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The software travel agents have been waiting for.

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Whether you are a travel agent, a travel agency, or an agent host, Tess provides the tools and services that will help you build your business.

Tess by Travel eSolutions, LLC

Tess, by Travel eSolutions, LLC, is an online application completely dedicated to helping travel agents and agencies become more efficient and accurate. Whether you are a large host agency or a single agent Tess will save you time and money.

It all starts with your clients, managed in a custom CRM. You record the trips and bookings that you sell and Tess will help you track the payments you receive from the wholesaler or venue. Tess will calculate the commission through any number of agents and sub-agents to ensure that money is always reconciled and that you know if you have unpaid bookings.

Tess for the Travel Agent

Tess provides a travel agent with all of the tools they need to manage their business. The responsive web application works on any device, anytime, anywhere.

• CRM to manage all clients and leads
• Trips, Bookings, Documents, Invoices, Notes and Task
• Reports and Metrics
• Automated Bon Voyage and welcome home emails to your clients
• Recieve commission payments from Agency, Host, or Wholesaler
• View details on over 250,000 properties and ships
• Track your bookings across suppliers and destinations
• Manage group trips, from simple getaways to complex destination contracts
• Know when you have commissions due or overdue
• Build email templates in an easy to use designer
• Get help quickly through an integrated help desk

Tess for the Travel Agency

• Manage any number of agents and sub-agents at different comission levels
• Pay all agents with the click of a button
• Access your data anytime and import it into other systems for analysis
• Manage vendor/supplier details including metrics on usage
• Get help with custom reports and data extracts
• Completely replace ClientBase and Trams
• Individual support to help import your existing data

Tess for the Host Agency

Host agencies have unique needs and Tess scales to fill them seemlessly.

• Agents and agencies get all of the benefits of Tess listed above
• Manage commissions due, adjustments, unclaimed bookings, COOP, bonus
• Simple payment for all agents
• Integration with ACH systems
• Custom analytics based on your companies needs
• Free accounts for back office employees
• Custom pricing for large host agencies
• Custom integration with existing systems
• Custom import of historical data
• Completely replace ClientBase and Trams or keep them in place and seamlessly integrate

The Complete Guide to Booking Travel Online

What is an online travel agency, and what are the best sites and apps to use to search for hotels and flights we break it all down for you..

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There’s a lot to navigate when researching and booking travel online.

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My first travel adventure was to Venezuela. I booked the ticket with a travel agent over a pay phone. The agent searched a dozen flight itineraries over a few days, all so I could save $15.

Times have changed. Today, flight searches start online , often on your mobile device. Passengers book either directly with the airline or hotel or with online travel agencies. Rarely do we get on the phone. In fact, American Airlines and United Airlines charge $25 to make a domestic flight booking by phone. And pay phones hardly exist anymore.

So, what is the best way to book online? Here is our complete guide to online travel agencies, search tools, and the variety of booking options available on both mobile devices and desktops.

What is an OTA?

An online travel agency, or OTA, is a website or mobile app that allows users to search for and book travel services such as flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and activities. The booking is made directly with the online travel agency but confirmed by the service provider, such as an airline or a hotel. As a customer, your relationship is with the OTA.

What are the main OTAs?

Many online travel agencies nowadays are owned by two main companies: Expedia and Priceline. The Expedia Group is the largest online travel agency in the United States with 70 percent market share, according to travel data firm Phocuswright. Expedia Group operates Expedia.com , Orbitz, Hotels.com , Trivago, CheapTickets , Hotwire , Vrbo , and Travelocity .

Priceline is a major competitor to Expedia, with global revenues larger than the Expedia Group. The company owns Priceline.com, Booking.com, Cheapflights, Momondo, and Kayak—the latter two being metasearch engines (more on that below).

There are also independent newcomers such as Hopper (a mobile-only booking tool) and Kiwi.com (which allows you to book flights on air carriers that don’t normally have a commercial relationship).

Are OTA fares lower than booking directly?

Generally, no. The fares that are displayed by an OTA will be similar if not slightly more expensive when compared to an airline’s website. They’re usually only a few dollars higher or lower. The OTAs charge a booking fee to the airlines, and often that fee is passed directly to consumers. For example, Lufthansa tacks on an additional $18 to any booking made through an OTA for Lufthansa flights. The same flights are exactly $18 cheaper on the airline’s website.

Where you can score a good travel deal through an OTA is when booking a last-minute hotel and flight package. Many OTAs have cut agreements with airlines allowing last-minute travelers to access lower rates than are typically available when passengers book a flight alone.

Are all airlines available to be booked through OTAs?

No. Many OTAs do not display flights from some of the low-fare leaders. For example, Southwest and Allegiant flights are not available through OTAs; the same goes for Ryanair in Europe. And, earlier this year United Airlines threatened to pull out of Expedia altogether, only recently signing a multi-year agreement to stay in. The airlines would rather not lose any margin to online travel agencies in an already low-margin industry and would rather maintain a direct relationship with the customer.

Are smaller OTAs safe to use?

Expedia and Priceline are the two largest players in the online booking space, but there are dozens of independent OTAs, such as CheapOAir, OneTravel, JustFly, and SmartFares. Confusingly, you might actually stumble on ads for these OTAs while using Expedia or Priceline sites. That’s because the larger OTAs earn revenue through advertising, sending passengers to smaller OTAs and charging those OTAs for the favor.

Buyer beware: some of these lesser-known OTAs are masters at hidden fees. For example, a flight search on JetBlue allows for free seat selection in many instances. If you perform the same search on FlightNetwork, an independent OTA, and select a seat, you will be charged an additional $25—despite the fact that JetBlue doesn’t charge a seat selection fee if you book directly.

What if you need to change your itinerary?

Itinerary changes are often a pain. If your plans change, it won’t matter whether you’ve booked directly with an airline or with an OTA—you’re going to pay fees for the privilege, if you can even change your ticket at all.

For example, CheapTickets.com, which is part of the Expedia Group, charges $25 to change or cancel a ticket if that change is requested after 24 hours of making the booking—it is free if you do so within 24 hours of booking. However, the fees go up from there. JustFly, an independent OTA, charges a $75 fee for changes to domestic flights in addition to airline change fees, plus the difference in fare, for tickets that can be changed. For an international trip, the fee rises to $200. That means to change an international flight with Delta (which charges a $100 change fee) booked through JustFly, you’ll be assessed $300 in fees, plus the difference in fare. At that rate, you may as well book a new flight. FlightNetwork indicates in its terms of service that changes may incur a change fee but doesn’t specify what those fees are. That hardly makes the few dollars you saved by booking with the OTA in the first place worth it.

What is an OTA price match policy?

To assure travelers that they are getting the lowest fare possible, many OTAs have a price match policy. The rules vary and so do the benefits.

For example, if you book with Orbitz and find a less expensive flight, car rental, or activity on any U.S.-based website within 24 hours of your booking, Orbitz will refund you the difference you paid. And it works: I have personally found a flight in the same class, on the same airline, for the same origin and destination cities, and requested Orbitz to refund the difference of around $35. Within a few weeks, I received a check in the mail. A similar program applies for CheapOAir, but there’s a catch—the price difference must be found on a major OTA such as Expedia or Travelocity.

