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The Pros and Cons of Booking Through Online Travel Agencies

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You’re likely already familiar with online travel agencies, even if you don’t travel often. These companies — such as Priceline , Expedia and Orbitz — act as intermediaries between you and a travel provider.

Booking your travel through an OTA can be a good idea in some circumstances, but you’ll want to be wary of its pitfalls. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of online travel agencies, so you’ll know what to use to book your next vacation.

Pros of booking through online travel agencies

There are certainly advantages booking through online travel agencies, though you’ll find different experiences whether you’re using public OTAs — such as Kayak — or private ones like those offered by your card issuer, such as the Chase's travel portal .

✅ It may be cheaper

When searching for flights online, you may see different prices for the same routes that vary across websites. Although it may be a result of fare type — for example, some search results may not clarify that a fare is basic economy rather than main cabin or economy — other times, the difference comes down to competition for your business.

Online travel services will often offer slightly lower prices on flights in an effort to entice you as a customer. This is true for both hotels and airlines.

» Learn more: Best credit cards for online travel-booking websites

✅ It can earn you more rewards

Have you ever heard of shopping portals ? By logging into a shopping portal, you can earn rewards for purchases made with many online merchants. Some hotel chains, such as Hilton , Marriott and IHG , can be accessed through shopping portals while still booking directly on the hotel website. In this way, you can earn rewards with the hotel directly as well as with the shopping portal.

The same isn’t true for shopping portals and most airline sites. However, many public online travel agencies are accessible through shopping portals, which can then earn you rewards for airfare bookings. By opting to book in this way, you’ll be able to earn points or cash-back rewards through the shopping portal that you’d otherwise miss.

Some card issuers will also reward you heavily when using their online travel services. Clear examples of this can be seen with Capital One and Chase. With the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , for example, you’ll get 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel .

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is similar. With this card, you can get 10 Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Chase's portal.

While these numbers are high, it’s important to remember that there are trade-offs when booking through an OTA rather than directly with a hotel or airline. We’ll get into that a little later.

Online travel agencies offered by your card issuer may not feature the same prices as booking directly; you’ll want to compare these before committing to a purchase.

Some card issuers will go so far as to give your points more value when redeeming through their online travel agencies.

This is true with the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . When redeeming points on Chase's travel portal, you’ll get 1.25 cents in value per point rather than 1 cent elsewhere.

» Learn more: How much are your airline miles and hotel points worth this year?

Cons of booking through online travel agencies

There are several downsides when it comes to using online travel services for booking travel. It mainly comes down to the fact that travel providers prefer that you book directly with them — and offer more perks to woo your business.

❌ It can be harder to change a booking

Ever needed to change a flight after it's booked? No matter the reason, attempting to alter or otherwise cancel a flight can be a hassle — especially if you’ve booked through a third party.

Generally speaking, rather than offering you direct assistance, both hotels and airlines will recommend you contact the online travel agency you’ve booked with in order to make any changes.

While you may be able to make changes or get refunds with the travel agency, airlines and hotels can — and will — offer much more flexibility when you’ve booked with them directly. You may also be subject to additional fees charged by the online travel agency, which can erase any savings you’ve received.

❌ You may not receive elite benefits

This is the real kicker for anyone wanting elite status. Although airlines will almost always recognize your elite status and allow you to earn miles even for bookings made through an online travel agency, hotels and rental car companies will not.

This is especially important for hotel chains. Earning elite status with hotels generally relies on elite night credits. Although these can be earned in a variety of ways — including having complimentary status by holding certain credit cards — the main method of acquiring elite night credits is by spending nights in hotels. Rooms booked through an online travel agency do not count toward elite status as elite night credits.

Additionally, you will not receive any of the benefits of your existing elite status if your booking is through a third party. This can mean the loss of perks such as room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and even free Wi-Fi.

» Learn more: The best airline and hotel rewards loyalty programs this year

❌ It may be more expensive

Did you know that many hotel chains have best price guarantees? Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott and IHG all have a guarantee that’ll give you either points or a discount if you find a better rate elsewhere.

These guarantees are generous; Hilton, for example, will match the rate and then discount it by a further 25%.

Although you’ll need to file claims for these guarantees and they face limitations — such as a 24-hour window from when you made the booking — you can save a lot of money on your stay if your request is approved.

Online travel agencies can be hit or miss

There are two sides to every coin and this is no different, as there are several benefits and limitations of online travel services. Depending on your needs and loyalty program status, you’ll want to choose whether to book directly with a travel provider or rely on OTAs to do the job for you.

Booking travel through credit card portals from issuers like Chase and Capital One can earn you big rewards. But if you anticipate altering your travel plans or aim to earn elite status instead, booking directly is the way to go.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

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

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ 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

on Chase's website

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.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 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, vacation rentals 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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• Trip Planning
• Budget Travel

Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Related Articles

The Complete Guide to Booking Travel Online

What is an online travel agency, and what are the best sites and apps to use to search for hotels and flights we break it all down for you..

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There’s a lot to navigate when researching and booking travel online.

Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

My first travel adventure was to Venezuela. I booked the ticket with a travel agent over a pay phone. The agent searched a dozen flight itineraries over a few days, all so I could save $15.

Times have changed. Today, flight searches start online , often on your mobile device. Passengers book either directly with the airline or hotel or with online travel agencies. Rarely do we get on the phone. In fact, American Airlines and United Airlines charge $25 to make a domestic flight booking by phone. And pay phones hardly exist anymore.

So, what is the best way to book online? Here is our complete guide to online travel agencies, search tools, and the variety of booking options available on both mobile devices and desktops.

What is an OTA?

An online travel agency, or OTA, is a website or mobile app that allows users to search for and book travel services such as flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and activities. The booking is made directly with the online travel agency but confirmed by the service provider, such as an airline or a hotel. As a customer, your relationship is with the OTA.

What are the main OTAs?

Many online travel agencies nowadays are owned by two main companies: Expedia and Priceline. The Expedia Group is the largest online travel agency in the United States with 70 percent market share, according to travel data firm Phocuswright. Expedia Group operates Expedia.com , Orbitz, Hotels.com , Trivago, CheapTickets , Hotwire , Vrbo , and Travelocity .

Priceline is a major competitor to Expedia, with global revenues larger than the Expedia Group. The company owns Priceline.com, Booking.com, Cheapflights, Momondo, and Kayak—the latter two being metasearch engines (more on that below).

There are also independent newcomers such as Hopper (a mobile-only booking tool) and Kiwi.com (which allows you to book flights on air carriers that don’t normally have a commercial relationship).

Are OTA fares lower than booking directly?

Generally, no. The fares that are displayed by an OTA will be similar if not slightly more expensive when compared to an airline’s website. They’re usually only a few dollars higher or lower. The OTAs charge a booking fee to the airlines, and often that fee is passed directly to consumers. For example, Lufthansa tacks on an additional $18 to any booking made through an OTA for Lufthansa flights. The same flights are exactly $18 cheaper on the airline’s website.

Where you can score a good travel deal through an OTA is when booking a last-minute hotel and flight package. Many OTAs have cut agreements with airlines allowing last-minute travelers to access lower rates than are typically available when passengers book a flight alone.

Are all airlines available to be booked through OTAs?

No. Many OTAs do not display flights from some of the low-fare leaders. For example, Southwest and Allegiant flights are not available through OTAs; the same goes for Ryanair in Europe. And, earlier this year United Airlines threatened to pull out of Expedia altogether, only recently signing a multi-year agreement to stay in. The airlines would rather not lose any margin to online travel agencies in an already low-margin industry and would rather maintain a direct relationship with the customer.

Are smaller OTAs safe to use?

Expedia and Priceline are the two largest players in the online booking space, but there are dozens of independent OTAs, such as CheapOAir, OneTravel, JustFly, and SmartFares. Confusingly, you might actually stumble on ads for these OTAs while using Expedia or Priceline sites. That’s because the larger OTAs earn revenue through advertising, sending passengers to smaller OTAs and charging those OTAs for the favor.

Buyer beware: some of these lesser-known OTAs are masters at hidden fees. For example, a flight search on JetBlue allows for free seat selection in many instances. If you perform the same search on FlightNetwork, an independent OTA, and select a seat, you will be charged an additional $25—despite the fact that JetBlue doesn’t charge a seat selection fee if you book directly.

What if you need to change your itinerary?

Itinerary changes are often a pain. If your plans change, it won’t matter whether you’ve booked directly with an airline or with an OTA—you’re going to pay fees for the privilege, if you can even change your ticket at all.

For example, CheapTickets.com, which is part of the Expedia Group, charges $25 to change or cancel a ticket if that change is requested after 24 hours of making the booking—it is free if you do so within 24 hours of booking. However, the fees go up from there. JustFly, an independent OTA, charges a $75 fee for changes to domestic flights in addition to airline change fees, plus the difference in fare, for tickets that can be changed. For an international trip, the fee rises to $200. That means to change an international flight with Delta (which charges a $100 change fee) booked through JustFly, you’ll be assessed $300 in fees, plus the difference in fare. At that rate, you may as well book a new flight. FlightNetwork indicates in its terms of service that changes may incur a change fee but doesn’t specify what those fees are. That hardly makes the few dollars you saved by booking with the OTA in the first place worth it.

What is an OTA price match policy?

To assure travelers that they are getting the lowest fare possible, many OTAs have a price match policy. The rules vary and so do the benefits.

For example, if you book with Orbitz and find a less expensive flight, car rental, or activity on any U.S.-based website within 24 hours of your booking, Orbitz will refund you the difference you paid. And it works: I have personally found a flight in the same class, on the same airline, for the same origin and destination cities, and requested Orbitz to refund the difference of around $35. Within a few weeks, I received a check in the mail. A similar program applies for CheapOAir, but there’s a catch—the price difference must be found on a major OTA such as Expedia or Travelocity.

Expedia has a particularly good price match policy, but you have to pay extra for it at the time of booking. Expedia offers the price match option as an add-on that costs between $5 and $30 when you book. With the price match applied, if the airfare on Expedia drops between 120 days of the flight and up to six hours before the flight, Expedia will automatically refund you the difference in fare. Unfortunately, fares generally do not drop substantially as the travel date approaches, so while this might give you peace of mind, it’s probably not worth the expense.

How do Google Flights and other travel metasearch engines work?

Frequent fliers are likely familiar with websites such as Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, or Skyscanner. On these websites, passengers search on the site but are redirected to the service provider to complete the booking, such as an airline, rental car company, or hotel.

Metasearch started with a product called ITA Matrix, which is a tool for searching airfares online but not for actually booking online. ITA Matrix allows for multi-city searching, such as setting two different departure or arrival airports, and for offering a calendar view of fares for easier comparison. That company was acquired by Google in 2011, and savvy travelers swear by it to help find the least expensive fares online. Most consumers are more familiar with Google Flights, which has gained traction more recently not least because it has the benefit of being displayed first in search results on Google.

