, and help you land reservations at always-booked lodges and hotels.

Dream Trips Delivered

Jessica Cook and her husband both work in the travel industry. Decision fatigued, they handed their honeymoon logistics over to the team at Askari Travel , an agency that specializes in South Africa. Their original plan was also an African safari, but just as they were about to put a deposit down, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus made headlines. Worried about getting stuck abroad, they reached out to Askari’s founder, Muriel Truter, who is from Zimbabwe, and upon her advice, changed their focus to South America.

Knowledge is priceless, and advisers act as your insiders. They know what you don’t and fill in the blanks of things you might not even have considered.

Truter suggested they stick to Colombia rather than country-hop. Cook supplied a budget and a wish list: 12 days, no more than three destinations, a barefoot-luxe feel, and adventures like horseback riding and mountain biking. The rest was a surprise that Askari pretty much nailed, with the exception of one hotel.

“Everything felt so authentic, but this one hotel on Barú island felt really fabricated and was full of American tourists,” recalls Cook. She immediately messaged the Askari team, saying, “Hey, this place really isn’t our vibe,” and within an hour they were on a water taxi headed to Blue Apple, a B Corp hotel—and an Outside pick for tropical adventures —on Tierra Bomba island. “It was honestly the best trip we’ve ever taken,” she says.

Are Travel Agents Expensive?

It depends. Cost varies. Some travel agencies won’t charge any fee, as they receive a commission from the bookings, while some high-end agencies will charge pricey annual membership fees for their services. Still others charge nominal “professional” fees starting at $150. Fees often fluctuate based on the length and intricacy of a trip and how far out you do the planning (6 to 12 months is recommended). You may occasionally come across agents who charge a percentage of the total trip price or hourly rates.

Basic travel enquiries are generally free. In 2016, Leah Smith, founder of Tafari Travel , opened an old-school brick-and-mortar location in Denver’s Cherry Creek neighborhood so her services would feel less intimidating to first-time users. “With our retail-office location, we’ve become part of the community, and both clients and non-clients are welcome to pop in and ask whatever questions they may have, no charge,” she says.

Matt Lindsay, founder of the surf-guiding and travel company LuxSurf Travel , builds relationships with resorts and property owners to get discounted rates that he can then pass on to guests.

Dominic Allan, the founder of Real Latin America , specializes in travel to Belize and Nicaragua and caters to independent travelers who are happy to book their own flights and hotels but are seeking his local intel. Allan’s three-tier pricing structure starts at $300 for up to three hours of phone calls, during which he might weigh in on where to eat (or not to), the best room to request in a certain lodge, or whether you really need a guide to hike.

Value Versus Savings

If you’re just looking for deals and steals, you might not be ready to work with a travel adviser, says Richter of the ASTA. “Anything you invest in with a travel adviser comes back to you in the form of amenities, customer service, peace of mind, better access to unique experiences, and handcrafted itineraries,” she says. “You could save money by cutting your own hair, too, but most people go to someone who knows what they’re doing.”

Agents work with preferred partners who can guarantee perks for clients, such as free upgrades, early check-in or late check-out, and resort credits. Those add-ons often translate into savings, says Justin Huxter, cofounder of the UK-based Cartology Travel . “We had a client go to Maui for a week, and because of our partnership with the resort, breakfast was included,” he says. When breakfast costs $120 for two, that’s a savings of $840.”

Some of the Best Travel Agents in the Adventure World

Some of my go-to resources for finding a person to work with include travel expert Wendy Perrin’s annual Wow List of tried and trusted agents, the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s adviser network , and the ASTA’s advisor directory .

In addition to the agents mentioned throughout this story, others I highly recommend for adventurous travelers include:

• Dan Achber of Trufflepig , for Africa and the Middle East
• Miguel Cunant of Sri Lanka in Style
• Javier Echecopar of Journey Costa Rica
• Daniel Fraser of Smiling Albino , for Southeast Asia
• Elizabeth Gordon of Extraordinary Journeys , for Africa
• Kleon Howe of the Art of Travel , for French Polynesia
• Jay Johnson of Coastline Travel , for Hawaii and California
• Antonello Losito of Southern Visions Travel , for Puglia, Italy
• Rabia Malik of Fora Travel , for general worldwide travel
• Robyn Mark of Mayamaya Travel , for Africa, the Alps, Patagonia, and Japan
• Marisol Mosquera of Aracari , for Peru and Bolivia
• Zach Rabinor of Journey Mexico
• Raluca Spiac of Beyond Dracula , for Romania

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy is now a believer in using a travel agent. Thanks to their expertise and connections, she’s avoided dozens of trip catastrophes. 

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Are travel agents worth it? Pros, cons and what to consider

December 21, 2023 | 5 min read

Travel agents were more common in the past, but they can still be an option when it comes to planning your next vacation. Learn more about using a travel agent, including what they do, how much they cost and how they compare to planning a vacation yourself.