Expedia has a particularly good price match policy, but you have to pay extra for it at the time of booking. Expedia offers the price match option as an add-on that costs between $5 and $30 when you book. With the price match applied, if the airfare on Expedia drops between 120 days of the flight and up to six hours before the flight, Expedia will automatically refund you the difference in fare. Unfortunately, fares generally do not drop substantially as the travel date approaches, so while this might give you peace of mind, it’s probably not worth the expense.

How do Google Flights and other travel metasearch engines work?

Frequent fliers are likely familiar with websites such as Google Flights, Kayak, Momondo, or Skyscanner. On these websites, passengers search on the site but are redirected to the service provider to complete the booking, such as an airline, rental car company, or hotel.

Metasearch started with a product called ITA Matrix, which is a tool for searching airfares online but not for actually booking online. ITA Matrix allows for multi-city searching, such as setting two different departure or arrival airports, and for offering a calendar view of fares for easier comparison. That company was acquired by Google in 2011, and savvy travelers swear by it to help find the least expensive fares online. Most consumers are more familiar with Google Flights, which has gained traction more recently not least because it has the benefit of being displayed first in search results on Google.

Metasearch engines receive distribution fees from the airlines for sending traffic to the supplier websites. There are no additional hidden fees for using a metasearch engine because you’re booking directly with the airline or hotel.

A major benefit of the metasearch engines is their price tracking tool, which lets users know whether the displayed fares are low, average, or high for the flight, allowing travelers to make a more informed decision on whether to book a flight or not . Google Flights and Kayak, for instance, both have price tracking tools.

Why not just book directly?

The airlines would definitely much rather you book directly with them. Over the past five years, they have gotten much better at marketing and selling their product directly to consumers online and through mobile sites and apps. But in the past, they weren’t so good at it. In fact, Delta, Northwest, United, American, and Continental got together to invest $145 million to launch Orbitz in 1999 to counter the threat from Expedia. Now Orbitz is owned by Expedia.

The airlines also try to encourage customers to book directly so that they can maintain a closer relationship with them. It allows carriers to connect bookings with loyalty programs and create special offers and discounts catered to individual passengers.

There is another benefit to booking directly. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires carriers to hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty, so long as the booking is made at least seven days before travel. The law applies, however, only to U.S. and foreign air carriers that have websites marketed to U.S. consumers. This means that, in theory, an online travel agency does not have to offer such a policy, although most OTAs do.

What are the options for booking on your mobile device?

Airlines and the major OTAs all have apps to help you book and manage your trip on your mobile device, but their functionality is lacking compared to these websites’ desktop editions. For example, Expedia’s app doesn’t allow you to view flights on a month-view calendar. Kayak has an app with more bells and whistles and a better user interface, including a month-view calendar with color-coded pricing. It also has a handy “augmented reality” function to help you see if your carry-on bag will fit in the overhead bin (a feature originally developed by KLM). Point your phone’s camera at the luggage, and it’ll give you the dimensions.

While apps are improving and gaining in popularity, you still might find it easier to locate the best deals on flights and hotels by using your desktop, where you can have multiple tabs open and have all the available search tools at your disposal. Apps are fine for booking directly with an airline once you know which flights you want to book.

If you’re determined to use your mobile device, you may want to look into Hopper. Hopper is a mobile-first flight booking tool that has a solid price prediction tool. You can research travel options and book directly on the app. Another benefit of Hopper: Of its team of 300 employees, nearly half are dedicated to customer support and are based in Canada versus some OTAs and airlines that outsource much of their customer service further afield.

The bottom line?

Like many travelers, I enjoy a flight deal as much as the next person, but I also don’t like any added hassle. I typically start my travel searches using the ITA Matrix or Google Flights to get a general sense of the fares. It helps to know what is a good deal and what is expensive for a particular route. I do my research, typically on a desktop computer. When I’m ready to book, I’ll book directly with the airline. I’ve found that customer service is better when booking directly with the service provider. But I’ve also saved money by using OTAs and have booked with them, too. Whichever way you choose to book, you can be safe in the knowledge that finding and purchasing travel online is a lot easier today than searching for a deal with a travel agent on a pay phone.

>> Next: How to Get the Best Last-Minute Travel Deals

Are Online Travel Agencies Safe To Use? 👨🏻‍💻 17 Best Online Travel Agencies For Seamless Journeys: Travel Like A Pro ✈️

Are Online Travel Agencies Safe To Use? Online travel agencies are generally safe to use, but it’s essential to choose reputable and well-established platforms with positive customer reviews.

The rise of online travel agencies (OTAs) has made travel planning and booking extremely easy in today’s world.

By providing passengers from all over the world with a variety of services, offers, and packages, these platforms have changed the travel business.

Online travel agents can help you with your search for flights, hotels, holiday packages, or tours.

🤔 What are online travel agencies?

4. travelocity, 5. skyscanner, 6. lastminute.com, 8. trip.com, 10. booking.com, 11. expedia, 12. tripadvisor, 14. priceline, 15. cheapoair.

• 🧐 Things To Consider While Making Reservation Through OTA's

⭐ Advantages & Disadvantages of Online Travel Agencies

Q. is it cheaper to book online or through a travel agent, q. do online travel agencies offer better deals than airlines and hotels directly, q. can i trust user-generated reviews on online travel agency platforms, q. do online travel agencies provide customer support, q. are there any hidden fees when booking through online travel agencies.

• Q. Are the Online Travel Agencies Reliable?

Q. Do Online Travel Agencies offer personalized itineraries?

Q. are online travel agencies more expensive than booking directly, q. can i book international trips through online travel agencies, 😇 conclusion, 🗨️ tell us in the comments as per you which one is the best online travel agencies.

Online Travel Agency (OTA) is the name for a website that sells travel services. It lets customers book flights, hotels, and other trips all from one place. They are like a travel agent in the digital world.

📃 List of 17 Best Online Travel Agencies at Your Fingertips

After a lot of research and considering travelers’ reviews we have shortlisted some of the best online travel companies that are operational nowadays.

• Travelocity
• Lastminute.com
• Booking.com
• TripAdvisor

A US-based internet travel company called VRBO focuses on vacation rentals. Landlords and managers can directly register their houses on VRBO, similar to Airbnb.

When booking through Vrbo, visitors may also get travel insurance. In addition to being a part of one of the largest travel companies in the world, VRBO has a reputation for being a trustworthy lodging option.

A website called Parkos.com makes airport parking stress-free. Thanks to the company’s new online platform, potential consumers can now compare various airport parking and facilities, make a reservation, and pay for it in advance of their trip day.

Both locals and visitors have provided overwhelmingly good feedback since Parkos entered the parking sector in 2014.

All technologically aided services revolve around giving automobile owners confidence that their vehicles are safe when they are away from them.

The majority of people may gain more from this comparison, but those who drive pricey high-end cars may find it interesting.

Also Read: 10 Best Places For New Year Celebration

Hotel reservations are the focus of Agoda , a multinational online travel firm located in Singapore.

Along with many other comparable OTAs on this list, it is owned by Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com.

The Agoda network, which offers more than a million hotels and vacation rentals, is primarily focused on the Asian economy but has now grown into Europe and the United States.

The company’s marketing strategy is centered on giving customers affordable or reduced housing.

In 1996, Travelocity was established as an online travel agency with several services for customers. It is owned and operated by the international travel service provider The Expedia Group.

You can check for airfare and hotel bundles, choices for a rental vehicle, cruises, and more using Travelocity’s website.

Additionally, you can read travel-related articles, order tickets for well-liked attractions, and communicate your journey arrangements with loved ones.