Metasearch engines receive distribution fees from the airlines for sending traffic to the supplier websites. There are no additional hidden fees for using a metasearch engine because you’re booking directly with the airline or hotel.

A major benefit of the metasearch engines is their price tracking tool, which lets users know whether the displayed fares are low, average, or high for the flight, allowing travelers to make a more informed decision on whether to book a flight or not . Google Flights and Kayak, for instance, both have price tracking tools.

Why not just book directly?

The airlines would definitely much rather you book directly with them. Over the past five years, they have gotten much better at marketing and selling their product directly to consumers online and through mobile sites and apps. But in the past, they weren’t so good at it. In fact, Delta, Northwest, United, American, and Continental got together to invest $145 million to launch Orbitz in 1999 to counter the threat from Expedia. Now Orbitz is owned by Expedia.

The airlines also try to encourage customers to book directly so that they can maintain a closer relationship with them. It allows carriers to connect bookings with loyalty programs and create special offers and discounts catered to individual passengers.

There is another benefit to booking directly. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires carriers to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty, so long as the booking is made at least seven days before travel. The law applies, however, only to U.S. and foreign air carriers that have websites marketed to U.S. consumers. This means that, in theory, an online travel agency does not have to offer such a policy, although most OTAs do.

What are the options for booking on your mobile device?

Airlines and the major OTAs all have apps to help you book and manage your trip on your mobile device, but their functionality is lacking compared to these websites’ desktop editions. For example, Expedia’s app doesn’t allow you to view flights on a month-view calendar. Kayak has an app with more bells and whistles and a better user interface, including a month-view calendar with color-coded pricing. It also has a handy “augmented reality” function to help you see if your carry-on bag will fit in the overhead bin (a feature originally developed by KLM). Point your phone’s camera at the luggage, and it’ll give you the dimensions.

While apps are improving and gaining in popularity, you still might find it easier to locate the best deals on flights and hotels by using your desktop, where you can have multiple tabs open and have all the available search tools at your disposal. Apps are fine for booking directly with an airline once you know which flights you want to book.

If you’re determined to use your mobile device, you may want to look into Hopper. Hopper is a mobile-first flight booking tool that has a solid price prediction tool. You can research travel options and book directly on the app. Another benefit of Hopper: Of its team of 300 employees, nearly half are dedicated to customer support and are based in Canada versus some OTAs and airlines that outsource much of their customer service further afield.

The bottom line?

Like many travelers, I enjoy a flight deal as much as the next person, but I also don’t like any added hassle. I typically start my travel searches using the ITA Matrix or Google Flights to get a general sense of the fares. It helps to know what is a good deal and what is expensive for a particular route. I do my research, typically on a desktop computer. When I’m ready to book, I’ll book directly with the airline. I’ve found that customer service is better when booking directly with the service provider. But I’ve also saved money by using OTAs and have booked with them, too. Whichever way you choose to book, you can be safe in the knowledge that finding and purchasing travel online is a lot easier today than searching for a deal with a travel agent on a pay phone.

>> Next: How to Get the Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

The 10 Best Online Travel Agencies: The Top OTAs to Connect to in 2024

Lexi DeMers

Updated: 12 Jun 2024

Online travel agencies don’t just make life easier for travelers. The best online travel agencies also offer a variety of benefits to business owners. From accessing niche markets to the billboard effect, listing your hospitality business on popular travel sites has many perks. 

These sites can help you cover low-season lulls or ensure you maximize your bookings year round. In this article, we’ll cover the best online travel agencies for hoteliers and other accommodation providers, as well as the benefits they offer. Discover how online travel agencies can help you capture your share of the $521 billion online travel market . 

The 10 Online Travel Agencies with the Highest Revenue 

Before you take the time and effort to list your business on a new channel, you’ll want to make sure that it will actually help you gain new guests. Below are the 10 best online travel agencies worldwide by annual revenue , as reported by Statista. 

Booking.com

Edreams odigeo, tripadvisor, manage all your channels with one centralized booking system, a closer look at the best online travel agencies.

All online travel agencies are not created equal. In fact, many channels cater best to specific businesses. Though listing your property on the highest earning online travel agencies is a great strategy, it is even better to understand the markets that each OTA serves.

Booking.com is a global powerhouse in the online travel agency sector. Its expansive platform includes a diverse array of property types, ranging from hostels to resorts to apartments. So it is a great OTA option for a variety of business models. Renowned for its user-friendly interface and extensive property listings, Booking.com attracts travelers from around the world. 

Hotels can seamlessly integrate with this booking engine, streamlining their reservations and room management. On average, Booking.com charges businesses a 15% commission on every booking, though this rate can vary from region to region. 

Expedia is a leading online travel agency known for its global reach and comprehensive travel offerings. This one-stop shop caters to travelers searching for accommodations, flights, car rentals, and vacation packages across the globe. 

Business owners benefit from Expedia's tools like the Partner Central platform, which aids in managing bookings, optimizing rates, and enhancing visibility. Expedia's loyalty program, Expedia Rewards, encourages repeat bookings which is why it is one of the best online travel agencies for hoteliers. However, depending on the region your business is in, Expedia charges 10% to 30% commission. 

Airbnb is a unique online travel agency that connects travelers with a wide range of accommodations, from cozy private rooms to entire homes. While it first gained fame for its home-sharing platform, it has expanded to include boutique hotels and traditional accommodations. As such, it ranks toward the top of our list of the best online travel agencies. 

Accommodation providers can tap into Airbnb's extensive network, reaching guests from around the world. While there are a few different options, most hosts on Airbnb are charged a 3% commission. Meanwhile, Airbnb charges a 14% service fee to guests on top of the nightly rate you set. 

Trivago is one of the best online travel agencies, but getting your property on the site isn’t as straightforward as the other options on this list. Trivago is a metasearch engine that scours the Internet to find the best hotel deals for travelers. It collects hotel listings and prices from various online travel agencies, hotel chains, and booking sites. 

Owners can leverage Trivago by ensuring their listings are well-optimized on other OTAs. Since it doesn't handle bookings directly, Trivago doesn’t charge business owners any commission and instead gets its revenue from other sites that advertise there. 

Despegar is one of the best online travel agencies for the Latin American market. It offers a wide range of travel-related services, including hotel bookings, flights, and car rentals. With a strong presence in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, Despegar gives travelers a convenient platform to plan and book their trips.

Business owners looking to tap into the Latin American market can benefit from listing their properties on Despegar. It allows them to access a diverse and growing customer base while also providing travelers with options tailored to their preferences and language. Hoteliers can expect to pay 10% to 15% in commission on bookings from this site. 

Save hours each week by automating the booking process

• Accept bookings 24/7
• No commission charges
• Real human support

As one of the largest online travel agencies globally, Trip.com offers a variety of services to travelers. Formerly known as Ctrip, it has a strong presence in the Asian market but has expanded its reach to cater to a diverse international audience. Travelers can use Trip.com to book hotels, flights, trains, car rentals, and other travel-related services. 

Accommodation providers aiming to attract travelers from Asia and beyond can benefit from partnering with Trip.com. As one of the best online travel agencies, it provides access to a vast customer base seeking a variety of accommodation options. By listing on Trip.com, you can expect to pay anywhere between 10% to 25% in commission. 

eDreams Odigeo is a leading European online travel agency that serves as an umbrella for several well-known brands, including eDreams, Opodo, GO Voyages, and Travellink. It caters to travelers seeking a wide range of travel products and services. By partnering with eDreams Odigeo, accommodation providers can tap into the European market and beyond. 

Whether you run a boutique hotel or manage a large resort, listing your property on one of the  eDreams Odigeo sites allows you to reach travelers from various European countries. Depending on the exact site you list your business on, you may pay commission or your guests may pay service fees. 

As a prominent online travel agency in India, MakeMyTrip has a strong foothold in the South Asian market. It offers a range of travel services, including flights, hotels, and holiday packages. By listing your property on MakeMyTrip, you can tap into the growing Indian travel market and attract travelers looking for both domestic and international accommodation options. 

MakeMyTrip's user-friendly interface and extensive marketing efforts make it a valuable platform for reaching travelers across India and the Indian diaspora. After some controversy over excessive rates in 2019, MakeMyTrip pledged to cap its commission at 22% . However, your guests will also be charged a booking fee when making reservations on this site. 

If you're targeting spontaneous travelers or those seeking last-minute deals, Lastminute.com is the best online travel agency to consider. As the name suggests, it specializes in providing travelers with a wide array of last-minute options, from flights and hotels to car rentals and activities. 

On Lastminute.com, you can attract travelers looking for instant bookings, making it an excellent choice for filling short-notice vacancies. This is great for offering discounts during off-peak periods or showcasing special promotions. To learn more about the commission rates Lastminute charges, it's best to reach out to the company directly. 

Tripadvisor is renowned for its comprehensive database of traveler reviews. But it's also a powerful online travel agency, offering an extensive platform for accommodations, restaurants, and attractions. 

By delivering exceptional experiences to your guests, you can earn positive reviews that attract more travelers to your property. Tripadvisor offers various tools for property owners to manage their listings, showcase their amenities, and respond to reviews, ensuring your property's reputation remains stellar. Plus, Tripadvisor only charges owners a 3% commission fee. 

What Are the Benefits of Using an Online Travel Agency?

Online travel agencies have revolutionized the way the hospitality industry operates. They offer a wide array of benefits that cater to both travelers and accommodation providers. In this section, we'll explore the key advantages of collaborating with some of the best online travel agencies.

Your business. Your Bookings. Your way.

Higher Booking Volume.   Of course, the main goal of listing your property on an online travel agency is getting more bookings. These sites have large audiences, which can lead to a substantial increase in bookings. 

Market insights. The best online travel agencies provide valuable data and market insights that can help you understand traveler preferences, booking patterns, and trends. In turn, this can inform your pricing, marketing, and property management strategies.

Build an Online Reputation. Many OTAs offer a review system that allows previous guests to share their experiences. Positive reviews and ratings can build trust and credibility, encouraging potential guests to choose your property.

Easier international reach. If you have international guests in mind, the top online travel agencies can help you reach travelers worldwide. They also often support various languages and currencies, making it easier for international guests to book.

Billboard effect. The Billboard Effect describes the phenomenon in which accommodation providers gain more direct bookings on their own websites after listing their property on OTAs. It illustrates that these platforms serve as powerful marketing and distribution channels.

How to Find the Best Online Travel Agencies for Your Business 

While listing your business on all of the best online travel agencies is a smart move, you can go a step further with OTAs. If you want to find the absolute best online travel agencies for your business, you’ll need to identify sites that fit your niche. 

Many OTAs cater to specific audiences, such as Thermal for surf trips and Bookatrekking.com for trekking adventures. There are also great online travel agencies for other niches, including luxury accommodations, yoga retreats, family hotels, and more. Take some time to explore various platforms’ user base and commission rates to determine which OTAs would be best for your business. 

How Can I Manage Multiple OTAs?