Key takeaways

• Travel agents can plan your trips for you, from booking hotels to making sure you have the right documents for traveling.
• The cost for a travel agent could range from nothing at all to hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Travel agents may help you access upgrades and benefits that you may not find on your own, but finding the right travel agent could take time.

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What is a travel agent?

Travel agents, also known as travel advisors, plan trips for individuals and groups. This can include booking flights, rental cars, hotels, restaurants and tours as well as purchasing travel insurance , obtaining necessary visas for international travel and more.

A travel agent can coordinate your itinerary, from organizing multiple destinations to handling last-minute flight cancellations. Generally speaking, travel agents take on the research and logistics of trip planning so you can focus on the trip itself.

How much does a travel agent cost?

Travel agents may charge service fees, flat-rate trip fees or consultation fees. For example, you might pay a flat rate of between $100 and $500 for a travel agent. There are some travel agents who operate with no cost to customers and instead receive commissions on the flights and accommodations they book. Others may offer more high-end, customized experiences at premium rates in the thousands.

Is it more expensive to go through a travel agent?

When it comes to cost, it depends on what works best for you. Travel agents may help you save money by using their know-how to find the best price on your airline tickets or hotel room—or even secure upgrades. However, with so many online booking resources available—like Capital One Travel —finding inexpensive flights and booking all your own travel might outweigh the price of a travel agent.

Pros and cons of using a travel agent

Deciding whether a travel agent is worth it to you will depend on your financial situation, your personal preferences and the type of trip you’re planning. Whether you want to leave the travel planning to someone else or plan your next trip yourself , it can be helpful to consider all the factors.

Advantages of using a travel agent

A travel agent could offer the following advantages:

• Handing off the research and booking to an expert can save time in the trip-planning process.
• Using a travel agent may help you during the trip, because travel agents could assist in cases of emergencies, cancellations and other travel complications.
• An agent’s industry knowledge can be helpful in finding benefits that may not be accessible to you, from flight deals and upgrades to extra credits to use aboard cruise lines.
• Travel agents could plan more exclusive activities for you away from the crowds and find you more unique experiences tailored to your interests.
• Many travel agents offer the option of an all-inclusive fee up front, so you likely won’t have to worry about additional costs once you’ve booked the trip.

Disadvantages of using a travel agent

There are also some potential disadvantages of using a travel agent to consider:

• You may prefer booking your own trip if you have specific tastes and like to handpick each stop along your journey.
• Depending on the trip you have in mind, you might save more money by organizing it yourself rather than through a travel agent, especially if you opt for an affordable vacation spot or want to leverage budget-friendly travel tips .
• While a travel agent can save you research time for your trip, you’ll still need to spend time finding the right agent to stick to your budget and needs.
• If you’re the spontaneous type, booking an itinerary may feel restrictive. Doing things your own way can offer greater flexibility.
• A travel rewards credit card may give you certain benefits that a travel agent can’t.

Should you use a travel rewards credit card instead?

Travel agents can take some of the stress out of travel planning, but if you’re the type of person who wants control over their itinerary, reservations and other aspects of your trip, opening a travel rewards credit card may be a better option.

Travel rewards credit cards can come with benefits that travel agents may not be able to offer. For example, with a Capital One travel rewards credit card, you could enjoy access to exclusive features like Capital One Travel , a  TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry credit , Priority Pass™ and more. You’ll also earn rewards on every dollar you spend, even if it’s not related to travel. And you can use those rewards toward airfare and hotel stays.

Keep in mind that you’re free to open a travel rewards credit card and use a travel agent. And if you use your card to pay for their services and the reservations they make, you might earn rewards for those purchases too.

Travel agents in a nutshell

Travel agents can be worth it if you prefer to leave the legwork of planning a trip to someone else, or if you enjoy getting upgrades and visiting off-the-beaten-track destinations. They might even save you money on your trip.

It all comes down to how you prefer to travel. If you’re looking for a simple way to earn rewards that you can use toward your airline tickets, hotel stays, rental cars and other travel-related costs, you might want to consider a travel rewards credit card from Capital One .

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Are Travel Agents Still Useful?

Back before the Internet (you remember those days, right?), when people wanted to plan a vacation, they used a travel agent. These lovely folks would book your flights, cruises, resort stays, honeymoons, and everything in between. They would take care of all your arrangements and be there to liaison between you and the company.

They were who you called when things went wrong. They got you the deals you couldn’t find on your own because you didn’t have access to the resources they did.

But travel agents feel antiquated now.

As online booking websites and the sharing economy have become more popular, travel agents have diminished in importance (9/11 and the 2008 recession didn’t help either).

The Internet age have made it easy for us travelers to cut out the travel agent and plan our own trips by booking directly with airlines and hotels (or, nowadays, with locals — thanks, Airbnb ).

Moreover, the many deal websites out there helping us find cheap airfares and hotels have allowed consumers to find the cheap prices that used to be the domain of agents.

The web has cut out the middle man and the age of travel agents seems to be on the decline.

