1) Travel agents earn commission on you
First and foremost, travel agents make money through commissions on every flight ticket and hotel room they book for you. This commission is typically included in the fare you pay. Some tickets and hotel chains offer better commission rates, so it’s in the agent’s best interest to sell the options that earn them the highest commission. While you think you’re getting the best value, the deal your agent gives you might not actually be the best one out there.
2) Booking the tickets yourself is faster
Picture this: You call a travel agent to ask about tickets to Thailand. They say they’ll email you, and if you’re lucky, you get that email an hour later. The dates likely won’t suit you and the price will be too high. Then begins the endless chain of back-and-forth emails until, days later, you agree on a deal and the trip is finally booked. Meanwhile, you probably missed out on better deals online, since airfare prices can change by the hour.
3) Travel agents might not have access to all the offers
Often, travel agents are limited by the systems they use to book tickets. This means you might not be getting the best deal possible because their system may not access every available fare, including those budget-friendly flight tickets advertised on websites like travelfree.info.
4) Mistakes happen
It’s important to acknowledge that travel agents aren’t perfect. Mistakes can and do happen. When you book flights or hotels yourself, you’re more likely to double-check the dates and destinations because you’re the one responsible for the booking process. An agent, on the other hand, is juggling hundreds of bookings daily, which increases the risk of errors.
5) The travel agent might not have been to the hotel they are advertising
It might sound surprising, but some agents act as if they’ve personally stayed at every hotel they recommend, which often isn’t true. No opinion is as valuable as that of a fellow traveler who has actually stayed at a property. By booking yourself, you can read authentic reviews from people who have real experience with the hotel, giving you a clearer picture of what to expect.