While having a presence on multiple OTAs can offer big rewards, having to log into and manage several different platforms is extremely time consuming. Not to mention, you risk double-books and other errors. Thankfully, you can use a channel manager to help streamline your bookings across multiple online travel agencies. 

At Bookinglayer, we offer Channex ; a fully integrated, user-friendly channel manager that allows our clients to maximize their revenue without spending extra time on administration. Channex allows business owners to integrate with up to 35 different platforms while conveniently managing everything from one simple dashboard. 

Want to Learn More About How Bookinglayer Helps Business Owners?

Bookinglayer is an all-in-one software suite designed specifically for adventure travel businesses that have complex booking scenarios. If you want to offer accommodation and activities, Bookinglayer is the most comprehensive platform on the market.

Whether is optimizing your booking flow, automating your payment processing, or streamlining your daily reports, we can help you save time, reduce errors, and increase conversions. You can sign up for a free demo to discover if you are the right fit for our software suite. 

Best Online Travel Agencies FAQ

What is an online travel agency.

An online travel agency is a web-based platform that allows users to research and book a range of travel-related services. Also known as OTAs, these marketplaces display services from various providers. They often include accommodation, flights, rental cars, tours and activities, and more. 

How do online travel agencies work?

Online travel agencies are third-party services that offer users a convenient and easy way to plan and book travel experiences. They aggregate travel services, facilitate bookings, collect payments, and publish reviews. In return, they oftentimes earn a commission from the bookings they sell.  

How do OTAs make money?

OTAs typically make money by charging business owners a commission on the bookings they sell. These commission rates can range from 10% to 30%, depending on the platform you choose and the region you operate in. In addition, some OTAs may also charge customers a service fee to help cover the costs of running the platform. 

What is the downside of using OTAs?

The downside of using an OTA is that you will likely need to pay a commission to the platform. As such, many business owners prefer to collect direct bookings. Nonetheless, the best online travel agencies serve as a great way to advertise your property and can help you increase your revenue despite the commission charges. 

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Are Online Travel Agencies Safe To Use? 👨🏻‍💻 17 Best Online Travel Agencies For Seamless Journeys: Travel Like A Pro ✈️

Are Online Travel Agencies Safe To Use? Online travel agencies are generally safe to use, but it’s essential to choose reputable and well-established platforms with positive customer reviews.

The rise of online travel agencies (OTAs) has made travel planning and booking extremely easy in today’s world.

By providing passengers from all over the world with a variety of services, offers, and packages, these platforms have changed the travel business.

Online travel agents can help you with your search for flights, hotels, holiday packages, or tours.

🤔 What are online travel agencies?

4. travelocity, 5. skyscanner, 6. lastminute.com, 8. trip.com, 10. booking.com, 11. expedia, 12. tripadvisor, 14. priceline, 15. cheapoair.

• 🧐 Things To Consider While Making Reservation Through OTA's

⭐ Advantages & Disadvantages of Online Travel Agencies

Q. is it cheaper to book online or through a travel agent, q. do online travel agencies offer better deals than airlines and hotels directly, q. can i trust user-generated reviews on online travel agency platforms, q. do online travel agencies provide customer support, q. are there any hidden fees when booking through online travel agencies.

• Q. Are the Online Travel Agencies Reliable?

Q. Do Online Travel Agencies offer personalized itineraries?

Q. are online travel agencies more expensive than booking directly, q. can i book international trips through online travel agencies, 😇 conclusion, 🗨️ tell us in the comments as per you which one is the best online travel agencies.

Online Travel Agency (OTA) is the name for a website that sells travel services. It lets customers book flights, hotels, and other trips all from one place. They are like a travel agent in the digital world.

📃 List of 17 Best Online Travel Agencies at Your Fingertips

After a lot of research and considering travelers’ reviews we have shortlisted some of the best online travel companies that are operational nowadays.

• Travelocity
• Lastminute.com
• Booking.com
• TripAdvisor

A US-based internet travel company called VRBO focuses on vacation rentals. Landlords and managers can directly register their houses on VRBO, similar to Airbnb.

When booking through Vrbo, visitors may also get travel insurance. In addition to being a part of one of the largest travel companies in the world, VRBO has a reputation for being a trustworthy lodging option.

A website called Parkos.com makes airport parking stress-free. Thanks to the company’s new online platform, potential consumers can now compare various airport parking and facilities, make a reservation, and pay for it in advance of their trip day.

Both locals and visitors have provided overwhelmingly good feedback since Parkos entered the parking sector in 2014.

All technologically aided services revolve around giving automobile owners confidence that their vehicles are safe when they are away from them.

The majority of people may gain more from this comparison, but those who drive pricey high-end cars may find it interesting.

Also Read: 10 Best Places For New Year Celebration

Hotel reservations are the focus of Agoda , a multinational online travel firm located in Singapore.

Along with many other comparable OTAs on this list, it is owned by Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com.

The Agoda network, which offers more than a million hotels and vacation rentals, is primarily focused on the Asian economy but has now grown into Europe and the United States.

The company’s marketing strategy is centered on giving customers affordable or reduced housing.

In 1996, Travelocity was established as an online travel agency with several services for customers. It is owned and operated by the international travel service provider The Expedia Group.

You can check for airfare and hotel bundles, choices for a rental vehicle, cruises, and more using Travelocity’s website.

Additionally, you can read travel-related articles, order tickets for well-liked attractions, and communicate your journey arrangements with loved ones.

A well-known company with a big customer base is Travelocity. They provide a huge selection of vacation packages, many of which are aimed at families.

Skyscanner is a metasearch aggregator that gathers prices for flights, hotels, and rental cars from all online travel agents (OTAs) in one location. Booking flights and hotels with Skyscanner typically results in the most affordable options.

After making your choice, you will be sent to a third-party booking form on the Skyscanner website where you can complete the transaction and reserve your flight.

Skyscanner is used by millions of people to compare rates and options for their travel arrangements. Simply said, it compiles and presents to customers all of the offers from all online travel agencies (OTAs).

Also Read: 15 Best Countries For Solo Travel 

City hopping is a popular pastime in Europe because of how close together the cities are. Among the top three booking sites is lastminute.com .

In this OTA, flight bookings are made through an aggregator website, and hotel reservations are made through an OTA, both of which we have seen before.

Finding last-minute discounts on hotels, flights, and all-inclusive holiday packages is the specialty of the website lastminute.com.

If you’re brave enough to play the chicken, Last Minute has the best travel deals. For tourists looking for a dealer who isn’t scared to wait until the last minute, there are a couple of better OTAs. We’re certain to have the flight or hotel bargain you’re looking for.

Members of Airbnb are allowed to advertise their available lodging and accept overnight reservations. However, the business has added hotels and homestays to its list of offerings.

However, Air b nb is extremely particular about the standards it must uphold when it comes to hotels that can be offered on its platform.

The majority of hotels must demonstrate their distinctive design, how the neighborhood affects their rooms, and how guests can access communal areas.

The most economical choice may be an Airbnb vacation rental. Additionally, compared to hotels, you are more likely to locate more beds in the same property on Airbnb.

Many Airbnbs provide sofas or futons to accommodate larger groups. For longer visits, many of these hotels provide kitchens and washing machines, enabling visitors to save money by preparing their meals.

The largest OTA in China, Trip.com , a Chinese firm, created Trip.com, an international OTA. Trip.com’s marketing initiatives are primarily aimed at domestic and international travelers to China.

Contrarily, Trip.com has a partnership with Booking.com that enables it to broaden its global reach.

Today, Trip.com has hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The organization wants to give both domestic and foreign travelers the best travel experiences possible.

Wotif also owns LastMinute, a website that offers last-minute discounts on lodging, transportation, and other travel essentials to Australians and New Zealanders.

This local internet travel business mostly caters to travelers from the UK and Europe. On this website, tourists can search for and buy flights, lodging, auto rentals, excursions, and package deals.

Also Read: 11 Best Ways To Become A Travel Enthusiast

The biggest hotel booking website in the world, Booking.com , also lets you book travel and a rental car. It can be used by travelers to learn about different types of lodging, locations, and offers.

However, making reservations for different types of lodging is where its true power lies. For the typical person, it serves as an all-inclusive travel agency.

Hotels and other accommodation facilities are only billed by Booking.com after a reservation is made.

There isn’t a monthly cost that must be paid. An all-inclusive internet travel firm called Bookin.com provides lodging and travel options all around the world.

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are a business model used by many E x pedia Group businesses, notably Expedia, the largest OTA.

The company was founded in 2001 and was based in Bellevue, Washington, in the US.

It is one of the most prosperous travel companies in the world, having localized websites in more than 40 nations.

Expedia has provided access to flights, hotels, and rental cars for more than ten years. They are the largest travel company in the world.

Its marketing plan places a strong emphasis on the value of providing affordable lodging options.

Expedia is an excellent option if you want to pay for your airfare, hotel, and car hire all at once.

One of the most well-known travel platforms, TripAdvisor provides a variety of user-generated information in addition to booking services.

Travelers get access to reviews, images, and ratings posted by other travelers, allowing them to plan their trips with greater knowledge.

The website also offers the ability to compare flights and book excursions and other activities, making it a complete online travel agency (OTA).

A meta-search engine called Kayak searches the internet for the finest travel offers on several platforms.

It provides full results on a single page by comparing costs for airfare, accommodation, rental cars, and other services.

Users of its “Explore” feature can find new places to go and the most cost-effective times to travel.

Budget-conscious travelers choose Kayak because of its simple UI and time-saving features.

The “Name Your Own Price” option on Priceline is known for allowing customers to place bids on hotel rooms and rental vehicles at the prices they like.

Priceline provides regular booking choices like flights, hotels, and rental cars in addition to the bidding system, which may not appeal to everyone.

Travelers who are flexible with their travel plans can take advantage of their Express Deals feature, which offers big reductions on unpublished rates.

Travelers seeking low-cost airline options without sacrificing quality are catered to by CheapOair .

The network appeals to people who are concerned about their spending because it offers exclusive deals and discounts on hotels, flights, and car rentals.

CheapOair makes arranging travel reservations simple with its user-friendly interface and round-the-clock customer service.

Flights, hotels, holiday packages, and activities are just a few of the travel options that Orbitz provides.

Orbitz Rewards, the platform’s loyalty program, enables customers to earn rewards and take advantage of special member advantages.

If customers discover lower rates elsewhere, Orbitz guarantees they will be refunded the difference with its price guarantee promise.

Hotwire is known for providing significantly lower rates for accommodation, travel, and transportation.

Partner hotels can offer lower rates without publicly undercutting their usual pricing because the platform hides the identity of specific hotels until after booking.

For tourists eager to take advantage of this method of surprise booking, Hotwire’s “Hot Rates” provide huge savings.

