Best Travel Agents & Booking Services
Luxury Escapes 🏆 2026
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I was trying to book flights online but decided to ring Luxury escapes by phone. I was able to speak to a representative very quickly and he was amazing. He was super helpful and made the whole process very easy. Excellent service Show details
Mann Travel

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I had a great experience with Shubham Kumar. He was very helpful, patient, and guided me through the entire process smoothly. He answered all my… Read more
questions clearly and made everything easy to understand. Highly recommend his service for anyone looking for a reliable travel agent!
Ticket Merchant 🏆 2026

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Received tickets awesome seats. Had a great time. Great concert
Odynovo

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Thank you so much to Odynovo and our incredible travel agent, Christal, for making our trip to Morocco truly unforgettable. From the very beginning,… Read more
Christal was attentive, responsive, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to understand exactly what we were looking for and created an itinerary that perfectly balanced culture, adventure, and relaxation. Every detail was thoughtfully planned, from the beautiful riads to the seamless transportation and the amazing local guides who brought Morocco to life.
What stood out the most was how smooth and stress-free everything felt. Traveling in a new country can be overwhelming, but thanks to Odynovo and Christal, we never had to worry about anything. Whenever we had questions or needed small adjustments, Christal was always quick to respond and ensure everything was taken care of.
Morocco itself was breathtaking, the vibrant souks, the stunning Sahara Desert, and the rich history, but having such a well-organized and personalized trip made the experience even more special.
We are so grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime experience and would highly recommend Odynovo and Christal to anyone planning a trip. Thank you again for making everything so easy and enjoyable!
flybuys travel
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If I could do zero I would. I found the agent pushy ringing multiple times a day. I ended up having to block the number. It has turned me off using flybuys travel
My Holiday AU 🏆 2026
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I receive a Text from My Holiday every week offering a different holiday. I have never contacted MY Holiday about a holiday. I ring MY Holiday every… Read more
week and tell them about my problem and every week they say they can not help me with this Spam. The unsubscribe codes on the texts do work/ it does not accept it!
I have previously provided both Mobile Number and e-mail address to the My Holiday number you asked me to send details to. They claim they have no record of both and that " Marketing" are the ones sending me the texts. Are you now saying that after weeks of complaints you can now stop these texts if i once again provide the Mobile Number?
Imagine Cruising 🏆 2026
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This my 3rd holiday booked staff are so friendly and helpful. My prebious holidays to Abrolhos Islands and South Africa were fantastic. Show details
AmazingCo
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We did a Sunshine Coast Hinterland mystery family picnic and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun weekend! Show details
Clean Cruising
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Sally was amazing to deal with, the rest of the team were very helpful as well, keeping us up to date with the progress of our trip, looking forward to our next trip, thank-you Show details
China Highlights 🏆 2026
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Excellent tour of Nanjing with a very knowledgeable guide Emily we saw a lovely town with amazing areas and very good food Show details
Getawayz NSW
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We had such a great stay at Hidden Valley Eco Lodge. The location is absolutely stunning — surrounded by nature and incredibly peaceful. It was… Read more
exactly what we needed to switch off and enjoy a proper off-grid weekend.
The lodge itself had everything we needed, and the whole experience felt relaxing from the moment we arrived. Waking up to the quiet and the views was a real highlight.
We’d definitely love to come back again and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to disconnect and recharge.
TravelOnline
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Fantastic process from start to finish, communication was great!! We will definitely book another holiday through Travelonline .. Show details
TripADeal
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We recently did the Discovery Trip and Dragon was our guide. He was fabulous. Nothing was too much trouble. He had a lovely sense of humour and was… Read more
very knowledgeable. He and our great driver always had a smile on their faces and worked hard. The trip with Trip a Deal was fabulous. Julie-Anne and Paul
Cheers Travel 🏆 2026
Excellent service, very professional and on time. Looking forward to book again from this Travel. Show details
Global Work & Travel
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I noticed a real lack of transparency regarding their refund policy at the time of booking. It was only after I made a payment that I was emailed the… Read more
terms and conditions, which is when I realized you can't actually get your money back. They also prefer to do everything over the phone—especially payments—using high-pressure techniques, and then they only email you the full details after the fact.
Due to health reasons and their high-pressure methods, I wanted a full refund but was denied. I would not recommend going with Global Work and Travel. If you do, make sure you read the very complex terms and conditions on their website thoroughly first. Even then, after this experience, I’d prefer to do it on my own.