A well-known company with a big customer base is Travelocity. They provide a huge selection of vacation packages, many of which are aimed at families.

Skyscanner is a metasearch aggregator that gathers prices for flights, hotels, and rental cars from all online travel agents (OTAs) in one location. Booking flights and hotels with Skyscanner typically results in the most affordable options.

After making your choice, you will be sent to a third-party booking form on the Skyscanner website where you can complete the transaction and reserve your flight.

Skyscanner is used by millions of people to compare rates and options for their travel arrangements. Simply said, it compiles and presents to customers all of the offers from all online travel agencies (OTAs).

Also Read: 15 Best Countries For Solo Travel 

City hopping is a popular pastime in Europe because of how close together the cities are. Among the top three booking sites is lastminute.com .

In this OTA, flight bookings are made through an aggregator website, and hotel reservations are made through an OTA, both of which we have seen before.

Finding last-minute discounts on hotels, flights, and all-inclusive holiday packages is the specialty of the website lastminute.com.

If you’re brave enough to play the chicken, Last Minute has the best travel deals. For tourists looking for a dealer who isn’t scared to wait until the last minute, there are a couple of better OTAs. We’re certain to have the flight or hotel bargain you’re looking for.

Members of Airbnb are allowed to advertise their available lodging and accept overnight reservations. However, the business has added hotels and homestays to its list of offerings.

However, Air b nb is extremely particular about the standards it must uphold when it comes to hotels that can be offered on its platform.

The majority of hotels must demonstrate their distinctive design, how the neighborhood affects their rooms, and how guests can access communal areas.

The most economical choice may be an Airbnb vacation rental. Additionally, compared to hotels, you are more likely to locate more beds in the same property on Airbnb.

Many Airbnbs provide sofas or futons to accommodate larger groups. For longer visits, many of these hotels provide kitchens and washing machines, enabling visitors to save money by preparing their meals.

The largest OTA in China, Trip.com , a Chinese firm, created Trip.com, an international OTA. Trip.com’s marketing initiatives are primarily aimed at domestic and international travelers to China.

Contrarily, Trip.com has a partnership with Booking.com that enables it to broaden its global reach.

Today, Trip.com has hundreds of millions of users worldwide. The organization wants to give both domestic and foreign travelers the best travel experiences possible.

Wotif also owns LastMinute, a website that offers last-minute discounts on lodging, transportation, and other travel essentials to Australians and New Zealanders.

This local internet travel business mostly caters to travelers from the UK and Europe. On this website, tourists can search for and buy flights, lodging, auto rentals, excursions, and package deals.

Also Read: 11 Best Ways To Become A Travel Enthusiast

The biggest hotel booking website in the world, Booking.com , also lets you book travel and a rental car. It can be used by travelers to learn about different types of lodging, locations, and offers.

However, making reservations for different types of lodging is where its true power lies. For the typical person, it serves as an all-inclusive travel agency.

Hotels and other accommodation facilities are only billed by Booking.com after a reservation is made.

There isn’t a monthly cost that must be paid. An all-inclusive internet travel firm called Bookin.com provides lodging and travel options all around the world.

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are a business model used by many E x pedia Group businesses, notably Expedia, the largest OTA.

The company was founded in 2001 and was based in Bellevue, Washington, in the US.

It is one of the most prosperous travel companies in the world, having localized websites in more than 40 nations.

Expedia has provided access to flights, hotels, and rental cars for more than ten years. They are the largest travel company in the world.

Its marketing plan places a strong emphasis on the value of providing affordable lodging options.

Expedia is an excellent option if you want to pay for your airfare, hotel, and car hire all at once.

One of the most well-known travel platforms, TripAdvisor provides a variety of user-generated information in addition to booking services.

Travelers get access to reviews, images, and ratings posted by other travelers, allowing them to plan their trips with greater knowledge.

The website also offers the ability to compare flights and book excursions and other activities, making it a complete online travel agency (OTA).

A meta-search engine called Kayak searches the internet for the finest travel offers on several platforms.

It provides full results on a single page by comparing costs for airfare, accommodation, rental cars, and other services.

Users of its “Explore” feature can find new places to go and the most cost-effective times to travel.

Budget-conscious travelers choose Kayak because of its simple UI and time-saving features.

The “Name Your Own Price” option on Priceline is known for allowing customers to place bids on hotel rooms and rental vehicles at the prices they like.

Priceline provides regular booking choices like flights, hotels, and rental cars in addition to the bidding system, which may not appeal to everyone.

Travelers who are flexible with their travel plans can take advantage of their Express Deals feature, which offers big reductions on unpublished rates.

Travelers seeking low-cost airline options without sacrificing quality are catered to by CheapOair .

The network appeals to people who are concerned about their spending because it offers exclusive deals and discounts on hotels, flights, and car rentals.

CheapOair makes arranging travel reservations simple with its user-friendly interface and round-the-clock customer service.

Flights, hotels, holiday packages, and activities are just a few of the travel options that Orbitz provides.

Orbitz Rewards, the platform’s loyalty program, enables customers to earn rewards and take advantage of special member advantages.

If customers discover lower rates elsewhere, Orbitz guarantees they will be refunded the difference with its price guarantee promise.

Hotwire is known for providing significantly lower rates for accommodation, travel, and transportation.

Partner hotels can offer lower rates without publicly undercutting their usual pricing because the platform hides the identity of specific hotels until after booking.

For tourists eager to take advantage of this method of surprise booking, Hotwire’s “Hot Rates” provide huge savings.

🧐 Things To Consider While Making Reservation Through OTA’s

When making reservations through an Online Travel Agency (OTA), consider the following:

• Price and Deals: Compare prices and look for exclusive deals and discounts offered by the OTA.
• Cancellation Policies: Understand the OTA’s cancellation and refund policies to avoid any inconvenience in case of changes in your plans.
• User Reviews: Check user reviews and ratings to gauge the reliability and quality of the service.
• Customer Support: Ensure the OTA provides accessible and responsive customer support for assistance during and after booking.
• Hidden Fees: Be wary of hidden fees or additional charges that may not be clearly stated upfront.
• Booking Security: Verify the OTA’s security measures to protect your personal and financial information.
• Travel Insurance: Consider purchasing travel insurance for added protection against unexpected events.
• Flexibility: Choose an OTA that offers flexible booking options to accommodate any last-minute changes.
• Available Services: Confirm that the OTA offers the services you need, such as flights, hotels, car rentals, and activities.
• User-Friendly Interface: Opt for an OTA with an intuitive and easy-to-navigate website or app for a seamless booking experience.

Advantages of Online Travel Agencies

• Convenience: Users can book flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements from the comfort of their homes, saving time and effort.
• Wide Selection: Online travel agencies offer a vast inventory of travel options, providing a variety of choices for different budgets and preferences.
• Price Comparison: Users can compare prices across multiple airlines, hotels, and car rental companies to find the best deals.
• User Reviews: Travelers can read reviews and ratings from other users to make informed decisions about their bookings.
• Exclusive Deals: Many online travel agencies offer exclusive discounts and promotions for their customers.
• 24/7 Access: Online travel agencies are available round the clock, allowing users to make bookings at any time.