🧐 Things To Consider While Making Reservation Through OTA’s

When making reservations through an Online Travel Agency (OTA), consider the following:

• Price and Deals: Compare prices and look for exclusive deals and discounts offered by the OTA.
• Cancellation Policies: Understand the OTA’s cancellation and refund policies to avoid any inconvenience in case of changes in your plans.
• User Reviews: Check user reviews and ratings to gauge the reliability and quality of the service.
• Customer Support: Ensure the OTA provides accessible and responsive customer support for assistance during and after booking.
• Hidden Fees: Be wary of hidden fees or additional charges that may not be clearly stated upfront.
• Booking Security: Verify the OTA’s security measures to protect your personal and financial information.
• Travel Insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance for added protection against unexpected events.
• Flexibility: Choose an OTA that offers flexible booking options to accommodate any last-minute changes.
• Available Services: Confirm that the OTA offers the services you need, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities.
• User-Friendly Interface: Opt for an OTA with an intuitive and easy-to-navigate website or app for a seamless booking experience.

Advantages of Online Travel Agencies

• Convenience: Users can book flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements from the comfort of their homes, saving time and effort.
• Wide Selection: Online travel agencies offer a vast inventory of travel options, providing a variety of choices for different budgets and preferences.
• Price Comparison: Users can compare prices across multiple airlines, hotels, and car rental companies to find the best deals.
• User Reviews: Travelers can read reviews and ratings from other users to make informed decisions about their bookings.
• Exclusive Deals: Many online travel agencies offer exclusive discounts and promotions for their customers.
• 24/7 Access: Online travel agencies are available round the clock, allowing users to make bookings at any time.

Disadvantages of Online Travel Agencies

• Hidden Fees : Some online travel agencies may have hidden fees or additional charges that are not disclosed upfront.
• Lack of Personalized Service: Unlike traditional travel agents, online platforms may lack personalized recommendations and support.
• Technical Issues: Technical glitches or website outages can cause inconvenience and delay in making bookings.
• Limited Flexibility: Some online travel agencies have strict cancellation and refund policies, limiting flexibility for travelers.
• Scams and Fraud: There is a risk of encountering fraudulent websites or services when booking through unknown or unverified platforms.
• Overwhelming Options: The abundance of choices on online travel agency websites can sometimes lead to decision paralysis for users.

🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs For Online Travel Agencies

There are a lot of questions that come to our mind while making reservations through online travel agencies some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

A. Booking online often offers better deals and discounts compared to traditional travel agents.

A. Yes, online travel agencies often negotiate special deals and discounts with airlines and hotels, which can result in more cost-effective options for travelers.

A. While most user-generated reviews are genuine and helpful, it’s essential to consider multiple sources and exercise discernment when making decisions based on reviews.

A. Yes, reputable online travel agencies offer customer support via phone, email, or live chat to assist with booking inquiries and travel-related issues.

A. While some online travel agencies may charge service fees or have specific booking terms, reputable platforms are transparent about any additional costs during the booking process.

Q. Are the Online Travel Agencies Reliable ?

A. Absolutely! Online Travel Agencies are reputable and reliable. They work with established partners and have a track record of excellent customer service.

A. Yes, they do! Online Travel Agencies take your preferences and interests into account to craft personalized itineraries tailored to your needs.

A. Not necessarily. Online Travel Agencies often secure exclusive deals and discounts, making them competitive with direct bookings.

A. Yes, you can! Best Online Travel Agencies offer a wide range of international travel options and guide visa requirements.

In conclusion, online travel companies have completely changed how we organize and book our journeys.

These OTAs have evolved into crucial tools for modern travelers thanks to their user-friendly interfaces, vast inventory, and affordable prices.

The top online travel agencies included in this article can assist you in organizing an enjoyable trip, regardless of whether you are an experienced traveler or preparing for your first excursion.

Also, don’t forget to book your personalized holiday package with  Fiery Trippers . Let us make your vacation a romantic as well as a dreamy getaway.

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Rahul Siddharth

He is a dedicated travel writer with a wealth of 10 Years + experience that enriches his narratives. He holds a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Dehradun, which he couples with hands-on expertise in the field. Drawing from his diverse experiences, Rahul's writings offer readers a captivating glimpse into the world of travel. Embark on a journey of exploration and inspiration with Rahul as your guide. Read More

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The Journal

Travel Inspiration

Online Travel Agencies: Do They Offer the Best Value? (Hint: No)

The Modern Travel Agency

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/online-travel-agencies

Do online travel agencies offer the best deal? And what’s the difference between an online travel agency (a.k.a. OTA) and a host agency for independent travel agents ? We have all the intel you need to make the right decision.

Already know the difference between OTAs and real, human travel advisors? Connect with Fora to book and plan your trip with expert advice, VIP travel perks and more (i.e., all the things you don’t get when you book with an OTA).

First, what is an online travel agency (a.k.a. OTA)?

Online travel agencies are “travel agencies” in name only. More accurately, they’re automated marketplaces that allow travelers to book accommodations, flights and car rentals from a single user interface. 

Expedia, Booking.com and Travelocity are among the most well-known examples, but there are dozens of choices that offer similar experiences.

Which online travel agency is the most popular? What’s the biggest OTA?

Booking Holdings, which owns Booking.com, Priceline.com and a few other recognizable names, is the largest online travel agency. But Expedia Group Inc., which owns Expedia, Travelocity, Vrbo and, again, other recognizable OTAs, isn’t far behind. 

It might be surprising to learn that these two companies own virtually all the most popular OTAs in the United States. But the more important point is that because of a lack of real competition, these OTAs have a lot of leeway in the prices they charge. 

Worse, most hotels and suppliers don’t have much of a choice but to allow OTAs to charge high prices on their behalf because such a high percentage of their bookings go through online platforms. Which is where online host agencies come into play. But we’ll come back to that later.

Are there different types of OTAs?

Technically, there are three different types of online travel agencies. However, within the industry, there’s a conscious effort to create separation between them. 

The three models are as follows: merchant agencies like Expedia, advertising platforms like Google and, in the strictest, most literal definition of an online travel agency, most modern host agencies.

Merchant-model OTAs 

Merchant-model online travel agencies are exactly what we’ve been talking about thus far. This is the most common type of OTA, and further down, we explain why they’re not your best choice for planning and booking trips.

Of the three choices, hotels generally prefer to get as few bookings from merchant OTAs as possible because hotels don't see as much of the booking value acquired through such sites, and are often delivered less reliable clients. This type of OTA has played a major role in soaring hotel prices since the early 2000s, especially domestically, because hotels have largely been forced to raise rates to protect their profits.

Advertising-model OTAs

Advertising-model OTAs aren’t agencies so much as they are ad platforms. The most prominent example? Google. Hotels basically pay to advertise their rooms on search engines and similar websites using a cost-per-click model. 

For hotels, advertising-model OTAs can offer a slightly better deal than merchant OTAs. But they’re still not most hotels’ favorite choice. Moreover, these OTAs can be frustrating for consumers, as they often display inaccurate prices for hotels and other suppliers.

Contemporary host agencies

Contemporary host agencies are considered online travel agencies only in the sense that their services are available via the internet.

Host agencies such as Fora provide a variety of tools, exposure and other benefits for independent travel advisors, who remain in charge of their own business. The best agencies also provide extensive travel agent training , community resources and more.

In the host-agency model, clients work directly with independent travel advisors — real people — who can not only make reservations anywhere, but also plan itineraries, which is something merchant online travel agencies can’t do. Additionally, travel advisors can answer nuanced questions, set up special accommodations and do much more that an automated system can’t even begin to address.

What do we mean when we refer to online travel agencies?

We’re talking about the merchant model (i.e., Priceline.com, Airbnb, etc.). Advertising models aren’t as popular, and host agencies are, again, only semantically considered online travel agencies. 

How do online travel agencies work?

We’ve covered the basics, but here’s how online travel agencies work — and why you may not be getting the best deal if you book through one.

How exactly do OTAs make money?

There are two common ways OTAs make money: first, they operate similarly to a traditional travel agency by earning commission from hotels and other suppliers — car rental agencies, tour operators and so on. Additionally, some OTAs will purchase blocks of hotel-room bookings at a discount, only to turn around and sell them for a profit.

(How do travel agent commissions work? See our guide.)

The top online travel agencies charge hotels & other suppliers exorbitant commission rates

Unlike traditional travel agencies, which typically earn between five and 10 percent commission from a partner, the OTAs typically demand much higher rates, usually around 30%. Many hotels have grown to rely on these bookings, so they have no choice but to raise their rates and comply. 

Unfortunately, this has had a ripple effect throughout the industry. However — and this is a big however — contemporary remote travel agents who work with a host agency (like us) are able to one-up online travel agencies by offering awesome upgrades, perks and other benefits to dramatically increase the overall value (we’ll come back to this later) at no extra cost.

Want to know what types of perks Fora Advisors can unlock for you? Book and plan your next trip with Fora .

Why do travelers use online travel agencies?

The simple answer: most travelers aren’t aware of the alternatives. 

Traditional travel agencies were decimated by OTAs in the 1990s and early 2000s. Plus, a lot of travelers today either assume that travel agents are a thing of the past (they’re not) or only plan and book bespoke vacations for elite clients (anyone can use a travel advisor).

Are there any benefits of using an online travel agency?

There’s no arguing that OTAs aren’t fast. And occasionally, you may find that online travel agencies offer a good, though rarely the best, deal. 

But when you take a look at all the drawbacks below, you may question whether it still makes sense to book through an OTA.

Client-focused drawbacks of using online travel agencies

Curious to know why online travel agencies aren’t your best choice for booking? Read on. 

Already convinced? Connect with Fora to plan and book your next trip.

1. You’ll rarely receive the best value (and sometimes you’ll pay more for less)

Online travel agencies may play a role in dictating hotel rates, but they can’t offer the enticing perks you get when you book through a travel advisor instead. In other words, you may be charged the same rate regardless of how you obtain a reservation, but you’ll get a lot more for your money if you book through a travel advisor.

What kind of perks are offered? It depends on the hotel and host agency, but property credits (usually between $50 and $100 in value), complimentary meals, extended check-in/out times and special amenities are just a few of the awesome extras Fora Advisors can unlock. 

Fora Advisors may occasionally be able to score better rates, too, particularly at independent hotels.

2. You won’t get a personalized experience

Ultimately, online travel agencies only care about putting heads in beds. That’s their bottom line, and it’s a deeply impersonal process. A personalized stay is off the table.

In contrast, you’ll exclusively work with an actual human if you book through a travel advisor. Better yet, travel advisors can work with a hotel to VIP your stay (even if perks aren’t offered). This is especially beneficial if you require some sort of special accommodation. OTAs can’t do this — and even if by some miracle you manage to put in a request, OTAs don't make sure the hotel follows through. 

3. You can’t always redeem rewards perks

This varies by the online travel agency, but oftentimes, you can’t book special rates or redeem rewards when you book with an OTA. Some won’t even allow you to earn points toward loyalty programs. 

4. It can be harder to change a booking

Seriously: good luck. 

If you need to change a booking, you generally have to jump through all sorts of hoops and hope that the supplier actually hears about the changes — or you have to outright cancel the booking and hope that you can rebook. At best, it’s a hassle. At worst, it can be a nightmare that causes you to lose money that otherwise could have been spent during your trip.