According to Ryan Geist of Burner Air :

The direct-to-consumer websites cut down the time it took to plan a trip from hours or days to minutes. And there is complete transparency. You can bargain-shop with a click of your mouse. It’s been devastating to an industry entrenched in tradition and stale relationships.

And yet, though “the death of travel agents” has been touted since Expedia debuted, they still exist, though greatly diminished in number ( the number of freelance travel agents went from 124,030 in 2000 to 66,670 in 2019 ).

But that’s still a pretty high number.

In fact, 43% of travelers still prefer to use an agent when booking flights .

That is because they still offer value for certain types of travel (they’re heavily used for luxury, corporate, and group travel), as well as for their expertise and special business relationships — not to mention their time-saving, stress-relieving, and problem-solving skills.

Travel agents are useful if you’re doing a very costly or complex trip, planning a honeymoon or something fancy, or traveling with a large group. They have access to a number of deals and bulk buying options we DIY solo consumers don’t, especially when it comes to tours, high-end flights, and cruises.

As Patricia Serrano from Fresh Traveler puts it:

It’s very easy to book a flight from New York to Miami today, and if that’s all you want, then you should do it online. But if you’re looking for flights for a group of more than 10 people or a flight itinerary like JFK-MIA-BOG-EZE-LAX-SEA-ORD-EWR, then a travel agent would be of great help.

They are also perfect for people who just don’t want to handle a big, complicated trip themselves. Travel agents offer them peace of mind. As Ryan said, “Logistics can be simple or complicated, but they almost always induce a headache. People will pay good money to someone they trust to just ‘handle it’ for them.”

Alicia Saba from The Splendid Traveler echoes this:

Travel agents are still used for expert guidance, personalized travels, and to save time. The Internet has made it easier to book your own travels, but with that comes informational overload. Travel planning is a time-consuming process, and you don’t really know if you’re taking full advantage of your vacation time or planning experiences that align with your interests and travel style.

As Cheryl Oddo from Carefree Vacations says,

People want firsthand knowledge and experience, the inside track on getting the most out of their vacation, making it memorable and affordable. They want someone to say ‘that’s a mistake, I recommend this instead,’ and to explain travel insurance, passport requirements, visas, self-drives in foreign countries, customs and cultures, and all of the ‘how-tos.’

I agree with all of them.

Travel agents are for people who don’t want to spend hours researching their trips, are not experienced travelers , or are traveling in such a large group that the economics and logistics of booking it yourself do your head in.

I’m not surprised that travel agents have seen a rise in usage of the last few years, especially among millennials who try to outsource time-intensive activities.

If you’re traveling with a group of 15 people for your grandmother’s birthday on a cruise, a travel agent can definitely get you a better deal than you can yourself. Agents come in handy when buying in bulk because they often have access to deals (this applies to airline tickets too).

Planning a honeymoon or a luxury trip? Complicated round-the-world trip for a family of four? The highly specialized nature of travel agents makes them great for these kinds of trips too.

Take cruises. Travel agents have relationships with cruise lines and access to deals we everyday consumers don’t. Doug Parker from Cruise Radio advises that you start with a travel agent, as they have relationships with the cruise companies and can often get better rates and last-minute deals. Travel agents often can find much lower prices and can also act as a liaison to cruise companies when something goes wrong.

Agents talk to cruise lines all the time so if you want that 15 person trip to go smoothly, an agent would be better.

And that’s another place where travel agents could come in handy: when trouble crops up. Patricia advises, “Travel agents can save you time and money when you are in an emergency. A lot of airlines and hotel chains have preferred numbers for travel agents so they can get in touch quickly with the people who can best resolve your situation. “

Ryan agreed: “A travel agency’s greatest assets are its unique and leveraged relationships, its ability to problem-solve for its clients in real-time, 24/7, and its role as a cat herder for group travel. When you’re in trouble, there is no substitute for a knowledgeable, reliable, and leveraged travel agent.”

So am I suddenly enamored with travel agents? No. I still personally don’t use them. I like booking trips, know where to find deals, and don’t plan family trips for twenty. Give me a flight on points, a hostel, and a bus ticket, and I’m all set.

If you’re planning a trip to Bermuda for you, your spouse, and family, it’s pretty straightforward: go online, find a cheap flight, book a hotel or Airbnb, and off you go.

Backpacking through Europe? A travel agent can’t tell you to go with the flow. They aren’t going to get you deals on hostels, backpacker tours, train tickets, or beat those budget airline carriers.

Every travel agent I spoke to agreed with me on this point. “If you’re staying in budget accommodations and not looking to preplan any activities or transportation, you’re better off booking on your own,” Alicia responded.

But if you are organizing a huge group, need dozens of plane tickets, for which we use a travel agent), a honeymoon, a complex itinerary, or an expensive trip, a travel agent is probably a good idea. They will make life easier, get you bulk discounts, and be there in case anything goes wrong.

If I were planning a trip that fell into one of those categories, I would look into a travel agent , even if it was just to test the waters.

They’ll save you tip and be worth the price you pay for a seamless, stress-free trip.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.  

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Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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