Disadvantages of Online Travel Agencies

• Hidden Fees : Some online travel agencies may have hidden fees or additional charges that are not disclosed upfront.
• Lack of Personalized Service: Unlike traditional travel agents, online platforms may lack personalized recommendations and support.
• Technical Issues: Technical glitches or website outages can cause inconvenience and delay in making bookings.
• Limited Flexibility: Some online travel agencies have strict cancellation and refund policies, limiting flexibility for travelers.
• Scams and Fraud: There is a risk of encountering fraudulent websites or services when booking through unknown or unverified platforms.
• Overwhelming Options: The abundance of choices on online travel agency websites can sometimes lead to decision paralysis for users.

🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs For Online Travel Agencies

There are a lot of questions that come to our mind while making reservations through online travel agencies some of the commonly asked questions are answered below.

A. Booking online often offers better deals and discounts compared to traditional travel agents.

A. Yes, online travel agencies often negotiate special deals and discounts with airlines and hotels, which can result in more cost-effective options for travelers.

A. While most user-generated reviews are genuine and helpful, it’s essential to consider multiple sources and exercise discernment when making decisions based on reviews.

A. Yes, reputable online travel agencies offer customer support via phone, email, or live chat to assist with booking inquiries and travel-related issues.

A. While some online travel agencies may charge service fees or have specific booking terms, reputable platforms are transparent about any additional costs during the booking process.

Q. Are the Online Travel Agencies Reliable ?

A. Absolutely! Online Travel Agencies are reputable and reliable. They work with established partners and have a track record of excellent customer service.

A. Yes, they do! Online Travel Agencies take your preferences and interests into account to craft personalized itineraries tailored to your needs.

A. Not necessarily. Online Travel Agencies often secure exclusive deals and discounts, making them competitive with direct bookings.

A. Yes, you can! Best Online Travel Agencies offer a wide range of international travel options and guide visa requirements.

In conclusion, online travel companies have completely changed how we organize and book our journeys.

These OTAs have evolved into crucial tools for modern travelers thanks to their user-friendly interfaces, vast inventory, and affordable prices.

The top online travel agencies included in this article can assist you in organizing an enjoyable trip, regardless of whether you are an experienced traveler or preparing for your first excursion.

Also, don’t forget to book your personalized holiday package with  Fiery Trippers . Let us make your vacation a romantic as well as a dreamy getaway.

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Rahul Siddharth

He is a dedicated travel writer with a wealth of 10 Years + experience that enriches his narratives. He holds a degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Dehradun, which he couples with hands-on expertise in the field. Drawing from his diverse experiences, Rahul's writings offer readers a captivating glimpse into the world of travel. Embark on a journey of exploration and inspiration with Rahul as your guide. Read More

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Best Online Travel Agencies

Booking.com is our top choice for making your trip arrangements

Ligaya Malones is an editor, blogger, and freelance writer specializing in food and travel. Ligaya's work has appeared in publications including Lonely Planet and BRIDES.

Planning a trip can be easier through an online travel agency than if you handle each aspect of the planning separately. You can book hotels, air travel, rental cars, and more through a single site, and booking everything together sometimes results in discounts. By inputting a destination, a range of dates, and other preferences, you will see a list of options for each aspect of travel.

The best online travel agencies offer options from the largest number of airlines, hotels, car rental agencies, and more. Look for sites that offer discounts for combining reservations for different aspects of your trip. For example, the best sites will have lower rates if you book both plane tickets and a hotel through their services. The best sites also provide reviews from customers who actually have booked through the service. These are our top picks.

• Best Overall: Booking.com
• Best Budget: Skyscanner
• Best Price Predictor: Hopper
• Most Innovative: Kiwi.com
• Best for Eco-Conscious: Kind Traveler
• Best for Social Impact: I Like Local
• Best for Design-Forward Homestays: Plum Guide
• Our Top Picks
• Booking.com

Kind Traveler

I Like Local

• See More (4)

Final Verdict

Frequently asked questions, methodology, best overall : booking.com.

 Booking.com

This industry leader offers one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms on the Internet.

Lots of options to choose from

Interface is easy to use

Numerous filters to customize your search

Tricky to tell whether changes/cancellations can be made with Booking.com or the vendor directly

Booking.com was founded in 1996 and has grown into an industry leader that stands out for being one of the most comprehensive trip planning platforms out there. From one website, you can compare and book accommodations, flights (including one-way and multi-city flights), sightseeing activities, and even airport taxis. The website lists more than 28 million accommodation options, from hotels, hostels, and B&Bs to vacation homes and luxury resorts—you can browse more choices per destination on Booking.com than other online travel agencies. The website also performs well on cost and typically returns lower-than-average prices for flights and hotels. 

Booking.com's interface is also easy to use. On the home page, search for a hotel by entering your chosen destination and dates. Then, use the extensive list of filters—such as price range and distance from the city center—to narrow the results down and find the best fit. You can also search for a specific hotel, or seek inspiration by clicking through options grouped by destination or property type or by topic such as the country’s best Michelin-starred hotel restaurants or the top cities for vegan travelers. The flights, car rental, and other tabs are just as intuitive. 

Best Budget : Skyscanner

 Skyscanner

You can compare prices across airlines, hotels, and car rentals.

Simple interface

Option to toggle searches between specific dates or by monthly calendars

Search Everywhere button is great for spontaneous planners

Extra clicks are required to make a final purchase

Must read fine print for changes/cancellations—may need to deal directly with the vendor

Ads on the sidebar can be distracting

Find deals on airfare, hotels, and car rentals with an aggregator site like Skyscanner , which uses a metasearch engine to compare prices from all online travel agencies and the airline, hotel, or car rental company in question. Run searches with fixed dates, opt to compare airfare prices month to month, or click “Cheapest Month.” Searches also include options for nearby airports or non-stop flights only. With hotel searches, you can choose to select only from properties with free cancellation, a cleanliness rating of 4.5/5 or higher, or 3- or 4-starred hotels only. Car rental searches include an option to select “return car to different location.”

Once you’ve found the best rate, click on the link to be redirected to the third-party site to make your booking. Feeling spontaneous? The Search Everywhere button on the homepage offers a list of the cheapest flight deals for destinations both locally and across the world—just plug in your departure airport first.

Best Price Predictor : Hopper

The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting when flights and hotel rates will be cheapest.

Color-coded system makes it easy to determine cheapest days to buy

App is easy to use

Option to track flights and receive alerts when the best time to buy arises

Some have mentioned the app functions better as a research tool than a booking tool

Unclear whether Hopper will price match if you find a cheaper flight elsewhere

Hopper is a travel app available on iOS and Android that aims to help travelers save on airfare by usng historical data and their own algorithm to predict when flights will be cheapest. Just type in where and when you’d like to fly and Hopper will present you with a color-coded pricing calendar indicating how much tickets are likely to cost. (Green is the least expensive, then yellow, orange, and red for most expensive.) Hopper will also recommend you either buy now or wait, or you can choose to watch a trip and receive notifications on the best time to buy. In addition, the app has expanded to offer hotel and car rental price predictions, too.

Some newer features since the app’s inception in 2009 include an option to freeze a price for a limited time—for an extra fee—as well as exclusive app-only discounts. Hopper is free to download, and you can choose to book directly through the app, though some users mentioned they use Hopper as more of a research tool before booking directly with the airline or hotel. The company claims a 95 percent accuracy rate at predicting flight rates up to a year ahead.

Most Innovative : Kiwi.com

This metasearch engine scours the web to piece together the ideal itinerary using planes, trains, buses, and more.