Want to avoid the pitfalls of booking through an OTA? Get personalized service, VIP travel perks and more when you plan and book your trip with Fora .

5. And worse, your booking can be changed or canceled with little heads up

Imagine living out your Spain bucket list only to find out one of your bookings was canceled, and no real effort was made to warn you. Online travel agencies are automated systems — they can’t, and don’t, always react in a timely manner if a hotel is forced to alter or cancel a booking. 

Worse, OTAs have been known to overbook hotels or rental cars, leaving some travelers stranded or unsheltered at the last minute. This isn’t a common occurrence, but why even take the chance?

In either scenario, a travel advisor would be able to help you immediately.

6. Hotels know they’re getting lower-quality clients, so they’re less likely to roll out the red carpet

First, let us be clear: when we say “lower-quality clients,” we only mean clients who aren’t likely to rebook the same hotel in the future.

Going back to “putting heads in beds,” hotels have no idea whom they’re catering to when a booking is made through an OTA. At reputable hotels, this matters. Great hotels want to take care of their guests because there’s a promise of repeat business, and it’s the right thing to do.

When a travel advisor makes a booking, they can let the hotel know who their client is and the hotel can take steps to make sure their guest — you — is well cared for. At a minimum, the hotel knows that if they do a good job, the advisor is likely to send back more clients.

For the client, this means they’re far more likely to enjoy an awesome experience when they book with a travel advisor because the hotel is incentivized to roll out the red carpet. When they book with an online travel agency, though, the hotel wants to recoup the OTA commission cost, so they typically offer nothing extra.

Recap: if not OTAs, what are the best travel agencies to go through?

Host agencies such as Fora offer a much better deal than online travel agencies.

Fora advisors offer actual guidance & real service

Fora travel advisors are subject-matter experts. They can break down any aspect of your trip to make sure you’re getting the trip you desire. There’s no guesswork involved, which can’t be said when you book through an online travel agency. 

Let’s say you’re booking with a Virgin Voyages travel agent from Fora. They’ll be able to tell you the differences between all the cabins, itineraries and so on. Better yet, they can help you decide which options best suit your preferences and budget, offering a truly tailored experience.

You’ll get the best value when you book with a Fora Advisor

We’ve touched on this before, but it’s worth repeating. 

Fora Advisors secure the best available rates for clients, and there are extras to take advantage of when you book with them. Our travel advisors can score all sorts of perks for clients who stay at partner properties (nearly 5,000 hotels globally and counting). 

For example, say you book a room at Hotel Californian, one of our favorite hotels in Santa Barbara , through an online travel agency for $500 per night (it’s a nice hotel). You’ll still pay that same rate with a Fora Advisor, but when you book with us, you’ll also get complimentary daily breakfast, a $100 hotel credit that can be put toward the onsite spa and, whenever possible, extended check-in/out times — and potentially more. You’ll also get VIP treatment, personalized service and an all-around better stay.

Find out for yourself when you plan and book with Fora .

A nd even if you don’t stay at a partner hotel, you will still get better service (plus potential upgrades at many hotels around the world) when you book with a Fora Advisor. 

Fora travel advisors offer peace of mind and can help if things go awry

One of the absolute best advantages of booking with a Fora Advisor over an online travel agency: we can help if something goes wrong with your booking. 

Whether you receive the wrong room, have a reservation canceled or suddenly require some sort of special accommodation, Fora Advisors can work with the hotel to make things right at a moment’s notice. (Our personal relationships with thousands of hotels around the world help make this possible.)

OTAs often don’t even try — or they put you through a bureaucratic process, days or even weeks later, after your trip. 

Does it make sense to book corporate travel through OTAs?

It’s not unreasonable to wonder if online travel agencies offer a better deal for corporate clients. But for all the reasons mentioned above, corporate travel agents still offer better value than OTAs. This is doubly true for more nuanced bookings — like corporate group travel — where it’s wise to have an actual person there to make sure that reservations and itineraries are honored by suppliers.

Want the best value for your trip? Book with Fora instead

Overall, online travel agencies simply can’t compete with the value that a Fora Advisor offers. From A+ travel perks to unwavering assistance if something goes wrong, it makes so much more sense to plan and book your trips with Fora .

P.S. Love the idea of travel planning as a career? Become a Fora Advisor

Considering a job in the travel industry ? Check out all the reasons to become a Fora Advisor , from uber-flexible schedules to extensive marketing and training resources — not to mention unlimited earnings potential.

Interested? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor . Or check out our posts below to learn how to become a travel advisor .

How Much Do Travel Agents Make? Fora’s Full Guide  

Everything You Need to Know about a Fora Travel Advisor Salary (and How Our Advisors Get Paid)  

What Does It Take to Become a Travel Agent?  

The Ultimate Travel Side Hustle: Selling Vacations  

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent  

Why Group Bookings Are Great: Tips from an Expert  

Debunking 3 Myths about Becoming a Travel Advisor

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Top online travel agencies

Based on Cloudbeds’ data gathered from thousands of customer properties between 2021 (the benchmark used in our last report) and 2023, we’ve seen a remarkable pace of recovery for OTAs. While top OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb have held onto their spots as the highest-revenue generating OTAs, we saw China’s Trip.com rise two spots, indicating the return of Asian travelers to the market. Here are the highest revenue-generating OTAs of 2023.

Highest revenue-generating OTAs

1. booking.com.

Booking.com is one of the largest and most popular travel websites in the world, with over 1.5 million nights booked every day. Its website and mobile apps are accessible in 43 languages and feature over 50 million verified guest reviews of properties in 200+ countries. Its parent company, Booking Holdings, includes OTA brands and metasearch engines such as Priceline.com, KAYAK, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, OpenTable and more.

Expedia.com is the flagship brand of Expedia Group, which includes 200 travel booking websites, including Hotwire, Orbitz, Trivago, and Travelocity, serving 75 countries in 35 languages with over 600 million monthly visits. The website includes searches for all types of accommodations, as well as booking flights, car rentals, cruises, and vacation packages. By activating the Expedia connection, properties will broadcast their inventory on Hotels.com, Wotif, and many other channels.

Airbnb is known for providing access to unique accommodations around the world, with the vast majority of properties located outside of main hotel districts. While the company continues to expand into hotel room inventory following its acquisition of HotelTonight (known for booking last-minute lodging), its community expects a certain type of experience. Namely, something that is less cookie-cutter and more oriented to the local vibe.

4. Hostelworld

HostelWorld is a leading OTA for hostel-focused accommodations worldwide, with 12+ million guest reviews. Their inventory also includes hotels, B&Bs, and other budget accommodation types. Hostelworld aims to be a leader in social travel via its online booking options and mobile app, addressing the needs of guests who want to make connections with others as they experience the world around them. Their app and website operate in 20 different languages.

Agoda was founded in 1998 and later acquired by the Priceline Group (now called Booking Holdings) in 2007. Agoda’s website is available in 38 languages and focuses on listing all types of properties. It’s currently one of the leading online travel booking sites for the Asian market but is pushing into the US, India, and European markets.

6. Trip.com

Trip.com is China’s leading provider of travel services including reservations for accommodation, transportation, tours, and corporate travel. Founded in 1999, the company owns and operates several other OTAs and aggregators, including Trip.com, Skyscanner, Qunar, and Ctrip. 

7. Hotelbeds

By connecting to Hotelbeds, will gain unrivaled exposure to the travel industry’s largest network of B2B buyers, including more than 71,000 tour operators, travel agents, airlines, and loyalty & points schemes which can be great for business travel. 

With over 2 million bookable vacation rentals, Vrbo caters to a diverse range of needs and preferences, offering everything from cozy, intimate cabins for romantic getaways to spacious, well-appointed villas suitable for large family reunions or group vacations.

9. Traveloka

Based in Indonesia, Traveloka is one of Asia’s largest online travel agents. Traveloka lists hundreds of thousands of properties across Southeast Asia, Australia, and around the globe. The company also provides lifestyle products and services, such as tickets to attractions, activities, car rentals, and restaurant vouchers.

10. Despegar/Decolar

Despegar/Decolar is a leading online travel company in Latin America, with Despegar functioning as the global brand and Decolar representing the brand in the Brazilian market. Their marketplace operates across 20 markets and offers a broad suite of travel products in the region, including airfare, hotel bookings, travel packages, and other travel products to a large customer base.

Highest revenue-generating OTAs by country

Based on Cloudbeds data, we’ve highlighted the OTAs that are generating the most revenue for our customers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Hostelworld has moved up on the list across multiple countries, demonstrating that demand for hostels (jumping 5 spots in Thailand and the Philippines), shared accommodations, and experiences is back. In addition, we can see the return of Asian travelers as Agoda and Trip.com rise in North America and make their first appearance on Latin American lists. 

Top 10 OTAs in the U.S

• Booking.com
• Hostelworld 
• Agoda 
• HotelTonight 
• Hotelbeds 

Top 10 OTAs in Canada 

• Booking.com 
• Expedia 
• Dorms.com 
• Mrs & Mrs Smith
• Tripadvisor

Top 10 OTAs in Mexico

• Hostelworld
• Despegar/Decolar 
• PriceTravel
• Mr & Mrs. Smith

Top 10 OTAs in Spain

• Keytel 
• Mr & Mrs Smith

Top 10 OTAs in other countries 

Learn more about the top revenue-generating OTAs around the world in our Big Book of OTAs, including:

• Philippines

Highest niche revenue-generating OTAs

What are niche otas.

Niche OTAs are online travel agencies catering to specific audiences and travel needs. Many niches exist today, including OTAs for skiers, campers or glampers, adventure travelers, luxury travelers, and more.

Niche platforms can be the best online travel agencies as they are built to target more specific guest segments. Once you identify what guest segments make sense for your property, you can look into local partnerships to expand your offerings to provide a more tailored experience that complements your guests’ travel plans. For example, if you have a property close to the beach, you can find local surf instructors to partner with and offer lessons through your booking engine to attract surfers. When the guests check in, you can show them where the best surf is in town to improve the guest experience.

After a guest’s first trip is booked through a niche OTA, the guest will likely forego OTAs for their next trip in favor of booking directly on the hotel website. Niche OTAs are an essential part of any property’s online distribution strategy as they build loyalty and encourage direct bookings, helping hotels make money.

In the niche OTA market, many new channels have emerged over the past few years, especially surf & sport OTAs and luxury OTAs.

Highlighted niche OTAs surf & sports 

The global surfing tourism market is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6%, from 9.5 billion USD in 2022 to 17.1 billion USD by 2032. Travelers are increasingly looking for unique experiences, many tailored to specific activities like surfing, and seek out properties that cater to their needs. Today, the top revenue-generating Surf & Sport OTAs include:

Thermal offers a handpicked collection of the best surf trips in the world, with a focus on amazing guides who create one-of-a-kind, authentic experiences.

