Organising your own holiday can be part of the fun.

But before you dive into the internet and be your own travel agent, consider whether using a professional still might be cheaper and easier, and ultimately might get you better deals.

Cheaper?

With a zillion different websites offering cheap deals, you can handpick your flights and accommodation to suit your travel needs.

But prices can change in a flash, so that cheap flight you found yesterday may be gone today, or the hotel you were going to choose may suddenly be full.

Travel agents can lock in deals for you, so paying that little extra for this guarantee could be worth it for peace of mind. Travel agents also often have access to discounted deals and packages you just won’t find online.

Quicker?

The convenience of online travel sites will be a massive bonus for some planning their travels,  but it can also be time-consuming when you’re juggling it around the rest of your busy life.

So if you don’t want to be glued to your computer trying to sift through all that information, travel agents can take care of the whole kit and caboodle, from flights to accommodation to local tours, and everything in between.

Just tell the travel agent your destination, what you like doing and your budget, and let the pro do the rest.  Click here to find out more about how a travel agent can help you plan your itinerary.

Flying blind or trusting experience?

There’s no doubt that it can be exciting discovering that great little bed and breakfast or finding a crocodile swampland tour you thought you’d only seen on TV, but sometimes it’s better to get advice from a pro who has intimate knowledge of your holiday destination.

A travel agent can translate general ideas you have about your trip into the dream trip you can’t wait to go on because they spend every working day finding the best deals and tours, and want to help you do the same. read more about specialist travel agents here.

Troubleshooting

Booking your own flights and accommodation leaves you in complete control of your travels, and yet even the best-planned trips can occasionally encounter cancellations, delays or other problems (did you book insurance? Maybe you should…!) To ensure you enjoy  a stress-free, relaxed holiday, talk to a travel agent.

They’re well placed to help you out if you encounter any snags along your trip, or, even better, help you plan ahead so issues don’t occur in the first place.

To find a travel agency near you to book a holiday, begin your search here.