Creative itineraries get you where you need to go, especially if you’ve got a multi-stop trip

Kiwi Guarantee offers rebooking or cancellation protections

Nomad option appeals to travelers with a lot of flexibility

Creative itineraries mean you may not fly out of the same airport you flew into

Kiwi Guarantee has an additional fee

Charges all-in-one fee for booking flights, trains, buses (though you can always purchase a la carte)

Travelers planning multi-city destinations and seeking a bargain, as well as those looking to take planes, trains, and automobiles to get there, might consider Kiwi . Kiwi is a metasearch engine that scours and pieces together itineraries from various airlines (even if they don’t have a codeshare agreement), considers multiple airports (even if your arrival airport is different from departure), and offers booking options, whether you’re looking at very specific dates or more general ones (up to 60 nights).

Some will find the ability to make multiple bookings for a particular trip more convenient than going at it manually several different times, though note that you must opt into the Kiwi Guarantee program to access rebooking and refund protections should your reservation change or be canceled. Kiwi’s Nomad option allows you to plug in a bunch of destinations you’d like to visit and the length of your intended stay, and the website will churn out the most affordable itineraries for review.

Best for Eco-Conscious : Kind Traveler

A give-and-get business model means booking accommodations with exclusive perks, a donation to environmental organizations, and more.

All participating hotels include a local give-back component

Exclusive savings and perks

Participating hotels are located in some of the most beautiful places in the world

Inventory is much smaller compared to other booking platforms

Some of the amenities mentioned are based on availability only

In 2022, Kind Traveler (an online trave agency focused on hotel bookings) announced an increase in environmentally and socially conscious hotels, charity donations, voluntourism opportunities, and additional perks like waived resort fees or a welcome amenity.

Unlock exclusive hotel rates and perks from participating Kind Traveler hotels with a minimum $10/night minimum donation to a local charity. For example, stay at the Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and receive up to $33 off the nightly rate and perks such as a food and beverage credit and an Earth Lab or Alchemy Bar workshop when you make a donation to Manta Trust. The organization funds coastal research to protect the island nation’s large yet fragile population of reef mantas.

Select from more than 140 participating hotels from the Hawaiian Islands to Bozeman, Montana, and the Maldives. Charities include wildlife, human rights, arts, education, and environmental preservation organizations.

Best for Social Impact : I Like Local

Choose from a host of travel experiences with the peace of mind that 100 percent of the cost goes directly to local partners.

Social impact mission woven into organization’s business model

Immersive experiences led by local guides

Range of experiences offered

May not be best fit for those seeking upscale, luxury experiences and stays

Can’t sort experiences by a list of countries (though an interactive map is available)

No experiences outside of Africa and Asia

For an online travel agency with a booking platform designed to route dollars spent directly to the communities travelers intend to visit, consider I Like Local . Visit the website to browse a host of travel experiences in countries including Indonesia, Kenya, and Cambodia. Experiences include homestays and farmstays as well as wellness and culturally oriented experiences—from cooking and cycling tours to weaving classes.

To search for an experience, select from drop-down items like travel dates and experience categories, or view a global map and click on a country to view experiences that way.

The platform got its start in 2014 and has grown to 4,000 local hosts across nearly 20 countries. As a social impact organization, 100 percent of each booking fee goes to local hosts. To date, 16,000 travelers have booked with I Like Local.

Best for Design-Forward Homestays : Plum Guide

Browse and book seriously vetted, design-forward vacation homes.

Highly curated inventory of vacation rentals across the world

Design-forward

Thorough vetting process

Does not publish guest reviews

Other platforms have homes available across more destinations

When it comes to booking a vacation home, serviced apartment, or condo, travelers are spoiled for choice. Plum Guide is an online travel agency that specializes in accommodations—though not just any home makes its directory. The company claims that each potential home listed on its site must jump through 150 hoops to be included, from internet speed and mattress and pillow quality to the showers’ water pressure and the home’s proximity to dining, shopping, and attractions.

Search by a featured collection on the website such as “ pet-friendly homes ” or “one-of-a-kind homes in Palm Springs.” Scroll to the bottom of its homepage to view its top destinations, as well as a list of all destinations where Plum Guide homes are available, including Barbados, Mexico, Portugal, Switzerland, the U.S., and Turkey. Note: From the top right-hand corner of the site, use the dropdown menu to select currency of choice.

As long as you know what you value most out of your travel experience—such as affordability, social impact, or luxe accommodations—there’s an online travel agency to help plan your next trip. Be sure to read the fine print, as some agencies are third-party websites and not direct vendors. If you're not sure where to start, Booking.com is your best bet for a smooth user experience and hard-to-beat offers on flights, hotels, and other travel arrangements.

What Is the Biggest Travel Agency?

Our choice for best overall, Booking.com, is known as an industry leader with listings for all major hotels, airlines, car rental companies, and more. It boasts more choices for accommodations per destination than any other site, and we found its interface to be user-friendly.

Are Online Travel Agencies Worth It?

This depends on your needs and priorities. The best online travel agencies certainly can save time by booking everything all at once. However, if you're someone who is good at haggling and enjoys the details of planning a trip, you might be able to find better deals by reaching out to hotels or other destinations and speaking to someone personally.

Is It Cheaper to Book Online Than With a Travel Agent?

Not always. A travel agent you know and trust should have the experience and connections to find deals that can match or surpass what you'll find online. Additionally, if something goes wrong, travel agents provide you with an actual person you can use as an advocate to correct the problem . But if you don't have access to a good travel agent, online sites still provide plenty of ways to streamline planning and save money .

We considered dozens of online travel agencies and narrowed down the options based on user experience, volume and quality of inventory, unique offerings and specials, and customer reviews. We also assessed travel companies’ environmentally and socially conscious policies.

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Spurious self-feedback of mean-field predictions inflates infection curves

Claudia merger, jasper albers, carsten honerkamp, and moritz helias, phys. rev. e 110 , 024308 – published 19 august 2024.

• No Citing Articles
• INTRODUCTION
• CANCELLATION OF SELF-FEEDBACK
• DAMPENING EFFECT OF SPARSITY
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model and its variants form the foundation of our understanding of the spread of diseases. Here, each agent can be in one of three states (susceptible, infected, or recovered), and transitions between these states follow a stochastic process. The probability of an agent becoming infected depends on the number of its infected neighbors, hence all agents are correlated. The simplest mean-field theory of the same stochastic process, however, assumes that the agents are statistically independent. This leads to a self-feedback effect in the approximation: when an agent infects its neighbors, this infection may subsequently travel back to the original agent at a later time, leading to a self-infection of the agent which is not present in the underlying stochastic process. We here compute the first-order correction to the mean-field assumption from a systematic expansion, called dynamical TAP theory. This correction, which takes fluctuations up to second order in the interaction strength into account, cancels the self-feedback effect, leading to smaller infection rates. The correction significantly improves predictions compared to mean-field theory. In particular, it captures how sparsity dampens the spread of the disease: this indicates that reducing the number of contacts is more effective than predicted by mean-field models. We further apply the expansion to variants of the SIR model, such as the SIRS model, in which the immunity of an individual to the disease wanes over time. We find that up to the second order, the correction terms in the SIR and SIRS model are equivalent, meaning that fluctuations partially cancel the self-feedback effect even when self-feedback is in principle allowed.