Good Story has an inventory of surf hotels and internationally recognized surf schools and camps for both novice and experienced surfers. 

Surf Holidays provides unique places to stay with quality local surf instruction to deliver the surf holiday of a lifetime on some of the best breaks in the world. 

Luex Surf & Snow Travel connects travelers with operators/ suppliers of once-in-a-lifetime sports travel experiences and products.

KiteSurfHolidays.com specializes in kitesurfing holidays, including accommodations and kitesurfing schools.

Highlighted niche OTAs luxury

In May 2023, Deloitte reported that the luxury travel industry had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels and is currently thriving, with a global market value of 1.2 trillion USD. Bookings at five-star hotels rose 19% over the first three quarters of 2021, and luxury travelers are more keen than ever to experience “Instagram-worthy” experiences in unique and remote locations. 

The following OTAs cater to travelers looking for luxury accommodations:

Mr & Mrs Smith includes a collection of carefully curated hotels that are first anonymously evaluated and visited by staff. This exclusive OTA works on an invitation-only basis. 

Prestigia is made up of hand-selected quality and unique hotels from all over the world. This OTA offers the best price guarantees, promotions, and exclusive offers. 

icastelli.net luxurious, historical, and unique high-level hotels are the property types found on this OTA. Collections include exclusive boutique hotels, golf hotels, spa hotels, and more.

i-escape provides unforgettable travel experiences, including eco-retreats, safari lodges, and boutique hotels. Also included is an award-winning booking system with a direct dialogue between guests and property and free advice from travel consultants. 

Tablet Hotels the official hotel selection of the MICHELIN Guide. This OTA showcases hotels that provide meaningful experiences to guests, regardless of budget. 

Spotlight – LGBTQIA+ OTAS

The global LGBTQIA+ travel market is valued at over $568.5 billion USD annually . While many countries have become increasingly welcoming to the queer community, discrimination is still prevalent today. A Booking.com study revealed that 58% of LGBTQ+ travelers face discrimination while traveling, and 41% canceled a trip within the past year after seeing their destination wasn’t LGBTQ+ friendly. 

 OTAs like ebab have emerged to offer safe and friendly accommodations to the LGBTQIA+ community.

Top OTAs by property type

Our data shows that while the top global OTAs dominate across almost all property types, some OTAs offer more opportunities for specific property types.

Channels such as Hostelworld have traditionally been popular for searching for hostels, while channels such as Vrbo and Airbnb have catered to vacation rentals. However, we’ve seen that our hotel customers are increasingly adopting Airbnb as part of their channel mix. Airbnb welcomes hotels that have a unique, independent environment and style.

Download our Big Book of OTAs to see the list of the five most popular channel connections by property type, including:

• Most popular channel connections for Hotels & Boutiques
• Most popular channel connections for Hostels
• Most popular channel connections for Vacation Rentals
• Most popular channel connections for Bed & Breakfasts

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Online Travel Agencies

Legitimate online travel agencies (bbb accredited websites).

Wish to save time and money, plan your ideal trip, compare deal prices and book your preferable airline tickets, hotel room or car rental online? Booking from legitimate and trustworthy travel websites is the best way to avoid the risks of being exploited, overcharged, scammed or ripped off. This list provides information about online travel agencies approved by the Better Business Bureau , after being thoroughly reviewed by the national consumer organization and successfully meeting all their strict requirements.

Wish to save time and money, plan your ideal trip, compare deal prices and book your preferable airline tickets, hotel room or car rental online?

Booking from legitimate and trustworthy travel websites is the best way to avoid the risks of being exploited, overcharged, scammed or ripped off. This list provides information about online travel agencies approved by the Better Business Bureau , after being thoroughly reviewed by the national consumer organization and successfully meeting all their strict requirements.

Found inaccurate or outdated information on this page? Has the BBB accreditation of a listed business been revoked?

Thanks for helping us keep this page up to date.

Recommended Reading

Consumer tips, how-to’s and articles that you may find interesting..

• Checklist: How to Find Out If a Website Is Legitimate or Not?
• The Effects of Falling Victim to a Scam
• Heads Up: 3 Common Online Scams to Be Aware of
• Profile: What is The Better Business Bureau?
• What Is a BBB Accredited Business?
• What is the Importance of BBB Accreditation for Consumers?
• Tips: What Should I Do After Being Scammed Online?
• The Sad Truth behind the Trustworthiness of Online Reviews

The mainstream travel industry is dominated by gigantic e-commerce websites that enable users to complete all their trip or vacation arrangements in one convenient place. Online travel agencies (OTA) are middleman-style companies that offer travelers the ability to book either each trip component (such as flights, hotel stays, cruises or car rentals) separately – or order bundled packages that include everything. The major players on this market provide convenient research tools that help consumers compare different features, find the best travel options for their specific schedule, destination, budget or style and enable them to mix and match various aspects of their trip. Due to their enormous size and massive market reach on a global level, OTAs have the power to offer very competitive prices, discount package deals, and even last-minute bargains. Moreover, to encourage travelers to book with them repeatedly, some of the largest travel booking sites operate loyalty programs that provide substantial benefits.

Consumer Tips: How Book Safely and Avoid Online Travel Agency Scams

Just like any other sector that involves consumers, businesses, and money that switches hands, the online travel market also has its fair share of scammers, fraudsters and cybercriminals that operate online and look for potential victims. Scammers use many illegal, unethical or dishonest ways to trick and take advantage of unsuspecting travelers, who want to find a good deal. Criminals are constantly creating and promoting fake travel agencies on the internet that work for a short time, harvest as many victims as possible and then move on to the next fraudulent booking site – which carries a new name, logo, and URL. To be effective, these bogus travel websites are often professionally designed, look like legitimate platforms and advertise phony dirt-cheap deals to lure as many consumers as possible and steal either their identity or hard-earned money. In a different variation of this type of scam, con artists build duplicate websites of the most popular online travel services in the industry. They use their official trademarked brand assets, like logos, pictures, and unique graphic design and advertise low prices to attract more travelers and then viciously defraud them. Other shady companies use illegal or unethical business practices that may come in hidden charges and undisclosed fees, unjustified penalties, arbitrary flight time changes by the agency, booking ‘mistakes’ that cost much money to repair or unresponsive customer support that never provides actual help. Taking these steps will help you find credible and reliable online travel sites and complete your purchase in a safe, secure and satisfactory way:

Be Skeptical

Always suspect too-good-to-be-true bargains and overly low rates inconsistent with average market prices. These are often the strongest telltale signs of an upcoming scam.

Avoid Using Unfamiliar Agencies

If you use a third-party reservation provider for an upcoming trip, choose a well-known, trustworthy and reputable company.

Investigate the Online Travel Agency’s BBB Record

Check the website’s record on the Better Business Bureau’s website. What you’ll find there, will help you evaluate whether it’s a legitimate business that deserves your money and trust or if you must look elsewhere. Look for current BBB rating, customer reviews, complaints, warnings and alerts on their business profile. In addition, learn how long it has been in business – a potential indicator of experience and reputation. If the company is not even listed with the BBB, this is a bad sign. On the other hand, if the travel booking site is certified as a BBB Accredited Business , it’s an important positive signal.

Pay Close Attention to Red Flags

Learn how to protect yourself better when ordering goods and services on the internet, to avoid scammers and keep safe in general. Knowing how to check if a website is legitimate or not is the first line of defense.

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eLegitimate.com was established in 2013 with the goal to provide categorized information about BBB accredited businesses across a variety of industries, sectors and market niches.

When you are searching for legitimate, reputable and honest companies that are safe to do business with, treat customers with fairness and respect and offer reliable customer service – be sure to check out our website for companies that have passed the BBB’s test.

We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase.

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• Flight Fort Lauderdale - Cancún (FLL - CUN) $136+
• Flight Dallas - Cancún (DFW - CUN) $146+
• Flight Houston - Cancún (HOU - CUN) $146+

United States

• The Kauai Inn $173+
• Tip Top Motel $177+
• Kauai Palms Hotel $177+
• Flight San Francisco - Hawaii (SFO - USHI) $147+
• Flight Los Angeles - Hawaii (LAX - USHI) $174+
• Flight San Jose - Hawaii (SJC - USHI) $197+
• Stay Classy $57+
• California Suites Hotel $66+
• Super 8 by Wyndham San Diego Hotel Circle $81+
• Flight Las Vegas - San Diego (LAS - SAN) $30+
• Flight San Jose - San Diego (SJC - SAN) $35+
• Flight San Francisco - San Diego (SFO - SAN) $45+
• Shared Living Not A Hotel $34+
• Extend-a-Suites Phoenix $51+
• HomeTowne Studios by Red Roof Phoenix West $56+
• Flight Los Angeles - Phoenix (LAX - PHX) $41+
• Flight Dallas - Phoenix (DFW - PHX) $54+
• Flight Ontario - Phoenix (ONT - PHX) $56+

Los Angeles

• Freehand Los Angeles $43+
• Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles $100+
• City Center Hotel Los Angeles $101+
• Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport $108+
• H by H Hospitality $118+
• Hollywood City Inn $125+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites LAX $128+
• Flight Las Vegas - Los Angeles (LAS - LAX) $25+
• Flight San Jose - Los Angeles (SJC - LAX) $36+
• Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $45+
• Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $46+
• Flight Seattle - Los Angeles (SEA - LAX) $51+
• Flight Philadelphia - Los Angeles (PHL - LAX) $54+
• Flight Denver - Los Angeles (DEN - LAX) $57+
• Miami Gardens Inn & Suites $62+
• Red Roof PLUS+ Miami Airport $76+
• enVision Hotel Miami International Airport $76+
• Motel 6 Miami. Fl $78+
• La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Miami Airport North $79+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Miami Airport East $85+
• Holiday Inn Miami West - Airport Area $91+
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Miami-Kendall $93+
• The Palms Inn & Suites $94+
• Holiday Inn Miami-Doral Area, An IHG Hotel $94+
• Courtyard by Marriott Miami West/FL Turnpike $100+
• Flight Dallas - Miami (DFW - MIA) $42+
• Flight Boston - Miami (BOS - MIA) $49+
• Flight Atlanta - Miami (ATL - MIA) $50+
• Flight Houston - Miami (HOU - MIA) $50+
• Flight Houston - Miami (IAH - MIA) $50+
• Flight Chicago - Miami (ORD - MIA) $52+
• Flight New York - Miami (LGA - MIA) $52+
• Flight Baltimore - Miami (BWI - MIA) $56+
• Flight Raleigh - Miami (RDU - MIA) $56+
• Flight Newark - Miami (EWR - MIA) $65+
• Flight Philadelphia - Miami (PHL - MIA) $68+
• Hometowne Studios by Red Roof Denver - Glendale/Cherry Creek $59+
• Super 8 by Wyndham Denver Stapleton $67+
• Motel 6 Denver Co Downtown $71+
• Quality Inn & Suites Denver International Airport $85+
• Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Denver International Airport $87+
• Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center $94+
• Home2 Suites By Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center $97+
• Flight Los Angeles - Denver (LAX - DEN) $55+
• Flight Ontario - Denver (ONT - DEN) $56+
• Flight San Francisco - Denver (SFO - DEN) $57+
• Flight Santa Ana - Denver (SNA - DEN) $57+
• Flight Chicago - Denver (ORD - DEN) $72+
• Flight Minneapolis - Denver (MSP - DEN) $76+
• Flight Detroit - Denver (DTW - DEN) $81+
• Hi Boston Hostel $55+
• DoubleTree by Hilton Boston Bayside $114+
• Ramada by Wyndham Boston $116+
• Flight Detroit - Boston (DTW - BOS) $35+
• Flight Newark - Boston (EWR - BOS) $37+
• Flight Atlanta - Boston (ATL - BOS) $40+
• Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Atlanta Airport $74+
• Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Atlanta/Buckhead Area $75+
• Crowne Plaza Atlanta - Midtown, an IHG Hotel $91+
• Flight Orlando - Atlanta (MCO - ATL) $27+
• Flight Philadelphia - Atlanta (PHL - ATL) $30+
• Flight New York - Atlanta (LGA - ATL) $33+
• Generator Madrid $28+
• C&H Aravaca Garden $34+
• Toc Hostel Madrid $39+
• Flight Newark - Paris (EWR - ORY) $209+
• Red Roof Inn Tampa Fairgrounds - Casino $66+
• Rodeway Inn Fairgrounds-Casino $67+
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tampa Fairgrounds - Casino $72+
• Flight Boston - Florida (BOS - USFL) $40+
• Flight Dallas - Florida (DFW - USFL) $41+
• Flight New York - Florida (LGA - USFL) $46+
• Flight Atlanta - Tampa (ATL - TPA) $31+
• Flight Baltimore - Tampa (BWI - TPA) $38+
• Flight Boston - Tampa (BOS - TPA) $40+

