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Reviews 4.7.

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Travel online have great prices are…

Travel online have great prices are great at communicating and even better are easy to get hold of. We will definitely be using them again and recommending to our friends.

Date of experience : June 01, 2024

Reply from TravelOnline

Hi Graham, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Booked a holiday for 4 of us to phuket…

Booked a holiday for 4 of us to phuket and have had nothing but dramas they said once paid it's locked in then they changed our flights charged us more money now they r giving us a rollaway bed for My large teenager who paid same as an adult how is that fair??? They offered us another room for an extra $1400 what a joke we paid 7k for this trip it started out at 5k pffft never use travelonline again they r a total joke. Holiday is July 13th hasn't happened yet

Date of experience : May 01, 2024

Hi Danielle, We're sorry to hear that you have been unhappy with your experience so far. Our records indicate that you originally booked flights and accommodation that did not match. By the time our team picked up on this and contacted you, it appears flights went up $351. Since you booked, we also received a schedule change from Malaysian Airlines. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however this is based on the flight schedules that the airline is running and is completely out of our control. We do our best to arrange an alternative that suits out of the options the airline provides. I can see that in this case you accepted these changes, which did not incur any additional charges. We also discussed the room type that you booked, which clearly states on our website Deluxe Room: Room size is 42m². Bedding is 1 Queen Bed + 1 Single Bed OR 2 Single Beds. Maximum room capacity is 4 Adults & Children. In this case you would ordinarily be allocated 1 Queen Bed + 1 Single Bed + Rollaway unless you chose to upgrade to a different room type, however based on your feedback we have contacted the resort to request 1 Queen Bed & 2 Singles on your behalf. Again, we apologise for the schedule change to your flights and any misunderstanding regarding the bedding configuration of your room. We hope you have a fantastic holiday at Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa in July. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is anything else that we can help you with.

Great Company

Had a bit of a hiccup thinking I had paid in full as I intended to -even after some reminders where I had actually replied I paid in full. A phone call would have been better than consecutive emails after I had stated I had paid in full to say 'No you haven't.' My fault...Then had to pay remainder close to holiday which stressed me a bit. Customer service still great though and loved our holiday to Daydream Island. Loved how everything was organised re transfers, vouchers etc...

Date of experience : March 28, 2024

Hi Maria, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Professional

Professional, great to deal with. Consultants knowledgeable . I have been using Travel Online a few years now and will continue to do so.

Date of experience : May 16, 2024

Hello, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you've enjoyed your holidays with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Great travel company with an equally great team of professionals.

Travelonline were fabulous to deal with in every way. I spoke with a number of the team, all were super friendly, helpful and professional with excellent communication. Their efficiency ensured our trip was seamless and wonderful, I'll definitely use their services again for future travel needs. Thank you.

Date of experience : April 09, 2024

Hi Carol, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Great company to deal with

Wonderful service, great communication and a fantastic deal for brilliant holiday.

Date of experience : June 07, 2024

Hi Kylie, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Big group traveling for a 50th

Travel On line, as specifically Kristy, helped us arrange our travel plans, accomodations, flights, etc, with a very large number of family and friends included in our bookings. They were able to help with any problems we accounted or questions, and always returned phone calls, emails etc! will definitely recommended

Date of experience : February 17, 2024

Hi Michael, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your special 50th birthday holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback to Kristy and the team, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Such an easy site to use

Such an easy site to use, and even though the booking was all done online, there was a travel consultant available to answer any questions as soon as they were asked. Great variety of travel destinations, and absolutely fantastic prices!! The holiday itself went off without a hitch - everything just happened seamlessly - from the flights, to the transfers and the accommodation. We will absolutely be using TravelOnline again :)

Date of experience : November 03, 2023

Hi Jo & Jamey, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

The whole process was easy

The whole process was easy. Communication was great and was easy to pay for it over time so its not a big expense at once and they give plenty of payment options. Hi highly recommend for your travel needs, be it flight & hotel package or just one.

Date of experience : March 27, 2024

Hi Bridgette, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Exceeded expectations

Travel online was a smooth booking process, easy and simple. Our whole holiday was booked, planned and went to plan. We had inclusions added in, like VIP Finns recreation beach which was exceptional. Travel online provided private transfers to and from the airport, a free tote bag which was practical and used our whole holiday. Our hotel was exceptional. The flights were well planned. Great holiday and booking process. From payment to flying home.

Date of experience : October 24, 2023

Hi Tammie, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your Bali holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Stress Free Fiji

Our first overseas holiday as a family since COVID. We always book ourselves but this time we booked through Travel Online. The package we booked for Fiji was great value. Communication was always thorough. Any questions were answered quickly. It was a stress free process, which I loved. Our accommodation was great and they even upgraded us (5 adults) to a suite. I would definately recommend booking through Travel Online.