• Received 19 January 2024
• Accepted 15 July 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.024308

Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

Published by the American Physical Society

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• Research Areas

Authors & Affiliations

• 1 Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine (INM-6) and Institute for Advanced Simulation (IAS-6) and JARA-Institute Brain Structure-Function Relationships (INM-10), Jülich Research Centre , 52428 Jülich, Germany
• 2 RWTH Aachen University , 52062 Aachen, Germany
• * Contact author: [email protected]

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Vol. 110, Iss. 2 — August 2024

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(a) Transition probabilities in the SIR (solid lines) and SIRS (solid and dashed lines) model. (b) Illustration of self-feedback.

Sparsity suppresses spread of infection in the SIR model on random regular networks. (a)–(c) Dotted curves show simulation results for fixed μ = 10 − 1 , and λ : = β μ = 0.6 , shaded areas show one standard deviation, averaged over 10 different realizations of the stochastic infection process on the same network realization with the same initially infected agents. Dashed curves show mean-field result; solid curves the prediction from the TAP equations, the second-order correction. (d) Fraction of agents in the susceptible state after the dynamics have stopped. Dots are simulation results, curves show mean-field and TAP, shaded areas indicate one standard deviation. (e) Same as panel (d), but for the peak of the infection curve. Stars along the axis mark the value of λ used in panels (a)–(c). (f) Fraction of agents in the recovered state after the dynamics have stopped over the degree k of the network. All results were obtained on networks with average size N = 10 3 . All data in panels (d)–(f) are averaged over 10 realizations of the adjacency matrix, results in panels (a)–(c) stem from a single realization of the adjacency matrix.

The effect of the correction for different connectivities 〈 k 〉 : the fraction of agents in the susceptible state after the dynamics have stopped. Dots are simulation results, dashed curves show mean-field result; solid curves the prediction from the TAP equations, the second-order correction. All results were obtained on networks with average size N = 10 3 and are averaged over 10 realizations of the adjacency matrix.

Fluctuation correction for SIRS model on random regular networks with slowly waning immunity at system size N = 10 3 . (a)–(c) Dotted curves show results of simulations for fixed μ = 10 − 1 ,   η = 10 − 2 , and λ = 1.0 , shaded areas show one standard deviation, averaged over the surviving runs of 10 different realizations of the stochastic process on the same network realization with the same initially infected agents. Dashed curves show mean-field result; solid curves the prediction from TAP equations, the second-order correction. (d) Peak of the infection curve, averaged over all runs (surviving- and nonsurviving). Dots show simulation result (error bars are typically smaller than marker size). Dashed curves show the peak of the mean-field prediction, solid curves the peak of the correction. All data in panel (d) are averaged over 10 realizations of the adjacency matrix. Stars along the x-axis mark the value of λ used in panels (a)–(c).

Endemic state in the SIRS model on random regular networks with slowly waning immunity, η = 10 − 2 , and system size N = 10 3 . (a) Comparison of theoretical prediction for fraction of infected agents at equilibrium for degree k = 2 (orange), k = 4 (dark red), and k = 8 (pink). Triangles and squares show the prediction of mean-field theory [Eq. ( 3 )] and TAP theory [Eq. ( 4 )], respectively. Dashed and solid curves show theoretical results under the assumption of homogeneity, Eqs. ( 7 ) and ( 9 ), respectively. Results from TAP theory for k = 4 overlap with results from mean-field theory for k = 2 . (b) Dashed and solid curves show theoretical results under the assumption of homogeneity. Dots are simulation results averaged over surviving runs and 10 realizations of the adjacency matrix. Additionally, to mitigate the effect of oscillations, results were averaged over the last 500 steps of the simulation, comp. Fig.  4 . (c) Same as panel (b), but for fixed λ = 0.8 and varying degree k . (d) Predictions of epidemic threshold under the homogeneity assumption for mean-field (squares) and TAP theory (triangles), as well as the pair approximation and rDMP (see Ref. [ 17 ]). Shaded area marks the region where the threshold derived from TAP theory is infinite. Values for the pair approximation for k = 4 , 8 are marked in the corresponding location on the axis of panel (b).

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Do Travel Agents Need E&O Insurance?

Friends, today we chat on everything errors and omissions insurance (fondly known as E&O). E&O is also referred to as "professional liability" insurance and is a good fit for any business that provides services to clients. Especially those that charge a fee for said service.

Our 2023 travel agent research reports found nearly 50% of hosted travel agents and 67% of independently accredited advisors charged some type of a fee for their service? Sounds like they could use some travel agent insurance!

We'll cover where to get insurance for your travel agency, what it covers, and managing expectations on what it can (and can’t) do for travel advisors.

Settle in for an enticing read!

The Disclaimer (& What We'll Cover!)

You know I’m not an attorney or insurance expert (or I hope you do, my friends and I make rainbow cookies for heaven's sake! ). I’d be the worst attorney/insurance person in the world so keep that in mind when reading this. ;)

Here's some of the things we'll discuss about E&O insurance for travel agents:

What is E&O Insurance?

What does e&o insurance cover.

• What Doesn't Travel Agency Insurance Cover?
• Am I Covered by My Host Agency's E&O Policy? [+Video]
• Do You Need an E&O Policy?
• Who Provides Travel Agency Specific E&O Policies?

How Much Does Travel Agent Insurance Cost?

First things first. E&O insurance stands for Errors and Omissions insurance. It’s a common insurancepolicy for travel advisors, travel agencies, or tour operators to carry.

Why? Because it may cover the cost of errors and omissions you may make. Buuuuut, this comes with a few caveats. Don’t let the name fool you.

As it turns out, Errors and Omissions insurance doesn’t cover all errors, nor does it cover all omissions.  In fact, thinking of E&O travel agent insurance as catastrophic insurance may help you as an advisor manage your expectations when it comes to coverage. It’s for those big-time-doozy occasions when something goes horribly wrong.

If you’re thinking E&O insurance is going to cover the $2000 mistake of booking the client in the wrong room, or a few hundred for rebooking an airline ticket because you spelled a client's name wrong, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. On the flip side, if someone sues you for an exorbitant amount, errors and omissions insurance comes in really handy.

E&O insurance covers booking errors and omissions that do not benefit the traveler, the traveler's family, and/or the travel advisor, and legal defense fees if your agency is named in a lawsuit.

So as you have probably already gathered, blanket statements don’t work well when it comes to Errors and Omissions insurance. BUT if I were to make a blanket statement about E&O insurance for travel agents, it would be:

a) dangerous and

b) something like this:

At its most basic, E&O insurance covers:

• Booking errors and omissions that do not benefit the traveler, the traveler's family, and/or the travel advisor
• Legal defense fees if your agency is named in a lawsuit

In my opinion, the legal defense is probably the most attractive reason for an agency to have E&O insurance. No matter how frivolous the lawsuit, your legal defense will be covered up to your policy limit until you're proven guilty. Some caveats where your legal defenses would not be covered: sexual misconduct, intentional acts, and criminal acts.

But alas, blanket statements don't really work for something as complicated as E&O insurance, especially when you consider each errors and omissions insurance provider writes their own policies.

Here are a few more details below about E&O insurance add-ons and who in your agency may be covered. Onward!

E&O Insurance Add-Ons (A Hot Take)

Beyond the base policy covering the things bullet-pointed above, some E&O policies may add some other protections to their base policy.

Some things your travel agency insurance may include (and as any good attorney adds, but is not limited to):

• bodily injury
• property damage
• host liquor liability

This will vary policy by policy. For the purposes of this article, we're focusing on the Errors & Omissions facet of your coverage. The big takeaway here is to read the policies carefully, they're not cookie-cutter. 