New Orleans

• Super 8 by Wyndham New Orleans $52+
• The Troubadour Hotel New Orleans, Tapestry Collection by Hilton $87+
• Maison Saint Charles by Hotel RL $89+
• Flight Atlanta - New Orleans (ATL - MSY) $36+
• Flight Dallas - New Orleans (DFW - MSY) $46+
• Flight Tampa - New Orleans (TPA - MSY) $47+

Frequently asked questions about KAYAK

How do i find travel deals on kayak.

Simply use one of our travel search engines to scan for prices gathered from hundreds of travel sites. KAYAK’s search results pages have loads of filter options to help you find deals, discover exactly what you’re looking for and make booking seamless. Plus, there’s no extra fee from KAYAK.

What makes KAYAK a great travel app?

On the KAYAK app for iOS and Android you’ll find all the great travel offers found on the website and much more. There are special mobile rates and app only deals that allow you to save even more money. Plus, you can get notifications straight to your phone letting you know when prices for your next trip have dropped. But the KAYAK app is much more than just a travel app. Use the Trips function to manage your travel itinerary and get up to date status alerts on flights, check-in changes and to store your boarding pass. Even if you’re in the middle of nowhere on your travels, you can still access your travel notes via Trips, as no internet connection is required.

How can I use KAYAK to manage my travel bookings?

KAYAK Trips creates a travel itinerary for you that will give you flight status alerts, can be shared with friends and more. Simply forward your booking confirmations to [email protected] or use the KAYAK app and sync your email account to keep all your travel plans organized in one app, even if you didn’t book with KAYAK. You can share your holiday plans with friends and family and also check out your travel stats for past vacations, like how far you’ve traveled, your most popular cities and how many times you’ve traveled around the world. Even if you don’t have signal, don’t worry, as you can access Trips to check out your itineraries whilst on the road. Your data is safe and secure with us and you won’t have to re-enter credit card info when booking future trips. If you want to make changes or cancel bookings, then you should contact the travel provider, which is provided on the booking confirmation.

What are KAYAK Price Alerts?

Instead of manually checking back in on the price of your next flight or stay, let KAYAK do the hard work for you with KAYAK Price Alerts. Once you’ve saved your search, our data will determine how the price will rise or fluctuate over the coming days. You’ll then get a push notification letting you know when’s the perfect time to book.

Search flights , hotels , rental cars , travel guides and more with KAYAK. KAYAK searches hundreds of other travel sites at once to get you the information you need to make the right decisions.

• Travel, Tourism & Hospitality ›
• Leisure Travel

Online travel market - statistics & facts

How big is the online travel market, what are the leading online travel agencies (otas), what travel products do consumers book online, key insights.

Detailed statistics

Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028

Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2019-2029

Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Online Travel Market

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023

Further recommended statistics

Industry overview.

• Premium Statistic Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024
• Premium Statistic Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2020-2029, by segment
• Premium Statistic Distribution of sales channels in the travel and tourism market worldwide 2019-2029
• Premium Statistic Online travel market size worldwide 2017-2028
• Premium Statistic Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment
• Premium Statistic Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide 2011-2024

Market size of the tourism sector worldwide from 2011 to 2023, with a forecast for 2024 (in trillion U.S. dollars)

Travel and tourism revenue worldwide 2020-2029, by segment

Revenue of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2020 to 2029, by segment (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue share of sales channels of the travel and tourism market worldwide from 2019 to 2029

Online travel market size worldwide from 2017 to 2023, with a forecast until 2028 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of the travel apps industry worldwide 2017-2027

Revenue of the travel apps market worldwide from 2017 to 2027 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Estimated EV/Revenue ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to revenue (EV/Revenue) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Estimated EV/EBITDA ratio in the online travel market 2024, by segment

Estimated enterprise value to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio in the online travel market worldwide as of April 2024, by segment

Online bookings

• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in Canada 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in the UK 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in China 2024
• Premium Statistic Travel product online bookings in India 2024
• Premium Statistic Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. 2024

Travel product online bookings in the U.S. as of June 2024

Travel product online bookings in Canada 2024

Travel product online bookings in Canada as of June 2024

Travel product online bookings in the UK 2024

Travel product online bookings in the UK as of June 2024

Travel product online bookings in China 2024

Travel product online bookings in China as of June 2024

Travel product online bookings in India 2024

Travel product online bookings in India as of June 2024

Importance to book a trip fully online among travelers worldwide 2023, by generation

Share of travelers who think it is important to be able to book their trip entirely online worldwide as of July 2023, by generation

Market leaders

• Premium Statistic Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2023
• Basic Statistic Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023
• Premium Statistic Most popular travel and tourism websites worldwide 2024

Revenue of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by revenue (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing expenses of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing expenses of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Marketing/revenue ratio of leading OTAs worldwide 2019-2023

Marketing to revenue ratio of leading online travel agencies (OTAs) worldwide from 2019 to 2023

Number of employees at leading travel companies worldwide 2023

Number of employees at selected leading travel companies worldwide in 2023

Market cap of leading online travel companies worldwide as of September 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Number of aggregated downloads of leading online travel agency apps worldwide 2023

Number of aggregated downloads of selected leading online travel agency apps worldwide in 2023 (in millions)

Most visited travel and tourism websites worldwide as of April 2024 (in million visits)

Booking Holdings

• Basic Statistic Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide 2010-2023, by segment

Number of bookings through Booking Holdings worldwide from 2010 to 2023, by business segment (in millions)

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Booking Holdings worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Expedia Group

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2017-2023, by business model

Revenue of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2017 to 2023, by business model (in million U.S. dollars)

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Operating income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide 2007-2023

Net income of Expedia Group, Inc. worldwide from 2007 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023
• Premium Statistic Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2017-2023

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb revenue worldwide 2019-2023, by region

Revenue of Airbnb worldwide from 2019 to 2023, by region (in billion U.S. dollars)

Airbnb operations income worldwide 2017-2023

Income from operations of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Airbnb net income worldwide 2017-2023

Net income of Airbnb worldwide from 2017 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Trip.com Group

• Premium Statistic Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2013-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Trip.com 2013-2023, by product
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Trip.com 2017-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Net income of Trip.com 2013-2023

Total revenue of Trip.com Group 2013-2023

Total revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. in China from 2013 to 2023 (in billion yuan)

Revenue of Trip.com 2013-2023, by product

Revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2013 to 2023, by product (in million yuan)

Revenue of Trip.com 2017-2023, by region

Revenue of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2017 to 2023, by region (in million yuan)

Net income of Trip.com 2013-2023

Net profit of Trip.com Group Ltd. from 2013 to 2023 (in million yuan)

Tripadvisor

• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2017-2023, by business segment
• Premium Statistic Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2012-2023, by region
• Premium Statistic Operating income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023
• Premium Statistic Net income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2017-2023, by business segment

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2017 to 2023, by business segment (in million U.S. dollars)

Revenue of Tripadvisor worldwide 2012-2023, by region

Revenue of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2012 to 2023, by region (in million U.S. dollars)

Operating income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Operating income of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

Net income of Tripadvisor worldwide 2008-2023

Net income of Tripadvisor, Inc. worldwide from 2008 to 2023 (in million U.S. dollars)

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5 Best Hosting Companies for Online Travel Agencies

Choosing the right hosting provider is crucial for running a successful online travel agency. A high-performing website that offers a smooth booking experience can make or break your business. Whether you’re starting out or scaling your operations, the right hosting solution can provide the security, speed, and reliability you need.

In this article, we’ll break down five of the best hosting providers for online travel agencies, based on pricing, performance, and features. We’ll also cover essential hosting requirements to ensure your agency website is optimized for SEO, high traffic, and seamless operations.

What to Look for in a Hosting Provider for Travel Agencies

Before we dive into the specific companies, let’s quickly discuss what you should prioritize when selecting a hosting plan for your travel website.

• Server Performance & Uptime: A hosting provider’s speed and uptime directly impact your website’s performance and SEO ranking. Look for services with a minimum of 99.9% uptime to ensure customers can access your website without interruptions.
• Scalability: As your travel business grows, your hosting needs will expand. Choose a provider that offers flexible plans so you can scale easily as you add more services, customers, and content.
• Control Panel (cPanel): Having access to a simple and powerful control panel like cPanel makes managing your site much easier, especially if you’re handling email accounts, domain names, and backups.
• Security: Given the sensitive nature of customer data (personal and payment information), robust security features like SSL certificates, malware protection, and regular backups are non-negotiable.
• Pricing: While it’s important to find an affordable plan, make sure not to sacrifice performance and support for the price. Value-for-money should be the priority.

1. PHPTRAVELS.COM

Recommended Plan: Yearly – $120 Link to Buy: https://app.phptravels.com/orders-new

PHPTRAVELS is specifically designed for travel agencies, offering hosting that integrates seamlessly with their open-source travel management software. It’s perfect for agencies looking to host their booking systems, complete with flight, hotel, and car modules.

Why Choose PHPTRAVELS?

• Tailored for travel industry needs
• Quick and easy setup with travel booking software
• Affordable hosting solution with essential features

This plan offers the flexibility and functionality that travel agencies need, with competitive pricing for both small and growing businesses.

