Are travel agents worth it? Pros, cons and alternatives

Generally, travel agents take on the research and logistics of trip planning. They can do everything from booking flights, hotels and tours to purchasing travel insurance and obtaining visas. 

Whether these travel advisers are worth it depends on the cost of their services, the complexity of your trip and your comfort with booking travel yourself. 

What you’ll learn:

• An agent could help troubleshoot any issues that arise while you’re traveling.

• It might be more cost-effective to plan upcoming trips yourself.

• A travel credit card can offer benefits designed to make your travel easy and rewarding.

Whether you leave the logistics to a travel agent or plan your next trip yourself might depend on your financial situation and personal preferences. With that in mind, here are some possible pros and cons of using a travel agent.

Using a travel agent could offer the following advantages:

• Time savings: Handing off the research and booking to a travel expert can save you time and effort.

• Insider knowledge: An agent could have connections or knowledge to unlock deals, upgrades or credits, and exclusive experiences.

• Ongoing support: Travel agents could assist in cases of emergencies, flight cancellations and other travel complications.

• Customized experiences: Travel agents could tailor experiences to your interests.

• Transparent pricing: Many travel agents offer the option of an all-inclusive fee up front. That means you likely won’t have to worry about additional costs once you’ve booked the trip.

Using a travel agent could offer these potential disadvantages:

• Higher cost: You might save money by organizing the trip yourself. That could be especially true if you opt for an affordable vacation spot or leverage budget-friendly travel tips.

• Lack of flexibility: If you’re the spontaneous type, booking an itinerary may feel restrictive. Doing things your own way could offer greater flexibility.

• Reduced rewards: If you have a travel rewards credit card, you may not reap its full benefits if you book through a travel agent. For instance, you could earn enhanced rewards by booking your trip through your credit card issuer’s travel portal.

Travel agent fees depend on the level of service and customization offered. Charges may be based on a: 

• Percentage: A set percentage of the total cost of the trip

• Hourly rate: The amount of time spent planning your trip

• Flat rate: A service fee, a flat-rate trip fee or a consultation fee

Travel agents may help you save money by using their know-how to find the best price on your airline tickets or hotel room. They may even be able to help you secure upgrades. But online resources have made finding inexpensive flights and booking travel yourself easier than it once was.

Whether a travel agent saves you money depends on the value of your time and whether prices, deals and discounts cover the agent’s fee.

Travel agents can take some of the hassle out of travel planning. But if you want control over your itinerary, reservations and other aspects of your trip, a travel rewards credit card might give you access to benefits and booking options beyond what an agent can offer. For example:

• Eligible Capital One rewards cardholders can use Capital One Travel to plan and book their entire trip—from vacation rentals and popular activities to flight and hotel packages—all in one place. Plus, they earn rewards on every booking.

• Capital One reimburses eligible Venture and Venture X cardholders with a statement credit when they use their card to pay their TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fee.

• Venture X primary cardholders can enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounges and participating Priority Pass™ lounges.

Of course, you can do both: Use a travel rewards credit card and a travel agent. And if you use your card to pay for the agent’s services and the reservations they make for your trip, you might earn rewards for those purchases, too.

Travel agents can be worth it. But it all comes down to how you like to plan and travel. If you’re looking for a simple way to earn rewards that you can use toward airline tickets, hotel stays, rental cars and other travel-related costs, you could consider a travel rewards credit card from Capital One.