If your agency works with specific groups of travelers or is in a specific niche, like adventure travel—which may be considered higher risk—make sure the specific type of travel you’re booking is covered as well!

Who is covered under my TRAVEL AGENCY's E&O Insurance Policy?

Before signing the dotted line for an E&O insurance policy, know who your policy covers. Some E&O policies will cover you as an individual, some may cover your business entity (more on travel agency business structures ) , and some may cover both.

When it comes to independent contractors (ICs) and employees, that's yet another aspect to be aware of in your potential policy! Some travel agency insurance policies may cover the entire agency, some may not. You'll want to make sure you understand if your ICs and employees need their own policies.

At the end of the day, it's important to know who (or what entity!) you want your policy to cover.

Need extra protections? Some policies may include these additional protections, and some policies may only provide them if you ask for them and it may be at an additional cost to you.

What Doesn’t Travel Agency Insurance Cover?

There are two things we want to draw attention to regarding what E&O does not cover.

1. Liability (or Slip & Fall) is not covered under E&O Insurance

Errors and Omissions insurance doesn't include Liability coverage (sometimes known as "slip and fall" insurance.)

But the good news for 99.9% of readers is this liability insurance really only applies to storefront travel agencies. If you want to get a little nerdy about other kinds of insurance, you can check out this resource on creating a crisis management plan .

2. Moral Hazard

Many agents would assume their travel agency errors & omissions policy covers things like debit memos from the airlines or if you told a client the wrong info for travel insurance. While policies vary, those situations aren’t typically covered. In fact, you should be aware many errors common to travel agencies aren't covered .

Sad face, I know.

However, let’s not forget the big picture—insurance companies are in this to make money. Abuses to the insurance system hurt profits and they want to plug those leaks. Enter the term, moral hazard. Moral hazards are not covered by your travel agency insurance.

In other words, if your error/omission had no negative financial consequences beyond the cost of your deductible, and you/your client benefited from the error/omission, that’s a moral hazard. And insurance companies don’t pay for those claims.

I know moral hazard can be a little confusing so let's put it in travel advisor terms through some examples.

Sample Situation #1: 

An agency quotes a client $4,000 for a trip that really costs $5,000. (Oops!)

The verdict:  Your client is happy because they saved $1,000. You’re happy because the client booked. BUT the insurance companies will call that a moral hazard, accident or not, and will not foot the bill.

Sample Situation #2: 

Your clients are going on a cruise out of Thailand. You let them know they don’t need any special visas, etc. Except, you didn't get them in a day or two ahead of time and their flight is delayed!

They miss the cruise and have to catch up with it at the next port, Vietnam, which requires a visa. Whoops. They end up missing ½ their cruise while things are straightened out and are suing you for the cost of their trip.

The verdict:  Your client is not happy and did not benefit. You did not benefit and could not predict the flight delay. The insurance companies would probably cover this since it doesn’t fall under moral hazard.

The Whole “Using the Host Agency’s E&O Insurance” Thing

Some host agencies allow their independent contractors to be covered under their E&O policy. Others require that the independent contractor obtain their own.

But first, how the heck do you figure out if a host agency even offers E&O insurance for independent contractors like you? Easy! Just check out the host profile.

For those just dying to know more about using your host agency's errors and omissions insurance but are sick of reading and want to exercise your ears, I have just the thing for you. I chat about using a host's E&O (and what to ask them) on one of our weekly Friday 15episodes!

Don't miss our next Friday 15 episode ! Join us every Friday at 12pm CT.

Don’t forget to ask the host agency:

Here's a few questions to ask the host agency if you decide to use their E&O insurance policy:

• What is the deductible?
• How many agents/agencies do the host's policy cover?
• Could they send over a copy of the policy for you to look at? (Make sure it says it covers independent contractors.)
• How much will the policy cover total, for all claims? (Most hosts have a policy with a $1M or $2M aggregate limit.)
• What’s the payout limit per claim?
• Will you as an individual or, if you're an LLC or corporation, will your company be covered if named in a lawsuit ?

These questions can help you understand the risk of sharing a policy.

Now, I do want to say that E&O claims are very rare—since they started hosting, most host agencies I know are still in the single digits when it comes to claims. Not having to purchase your own E&O insurance can save you a chunk of change, but it does mean the risk (even though small) is increased because it is a shared policy.

There's no right answer when it comes to you using a host agency's policy or not. It all comes down to making sure you're educated and making a decision that fits with your appetite for risk.

What if I book outside my host agency?

One last thing to mention if you decide to use your host’s errors and omissions policy.

If you are booking travel outside your host’s accreditation number , either because you also have your own accreditation or because the vendor allows you to book without an accreditation number, know that any claims related to that travel will not be covered by the host's E&O policy.

Only bookings made under your host’s accreditation number are covered by the host's E&O policy.

Do Travel Agents Need Errors & Omissions Insurance?

Technically, no. You’re not required to have an travel agent insurance policy by law in the United States. It’s a choice you get to make.

Everyone has different levels of risk they’re comfortable with. You know your situation best—do what you need to do so you can lose sleep over something else (like getting trampled by adorable sloths).

All that said, s ome accreditations like IATA, may mandate E&O insurance as a condition of their eligibility and some host agencies also require proof of E&O insurance before an IC/agency can join.

And for you Canadian readers, certain provinces have legislation requiring an agency carries E&O insurance. Although after 45 minutes of searching for that info, I've concluded that the government is insistent on avoiding specifics on which provinces those are. They just tell you that certain provinces require it. (Gosh, thanks.)

It’s worth mentioning that while it may not be required by law everywhere, E&O insurance may be required in other situations: For instance, members of the Association of Canadian Travel Agents (ACTA) that have retail locations and live in those mysterious non-regulated provinces are required to have E&O insurance.

Which E&O Policies are (Specifically) for Travel Agencies?

You can get your E&O policy from most insurance providers. You could call up whatever company you have your homeowners or car insurance with and ask them to add an E&O insurance to your fun grouping of insurances.

There are advantages to having all your policies with one insurance agent (if you were to get your insurance policy through the agency that does your car/homeowners/renters insurance), and there are advantages to working with someone that understands the nuances of the travel industry.

Here are a few of the popular insurance carriers that have travel agent-specific E&O policies (let me know if I missed any!):

• ACTA Protect by Brokerlink (Canada)
• Berkshire Hathaway
• The Hartford

The cost of an Errors & Omissions policy is often based on the total agency sales, so you’ll have to ask around to get specific prices.

Also, make sure to ask your consortia, travel agent associations, and/or host agencies about any preferred supplier agreements with E&O companies—that could save you some moola!

Just Can’t Get Enough?

I know. Who doesn’t love a good legal/insurance article? Legal jargon and complications are the perfect way to wind down and relax before bed.

For more delightful reads, check out these articles:

Protect Your Agency: Travel Waivers

How To Protect Your Agency During Turbulent Times

Travel Industry Lawyers

The Final Takeaway

E&O insurance can be confusing and travel advisors and agencies should understand it's not a silver bullet for fixing mistakes.

However, an travel agency insurance policy will definitely decrease your financial burden if you or your agency is named in a lawsuit. So if having a client sue you keeps you up at night, E&O will help you get some shuteye.

Like any business decision, it's about knowing and weighing out the risk and ultimately doing what you're comfortable with. Would love to hear the route your agency takes in the comments section!

Last, but not least, thank you to Chris Buseman,Vice President or Travel 360 who offered his professional vantage point in our latest update of this article!

