Travel Agents in the UK

Finding a good travel agent in the UK

A travel agent earns their place by knowing what a website cannot: which resort suits a family with a toddler and which a couple, which cabin on which ship, which airline's connection is worth the saving, and which hotel's photographs lie. They price the same packages as the operators' websites, often with the same or better offers, add the flights, transfers and excursions in one booking, and — the part that matters — are the person you ring at two in the morning when something goes wrong abroad. Most are on the high street or work from home as part of a larger consortium, and many specialise: cruises, long-haul, luxury, honeymoons, ski, groups, business travel.

Protection is the reason to book a package through an agent. A package holiday sold in the UK is ATOL protected for the flights and, with an ABTA or equivalent member, for the rest, so your money is safe if a company fails and you are brought home if it happens while you are away; the same trip assembled yourself from separate websites often is not. A good agent explains what is protected, holds your deposit and balance correctly, and puts the booking terms in writing.

The listings here show each agent's reviews, specialisms, protection and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who does cruises or long-haul or honeymoons, and whose customers in your town come back every year.

What travel agents do

Package holidays: beach, city, ski and all-inclusive holidays from the tour operators, with flights, transfers and hotel in one protected booking.

Cruises: ocean and river cruises, cabin advice, drinks and excursion packages, and the fly-cruise combinations that need someone to join up.

Tailor-made and long-haul: multi-centre itineraries, touring, safaris, honeymoons and milestone trips built around you, with the flights and hotels chosen rather than bundled.

Specialist: luxury travel, groups and weddings abroad, ski, sports and events, and business travel with account management and out-of-hours support.

Service: visas, insurance, currency, seat and meal requests, and the phone call that sorts a cancelled flight or a hotel that is not what was promised.

Before you book with a travel agent

• Ask what protection the booking carries: ATOL for flights, ABTA or equivalent for the rest, and get the certificate.
• Say what matters — budget, dates, who is going, what a good holiday looks like to you — and let them suggest before you name a resort.
• Ask whether the agent charges a fee, or earns commission from the operator; most high street agents charge nothing extra on packages.
• Compare their price with the operator's website; agents usually match it and often beat it with their own offers.
• Ask what happens if something goes wrong abroad and whether there is a 24-hour number.
• Book travel insurance the day you pay the deposit, not the day you fly.

What using a travel agent costs

Package holidays and cruises cost the same through an agent as direct, and often less: the agent earns commission from the operator and adds nothing, and many discount from it. Tailor-made and long-haul itineraries are priced as a whole, competitive with booking the parts yourself once the protection and the agent's rates are counted, and some independent agents charge a planning fee of £50 to £250 that is refunded on booking. Business travel agents charge a fee per booking or a management fee.

The saving on a package is the offer the agent has that day; the value is the advice, the protection and the person to ring.