Hi Hana, We’re genuinely sorry to read that… Read more
Cruise Guru
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So far so good. Booking two cruises has been a breeze. I like that you can search by destination,cruise lines and also compare. The communication to date has been excellent. Show details
HolidayMax
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I paid a trip in 10/2025 which schedule on 11/1/2026 On 15/12/2025 I confirmed and emailed them about cancellation the trip because of medical… Read more
condition. On 20/1/2026 I have provided them Medical certificate from Specialist. Even though many email to follow ups the matter, Holiday Max didnot give me the Clear day to refund and delay processing of refund and claiming about their suppliers. They also gave me strict rules to pay the cost in their time frames other wise the trip will automatic kick out in cancellation and all the 1st payment will lost. I have no choice as they caused me Financial lost and Inconvenience , I have to further this matter with VCAT with no more wasting time.
Experience Oz

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Easy process and voucher was in my email straight away Show details
My Fiji
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Just returned from my Fiji holiday booked through My Fiji, they were excellent to deal with, and the package they had booked for us was amazing. All… Read more
the tours we did, we absolutely loved. Seriously, no issues, communication was great with them. 10/10 would definitely book again.
Classic Holidays
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The staff were friendly and efficient. The room was clean and when we needed some extra supplies this was acted on promptly. Show details
Bookme.com.au
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I booked an expensive tour but realised it was for the wrong date and had to cancel. I emailed straight away but their terms and conditions state… Read more
there is a 10% cancellation fee. Greg in the customer support team helped me with this promptly so I have gone from a disgruntled customer to a returning customer.
Ecruising Travel
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Please don't fall into the same trap as us. Our July 2025 booking and deposit (cruise, flights, accommodation for an October 2026 trip) led to an… Read more
invoice that clearly, boldly stated that payment of balance not required until June 2026. In January, the story changed. We were now required to pay a further deposit of $12000 immediately to secure our trip and, by the way, our flight costs had increased by a total of $4800 despite initial assurances that the quote definitely covered our requested flights. We cancelled in January (9 months ahead of planned trip) and were informed that a $1000 penalty would apply, and that the balance of our deposit would take up to 12 weeks to refund. This despite assurances from the actual cruise line, the airlines and the accommodation venue that any cancellation that far ahead would not, from them at least, require a penalty. We regard ecruising's approach to be classic bait-and-switch misleading advertising and have lodged a submission with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission accordingly.
Hi David Thank you for taking the time to share… Read more
Australian Escapes
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Australian escapes provided a very helpful service, organising and booking everything we needed for our trip to Singapore. They suggested activities… Read more
/ tours, great choices of accommodation with a focus on location, comfort, accessibility to public transport and amenities. An amazing itinerary was created within our budget and the trip with transfers included went smoothly. At our accommodation we received great service, that was quick and efficient. A comfortable room with everything needed. Close to several attractions, many eating choices with lots of shopping on the door step. Terrific Trip overall.
Aunt Betty
I was anxious at first, but once I realised it was part of Flight Centre Group I was calmed. The process was easy, with enough double checks to ensure I was happy with dates and price. Thank-you Aunt Betty Show details
Wendy Wu Tours
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We have recently completed a 7 day land tour of Borneo (February 29th to 28th) with Wendy Wu Tours followed by a 12 night cruise with Celebrity… Read more
Cruise Lines. ALl booked through ROL Cruises, a booking company we have used with total satisfaction for a number of years now. The Borneo element of our holiday was, in fact, a river based safari. Everything about it was nothing short of excellent. The hotels and lodges were first class, as was the food and service. The 2 guides, Michael and Eric were similarly first class and both friendly and knowledgeable, Thanks to them bpth for making it happen. It would be difficult to single our just one aspect of our trip as being above the rest but, if we had to choose, the day we saw the Pygmy Elephants would be right up there. But them, so would the orangutans that we saw, and, of course, the monkeys, birds and the crocodiles we saw along the riverside. But having lunch with a local family was an good chance to meet local people and enjoy the children, a very thoughtful thing to do. This was not our first experience of Wendy Wu Tours. In 2013 we toured China for 1 month and saw everything we wanted to see. The guide then Joy was also excellent. Brilliant! Everything about Wendy Wu i s'brilliant' i.e. the organisation, admin, attention to detail but especially the pre-tour documentation that tells you all about the places visited and the level of fitness needed. Huge thanks to Wendy Wu Tours for a fantastic and most enjoyable experience.