Editor's Note: This was originally published in 2013 and updated and republished at date listed above.

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Let us make your tour to Russia a memorable experience, so you can enjoy a worry-free journey!

• FROM BIG GROUPS TO INDIVIDUALS: we craft a tailored offer for almost any budget, thanks to our distributed network of trusted partners, direct connections with service providers and our own profound knowledge of destinations in Russia. 
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• COMFORTABLE PRICING:  Olta Travel keeps the cost of discovering Russia at a fair, reasonable level because we love our country and seek to share this love with you.
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Russia Amps Up Online Campaign Against Ukraine Before U.S. Elections

Moscow has found better ways to conceal influence operations that spread arguments for isolationism, officials and experts say.

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By Julian E. Barnes and David E. Sanger

Julian E. Barnes and David E. Sanger, who have covered Russian cyber and information operations for years, reported from Washington.

Russia has intensified its online efforts to derail military funding for Ukraine in the United States and Europe, largely by using harder-to-trace technologies to amplify arguments for isolationism ahead of the U.S. elections, according to disinformation experts and intelligence assessments.

In recent days, intelligence agencies have warned that Russia has found better ways to hide its influence operations, and the Treasury Department issued sanctions last week against two Russian companies that it said supported the Kremlin’s campaign.

The stepped-up operations, run by aides to President Vladimir V. Putin and Russian military intelligence agencies, come at a critical moment in the debate in the United States over support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. While opposition to additional aid may have started without Russian influence, the Kremlin now sees an opportunity.

Russian operatives are laying the groundwork for what could be a stronger push to support candidates who oppose aiding Ukraine, or who call for pulling the United States back from NATO and other alliances, U.S. officials and independent researchers say.

Investigators say that firms working in the “Doppelgänger” network — and Russian intelligence agencies duplicating the tactics — are using the techniques to replicate and distort legitimate news sites in order to undermine continued aid to Ukraine.

These techniques are subtle and far more skillful than what Russia attempted in 2016, when it made up Facebook posts or tweets in the names of nonexistent Americans, and used them to fuel protests over immigration or other hot-button issues.

The loosely linked “Doppelgänger” creates fake versions of real news websites in the United States, Israel, Germany and Japan, among other countries. It often promotes websites previously associated with Russia’s military intelligence agency, known as the G.R.U.

The result is that much of the original speech is First Amendment-protected — say a member of Congress declaring that resources being sent to Ukraine should instead be used to patrol the southern border of the United States. But the amplification is engineered in Russia or by Russian influencers.

Mr. Putin has given responsibility for a growing number of influence operations to a key lieutenant, Sergei Kiriyenko, according to American and European officials. The Treasury Department last Wednesday imposed sanctions on people associated with Mr. Kiriyenko’s operations.

Researchers at Alethea, an anti-disinformation company, have identified a group affiliated with the G.R.U. that is using hard-to-detect techniques to spread similar messages on social media. A report by Alethea echoed a recent assessment by American intelligence agencies that said Russia would continue to “better hide their hand” while conducting influence operations.

“The network demonstrates an evolution of Russian objectives with their information operations,” Lisa Kaplan, the firm’s founder and chief executive, said in an interview. “Where the Russians previously sought to sow chaos, now they appear to be singularly focused on influencing democracies to elect candidates that do not support sending aid to Ukraine — which in turn supports isolationist, protectionist candidates and policies.”

“This long-term strategy, if effective, would result in reduced support for Ukraine globally,” she said.

American officials note, however, that these techniques make identifying — and calling out — Russian operations particularly difficult.

In the 2016 election, the Internet Research Agency, a Russian troll farm that waged information warfare against the United States, spewed out thousands of social media posts, pretending they were from Americans. By the 2020 election, the National Security Agency learned how to disrupt the operations inside Russia.

Moscow moved to shut down the Internet Research Agency after its founder, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, staged a short-lived mutiny against the Russian military last year. People affiliated with the group remain active. But U.S. officials and experts say it is no longer the main Russian influence effort.

“The Internet Research Agency in many ways was just a place holder for what became a much more expansive information effort in traditional media and social media,” said Clint Watts, the general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center.

The latest efforts are more directly controlled by the Kremlin. Before the Treasury sanctions last week, the State Department outlined what it said were efforts by the two Russian companies , the Social Design Agency, a public relations company, and Structura National Technologies, an information technology firm, to create disinformation campaigns.

American intelligence agencies do not believe the Kremlin has begun its full-bore influence effort. Mr. Putin will probably shift at some point from the anti-Ukraine messaging to influence operations that more directly support the candidacy of former President Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mr. Putin is not likely to order a major effort in the presidential election until after the party conventions this summer, officials and experts said.

“What we’ve observed is the Russians, and a number of other adversarial countries, thinking about how and when they might influence the election,” said Jim Himes, Democrat of Connecticut and a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee.

Mr. Putin argues that the United States has sought to influence Russian politics, including the presidential election this month, in which he was, unsurprisingly, re-elected by an overwhelming margin . It is not clear how much Mr. Putin regards U.S. sanctions issued after the death of the opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny as a kind of interference in his politics.

“Putin believes in his heart that we meddle in his elections,” Mr. Himes said. “Things like contact with dissident groups or amplifying Navalny’s message. Putin sees all of that as interference on the part of the U.S. He regards things like senators and congressmen criticizing his election as election interference.”

The Russian activity captivating American attention is not limited to influence operations. Russia’s S.V.R., the intelligence agency that was most active in the 2016 election and that was behind the “SolarWinds” hack that gained entry to scores of government agencies and major American companies, has been in a monthslong attack on Microsoft. The effort appears aimed at gaining access to emails and corporate data.

And U.S. officials say that ransomware attacks continue to surge from Russian territory.

A wave of such attacks prompted President Biden and Mr. Putin’s only leader-to-leader summit, in 2021. An effort to work together on stemming those attacks collapsed as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began the next year. Today, the hacking campaigns reap millions of dollars for criminal groups, while often serving the Kremlin’s agenda of disrupting American health care, government services and utilities.

In their annual threat assessment, the intelligence agencies said that Russia was trying to sow discord among voters in the United States and its allies around the world, and that the war in Ukraine “will continue to feature heavily in its messaging.”

“Moscow views U.S. elections as opportunities and has conducted influence operations for decades,” the intelligence report said. “Russia is contemplating how U.S. electoral outcomes in 2024 could impact Western support to Ukraine and probably will attempt to affect the elections in ways that best support its interests and goals.”

Russia is likely to be the most active foreign power seeking to influence the presidential election, though China and Iran have also stepped up their efforts, Mr. Himes said.

“It’s important to remember that the nature of election meddling is very different when you’re talking about the Russians,” Mr. Himes said. “The Russians are orders of magnitude more intense and more focused on what we’ve seen from the Chinese, Iranians and others.”

After the 2016 vote, Democrats and Republicans fiercely debated whether Mr. Putin simply wanted to create chaos in the American electorate or actively supported Mr. Trump. The intelligence agencies concluded in that election, and in 2020, that Russia sought to bolster Mr. Trump.

Intelligence agencies believe the Russian government again favors Mr. Trump’s election, largely because of his skepticism about aid to Ukraine. But how explicitly Russian influence operations will support Mr. Trump or denigrate Mr. Biden is unknown, according to American officials.

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

David E. Sanger covers the Biden administration and national security. He has been a Times journalist for more than four decades and has written several books on challenges to American national security. More about David E. Sanger