Recommended Plan: Reseller Performance Plan – Yearly $250 Link to Buy: https://www.eurovps.com/reseller-hosting

EuroVPS is a premium hosting provider known for its high-performance servers and excellent customer support. With their Reseller Performance Plan, you get access to dedicated resources, making it ideal for agencies managing multiple websites or reselling hosting services.

• High performance with SSD storage
• Customizable reseller options for travel agencies managing multiple clients
• 24/7 expert support and a 99.99% uptime guarantee
• Higher price point compared to other options, but justified by its quality.

For agencies that handle a high volume of bookings or need multiple websites, EuroVPS offers the power and control needed to keep everything running smoothly.

3. FastComet

Recommended Plan: Extra Plan – Yearly $77 Link to Buy: https://cloud.fastcomet.com/order/product/89

FastComet offers a budget-friendly option with impressive speed and reliability. Their Extra Plan comes with free daily backups, SSD storage, and a free CDN, which can help improve your site’s loading time—important for both user experience and SEO rankings.

• Free daily backups and free CDN
• Great customer support
• Excellent value for money
• Limited advanced features for larger-scale travel agencies

FastComet is ideal for smaller travel agencies or startups that need reliable hosting at a lower price point, without compromising too much on speed or performance.

4. A2 Hosting

Recommended Plan: Turbo Nitro – Yearly $191 Link to Buy: https://cart.a2hosting.com/507?billing_cycle=annually

A2 Hosting is known for its blazing-fast servers, especially with their Turbo Plans that offer up to 20x faster speeds. If your agency deals with heavy traffic or you need fast load times for better SEO, A2 Hosting is an excellent choice. Their Turbo Nitro plan also includes unlimited SSD storage and free site migration.

• Turbo servers for faster load times
• Unlimited SSD storage
• Strong security features and free site migration
• Slightly more expensive than entry-level plans, but worth it for the performance

A2 Hosting is perfect for growing agencies or those that need top-tier performance to handle large amounts of traffic and bookings.

5. Hostinger

Recommended Plan: cPanel Plan – Yearly $35 Link to Buy: https://www.hostinger.pk/cpanel-hosting

Hostinger offers one of the most affordable hosting options without sacrificing essential features. Their cPanel hosting plan provides everything a small to mid-sized travel agency needs, including SSL certificates, daily backups, and a user-friendly interface.

• Extremely affordable
• Easy-to-use cPanel interface
• Free SSL and daily backups
• Limited support for high-traffic websites

For new or smaller agencies, Hostinger provides a budget-conscious solution that still delivers a solid hosting experience. It’s ideal for those just starting or with moderate traffic.

Final Thoughts

When choosing a hosting provider for your travel agency, it’s important to strike a balance between performance, reliability, and cost. Each of the five hosting companies listed here offers something unique, whether it’s high-performance servers, ease of use, or budget-friendly pricing.

If your agency is growing or requires a custom-built solution, PHPTRAVELS is the most tailored option. However, for those looking for budget options, FastComet and Hostinger are excellent choices. On the other hand, EuroVPS and A2 Hosting provide more power and performance for agencies expecting high traffic or managing multiple clients.

No matter which provider you choose, make sure to consider your future growth, the features you need, and how well the hosting provider aligns with your business model.

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Cash-strapped RTÉ to pay travel agency €840,000 to book corporate flights and hotels

Exclusive: The money will be paid to an agent for making arrangements and bookings, but does not cover the actual cost of flights, accommodation and other transport

• 05:00, 14 SEP 2024
• Updated 08:15, 14 SEP 2024

Cash-strapped RTÉ is set to spend up to €840,000 on travel agency services to arrange flights, accommodation and other transport requirements for staff and executives at the national broadcaster.

The money will be paid to a travel agent for arranging and booking transport and accommodation, and does not include the actual cost of flights, hotels, and other related services.

The broadcaster is currently seeking tenders for a contract to provide corporate travel services. It expects to spend €840,000 plus VAT under the contract over the next four years. Its current service provider is Club Travel.

READ MORE: Patrick Kielty says he didn't seek a rise in his €250,000 salary before second season of RTE Late Late Show

READ MORE: Cash-strapped RTE to spend nearly €2 million on 'Internet-based audience reaction panel'

The corporate travel services will predominantly involve international journeys, according to the tender documents, and prospective contractors have been asked to outline how they would manage two examples of possible trips.

One of these involves a single passenger travelling to Paris with one bag on July 1 and returning the next day. In this scenario, they want an aisle seat, and also require accommodation in a four-star hotel near Trocadero.

The other example involves a passenger travelling to Chennai, India for a week with one check-in bag or camera equipment. They also require four-star accommodation in a hotel in Kanchipurum.

A spokesman for RTÉ told the Irish Mirror that most corporate travel relates to the broadcaster’s coverage of news and sporting events overseas.

“RTÉ has a range of travel requirements relating to the delivery of public service programming and content to audiences, as well as other essential travel from time to time,” he said.

“Essential travel – flights , ferries, trains and buses, as well as accommodation, primarily outside of Ireland – predominantly relates to RTÉ’s delivery of coverage of important news events and sporting events, plus other corporate travel requirements where necessary and consistent with RTÉ’s Travel Policy.”

The spokesman added that RTÉ is contractually obliged to deliver certain coverage of news and sporting events.

The successful company will be responsible for “facilitating the booking of travel and accommodation”, and bidders are required to describe to the national broadcaster how they will ensure value for money for RTÉ.

They will also be required to give a “live demonstration” of the end-to-end process involved with their booking system. The contract is expected to be awarded to the successful company in November.

RTÉ’s unpublished annual report for 2023 shows that the broadcaster had a deficit of €9.1 million for last year, which its chairman Terence O’Rourke described as a “difficult and damaging” period for the national broadcaster. The report notes that licence fee income received by RTÉ last year was down €17.3 million on 2022.

Earlier this year, the broadcaster received a €20 million bailout from the Government in the wake of the secret payments controversy. It was also announced that it would get €725 million in public funding over the next three years.

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The 10 best online travel agencies in 2024

The top 10 online travel agencies (otas).

• Booking.com
• Lastminute.com

Best online travel agencies for business travel

1. travelperk.

Main offerings and features:

• Industry-leading travel inventory
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralised invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 fast customer support in target 15s
• VAT reclaim
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Save time and money on your business travel with TravelPerk

2. sap concur.

• Works with some of the biggest brands
• Easy tracking and reporting of expenses for expense reports
• Many connected apps, such as Uber and Airbnb for cars and hotels
• One solution for a variety of business travel spending

Click below to compare both platforms’ features and benefits

• Ample integrations
• Award-winning mobile app
• Employee-centric travel management

Click below for a more detailed comparison between both platforms:

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel, 1. booking.com.

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards programme

• Simple interface and booking tool
• Deals when making more than one booking
• 38 different languages and offers a 24-hour, multilingual customer support service
• Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• Millions of reviews to help make your decision

3. Lastminute.com

• Filter hotels according to budgets, star ratings, guest ratings, board types, and more
• ATOL protection on flight + hotel bundles
• Flash sales for last-minute deals
• Payment plans to spread out the cost of travel
• Extra entertainment booking for your trips, like theatrical productions and day trips
• Gift cards for gifting travel

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

• Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
• 24/7 support
• Lower prices on the app
• Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel

6. Bookmundi

Best online travel agencies for flights

1. skyscanner.

• Super flexible booking filters
• Cheaper flights and hotels than other OTAs
• Price alerts for travel routes of interest
• Easy-to-use booking tool and UI
• Hundreds of location and currency options
• One-way, return, and multi-city travel options

2. Kiwi.com

• Simple flight booking tool
• Partnerships with Booking.com and Rentalcars.com
• Discover deals anywhere with the option to open up your search
• Easy-to-use app

How do online travel agencies work?

What are the advantages of booking through an online travel agency.

• Access to comparison tools
• Peer reviews to help you with your decisions
• Flexible cancellation policies
• All your travel in one place
• Local flights and deals

Rewards programmes

Comparison tools, peer reviews, flexible cancellation.

Flexiperk: Cancel anytime, anywhere. Get a minimum of 80% of your money back.

One account for all of your travel needs, a local approach to global travel, wrapping up.

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

• See our platform in action . Trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, TravelPerk makes business travel simpler to manage with more flexibility, full control of spending with easy reporting, and options to offset your carbon footprint.
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Make an Appointment at a Passport Agency

Life-or-Death Emergencies

Courier and Expeditor Companies

Our passport agencies and centers :

• Process all applications we receive from acceptance facilities and by mail, and
• Serve customers by appointment only who have urgent travel to a foreign country in the next 14 calendar days, or need a foreign visa in the next 28 calendar days

The U.S. Department of State runs each passport agency and center. An agency and center is different than acceptance facilities which may include post offices, libraries, and local government offices.

Avoid the stress of needing to visit a passport agency or center for urgent travel. Apply early at an  acceptance facility  or  renew by mail .

Steps to Make an Appointment for Urgent Travel

I have not yet applied.

Follow these steps to make an appointment:

• Go to our  Online Passport Appointment System .
• Enter information about your travel plans to see if you qualify for an appointment. You may make an appointment for up to seven members of your household.
• Enter your email address. We will email you a code which you must enter to continue making an appointment. Check your junk or spam folder if you do not see the code in your inbox.
• Enter your mobile phone number. We will send you a text message with another code you must enter to continue making an appointment.
• Complete the process of scheduling your appointment. 
• Check your email for a message confirming the details of your appointment. The system will hold your appointment for 15 minutes. If you do not confirm your appointment within 15 minutes, you will need to start over.
• If you need to cancel or change the appointment, click the link in the confirmation email to get information about your appointment. 

I have already applied

• Call  1-877-487-2778  from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Mondays through Fridays, or on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Se habla español. 

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call  1-888-874-7793  for TDD/TTY teletype services. 

• We will provide you unique information that we will check on the day of your appointment to confirm your appointment is legitimate. If you are not the appointment holder, the passport agency or center will not be able to see you.
• If you need to cancel or change your appointment, please call us. We will give your appointment to a new customer calling to make an appointment. You cannot transfer your appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i know which location is processing my application and has my documents.

The first two digits of your nine-digit passport application locator number allow you to know which agency or center is working on your application. You can find your application locator number by checking our Online Passport Status System . 

How and when should I contact a passport agency or center by mail?

You can find an agency or center's mailing address on each agency or center webpage. You can contact our locations by mail if:

We sent you a letter : If we need more information to process your application , we will send you a letter in the mail. Send the information to the full mailing address in Sterling, VA listed on your letter. Do not send information to the agency’s physical address.

Map of Passport Office Locations

Make an appointment at a passport agency or center.

We have two types of appointments: Life-or-Death Emergency Service and Urgent Travel Service . You cannot walk-in. 

Not Yet Applied : Make an appointment online

Already Applied : Call  1-877-487-2778 . Se habla español.

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