Peterpans Adventure Travel
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Booked Rainbow Beach and Kgari through Peterpans, epic trip highly recommend Show details
Travel China Guide Tours
Amy was very excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and professional. Very well spoken in English. Local knowledge and pride in the city. Overall excellent experience! Show details
HotelsCombined
Only inexperienced or naive travelers use these or Trivago. Both have been find millions for price fixing and dodgy practices. Booking.com is the only site I use because they are cheapest and most trustworthy.
Professional Holiday Homes
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I complained about the cleanliness of this property to Professional Holiday homes and was offered a $200 credit to stay at the same dirty holiday… Read more
house.... Not really a 'gesture of goodwill'. The place is crawling with cockroaches and littered with cockroach poo all through the kitchen and bathroom. There were dirty underpants outside, the gate was off its hinges and the door couldn't be accessed as it the screen for the code was so scratched. I paid more for what looked like a 'nicer' place than others in the area. Its not. Go for something cheaper.
This is the response from Professional Holiday Homes after I had raised concerns during my stay. I will never book with them again.
Thank you for your feedback regarding your recent stay. We have reviewed the concerns you’ve raised. We acknowledge that some aspects of the property presentation and maintenance did not meet the expected standard, particularly in relation to cleanliness and the items you noted. These matters are being followed up internally with our housekeeping and maintenance teams. In relation to the fire pit, this is a seasonal feature and is only available for use between May and September. As your stay was in April, it was not available during your booking period. We also note that concerns are best raised during the stay so our team has the opportunity to attend and resolve them promptly, in line with our Rental Agreement. As a gesture of goodwill, we would like to offer you a $200 credit toward a future stay at this property. Please note that this credit is valid for use at the same property only.
iFly
Just so wonderful the level of service- after 6 years they managed to get a refund from the airline from a Covid flight cancellation without me having asked. Just incredible . Show details
What does a travel agent do for you?
Travel agents plan and book trips for their clients, whether for business trips or holidays. They listen to your travel preferences and source anything from flights and accommodation to tours and restaurant bookings for you.
Ultimately, a travel agent’s job is to ensure you have the best possible experience. To do this, they also:
- Liaise with hotels and hotel agents, airlines, tour operators, and other travel companies to ensure you have a great experience without you needing to put in much effort.
- Assist you if you get into any sticky situations abroad.
Using an agent is generally thought to save you hours of research, which is why using a travel agent instead of booking online may be a good idea for time-pressed people. Of course, you will be paying extra for these little luxuries, but for many travellers, the trade-off is well worth it.
What is a booking service?
You can now act as your own travel agent and use airline, car rental, hotel, and other sites, such as Odynovo and Travel Online, to book your own trip. These websites let you compare different travel deals and purchase whichever ones strike your fancy.
Those who still want a little bit of guidance can still consult an online travel agent or travel consultant without enlisting them to plan their whole holiday for you.
Booking your own travel is generally more suited to spontaneous travellers who like to plan as they go, shoestring travellers who aren’t picky about where they’ll stay, and travellers who have an exact idea of what they want to do and aren’t necessarily seeking advice from an agent.
What are comparison-only services?
Comparison-only services, such as HotelsCombined and Skyscanner, only let you compare prices of different travel services, without letting you book these directly on the website. This means that clicking through on a deal will usually take you to a third-party website, such as the website of an airline or a hotel.
Consider what kind of travel you want to do
Those who like to travel with a daily itinerary and have their activities planned out may be more inclined to use travel agents, while those who prefer off-the-cuff, spontaneous travel with just a general idea of what they want to do rather than a specific plan may suffice with making their own bookings.
Many travel agents these days will also specialise in a certain area, such as cruises (like cruise agents at Clean Cruising) or honeymoons. If you’re after a particular type of getaway, then finding an agent who knows all the ins and outs of exactly what you want to do could be a good place to start.
You can think of it as dating of sorts - you’re in better hands with a travel agent who takes a genuine interest in you and your travel ideas. Whether you want to do a rail trip around Europe or backpack through South-East Asia, an agent whose eyes light up at the sound of your plans and adds their own personal touch is a good match.
What to look for in a travel agent
Accreditation
Travel agents in Australia aren’t required to be licensed, however they can still get voluntary accreditation with the ATAS, or the AFTA Travel Accreditation Scheme. This is run by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), the peak travel agent body in Australia, which vets agents to ensure that they meet industry standards and are adequately trained.
According to ATAS, the benefits of booking with an industry-accredited ATAS agent include:
- Expert guidance. Agents know how to wade through the abundance of travel information online and have access to high quality product suppliers.
- Extra value. ATAS agents have access to exclusive deals and can find the most well-suited products for you.
- Professional advice. They offer insightful, timely, and professional guidance to get you where you want to go.
- Consumer advocacy. If there are any problems while you travel, your agent will act as your advocate, providing support and assistance in the case of events like flight delays or cancellations, rescheduling, natural disasters, and personal accidents.
Know your rights
Even though travel agents don’t need a licence, they still must comply with relevant laws, such as Australian Consumer Law and any relevant state Fair Trading laws. This means that you’re entitled to appropriate remedy from a service if the product or service you’ve purchased doesn’t meet consumer guarantees.
Knowledge
No travel agent is going to have local knowledge of every single city and country on the planet. However, finding an agent who has been to, knows about, or is ready to go the extra mile and do research on your destination is usually a good sign.
Customer service
A high level of customer service is key to ensuring you get the most out of your holiday. Of course, a friendly travel agent will help you enjoy the process of booking your travel, not just the travel itself. On top of this, you should keep an eye out for transparency and timeliness when comparing agents.
Transparency
A good agent is transparent about their fees and charges, the terms and conditions of your trip, and why they think certain deals are better than others - some even show you their computer screen so you know they aren’t hiking up prices. If they wait before revealing hidden or extra costs, then that’s a red flag.
Timeliness
A travel agent who replies promptly is often a keeper. Not only does constant communication make booking your travel a whole lot quicker and easier, you’ll also be able to nab up the latest deals without a hitch. If things go wrong on your trip, an agent who helps you in a timely way when you’re in need can make or break your whole holiday.
Deals
Some travellers, such as students and pensioners, may have access to special travel deals, information, and discounted fares that they normally wouldn’t be able to find with a few queries on a search engine.
Don’t expect every travel agent to know about all these concessions. For example, students may want to look for a youth-oriented travel agency or agents situated in backpacker-heavy locations.
Cost
The price that travel agents charge for their services can vary greatly, and will also depend on the length, complexity, and nature of your trip. For a week-long holiday, you can generally expect to pay somewhere between $100 for more inexpensive solo trips to over $2000 for a luxury stay.
It’s normal for travel agencies and tour operators to charge reschedule and cancellation fees, so make sure you know these costs before you book.
What to look for in a travel booking service
Ease of use
A decent booking service should be clear and easy to navigate. Clicking on a link should get you where it tells you it will, rather than to an advertisement or some other pop-up. Complicated booking sites may be that way to obscure hidden fees or sway you into choosing a flight or hotel of their liking.
A website which lets you save information as you search, such as the dates you want to fly on and any hotels you’ve “favourited”, will make the whole process a lot quicker and easier.
Transparency
A booking site may advertise a certain price, but then show a different price once you click on the deal. This could mean that either the pricing just isn’t up to date, or that the website is intentionally showing you a cheaper price to get you to click through. Either way, these booking services are misleading and you may be better off avoiding them altogether.
Read the fine print
Make sure you’re well-acquainted with any terms and conditions of your booking so that you’re not slapped with a hefty fee once you’ve returned from your holiday. This is particularly important if a deal just sounds way too good to be true.
Rewards
Many travel booking sites will reward you for using them to plan your holidays, incentivising you to use the same service for any future trips.
Expedia, for example, lets you earn Expedia points with every trip you book through them, which you can then use to save on hotels, travel packages, and car rentals. Some services also offer you perks the more you travel, giving you things like discounted spa days and free Wi-Fi on your trip.
Prices
Just because using a booking service is generally cheaper than using a travel agent, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there won’t be fees associated with using them, so ensure you double check details to see whether you’re actually paying a good price.
Some booking services also offer price matching, offering the same or a better price than the lowest price you’ve found.
You can always use both
There are pros and cons to using a travel agent and a booking service, so don’t feel like using one means you can’t use the other.
Some people like to do their own research and compare prices they find to quotes from agents before deciding who to go with. Some also use travel agents for bigger purchases - such as flights and accommodation - but prefer to do car bookings, rail bookings, and organise day trips themselves.
At the end of the day, it’s your trip, and how you plan it is entirely up to you.
Updated response from me is above.