Date of experience : December 09, 2023

Hi Michelle, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

The Melia Resort at Bali was just…

The Melia Resort at Bali was just fantastic and a beautiful resort catering for everyhing you could possibly want on a holiday. I chose the "all-inclusive package" which included all food and beverages. Eating at the five, 5* restaurant every night did put some weight on, but it was well worth it. Being able to choose from a vast variety of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, any time you wanted was terrific. Paid one fee up front (which was very reasonable) and didn't have to watch the wallet thereafter.

Date of experience : October 21, 2023

Hi Michael, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your Bali holiday with us and took full advantage of the all-inclusive offer. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Skeptical at 1st but very happy with service

I must admit having read some reviews about this company i was very skeptical about their service. The price we were quoted was so good and i spoke to Nicole about my concerns and she was very good at keeping me informed at every step. We are very happy with the service given, the price we paid and everything we asked for was sorted out with no issues. Would happily use these guys again

Date of experience : February 10, 2024

Hi Carina, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback to Nicole and the team, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

TravelOnline gives great value and…

TravelOnline gives great value and their holiday packages are so easy to book. When the room type I wanted was unavailable, they quickly called and sent me an alternative and quote within a couple hours.

Date of experience : March 03, 2024

Hi Claire, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Great Variety of destinations at great prices and value

This is our 2nd time using TravelOnline. Great Variety of destinations at great prices and value. We have enjoyed both holidays and had very clear and concise information to help assist our travelling and stays at the resorts. They are easy to contact, friendly and helpful to ensure your travelling experience is stress free. Great value for money that I couldn't beat when doing some independent research on the same destinations and costs. So will be using them again and again.

Date of experience : November 24, 2023

Hi Eloise, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you've enjoyed your holidays with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Travellonline(ramada bintang resort bali)

Booked through Travelonline to Ramada Bintang Resort Kuta Bali. Amy is so professional at what she does. Nothing was to hard for her & she was always very prompt in getting back to us with any inquiry we had. Travelonline are very up front with there packages with no hidden surprisers. They were also very competitive with there pricing. Will defiantly be using there service again when we need a professional travel agent.10/10 Travelonline. Regards Scott & Mary Hancock.Melbounre,Australia.

Date of experience : January 19, 2016

TravelOnline provided us access to an exceptional Holiday experience.

TravelOnline provided us access to an exceptional holiday in Phuket Thailand, and their level of customer service was both professional and very prompt. We would have no hesitation to recommend their services for customers seeking a similar holiday offer.

Date of experience : May 13, 2024

Hi Gavin, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your Phuket holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

Perfect holiday and great company

Perfect holiday and great company, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Lisa was super accommodating to any changes we needed to make and helped us find the best deal. She was just fantastic and helped us choose the perfect resort in Fiji for all our needs. Everything promised was delivered. Airport transfers, all the bonuses etc. would definitely recommend and will use again!

Date of experience : March 21, 2022

Travel Online, very Professional.

Travel Online were very professional in arranging my holiday to Bali. Even though I made numerous mistakes with booking dates and passport details, they were quick to notify me, and very helpful at rearranging things. Nothing was to much trouble. They reply promptly to e-mails, and if you need to talk to someone, you can phone them too. I normally book holidays on line myself, but after dealing with Travel Online, I will always check out their deals first. George Crew

Date of experience : June 27, 2016

Travelonline provides excellent service…

Travelonline provides excellent service and the best holiday deals ! We chose Beyond Karon Resort through Travelonline because it was a great deal and the resort provided all our essential requirements. Beyond Karon resort is an absolute beachfront, boutique resort with a lovely pool , restaurant and walking distance to the centre of the town. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and look forward to booking our next holiday with Travelonline. I

Date of experience : January 04, 2024

Hi Effie, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review! We're so glad you enjoyed your Phuket holiday with us. Your support and kind words really do go a long way for our team and I look forward to passing on the positive feedback, they will really appreciate it. We look forward to booking your next holiday and hope to hear from you soon! Kind regards from all the team at TravelOnline

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.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

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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TravelOnline

#1 Philippines Travel Agency

Agency ng Masa - Pay Less, Get More! TravelOnline has Won Many TOP SELLER awards from Hotels and Airlines.

TravelOnline, which is a local Philippines Travel Agency, offers over 200,000 hotels worldwide.

TravelOnline is commitment to offering you the best prices - guaranteed. Our agents are standing by to help you every step of the way.

TravelOnline is partners with local Airlines such as: AirAsia, Philippines Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific and list over 500 International Airlines.

TravelOnline, offers the cheapest package price for ALL-IN Packages: Flight + Hotel + transfers + FREEBIES with a "live" Travel Agent to assist you!

TravelOnline, local Philippines Travel Agency, is one of the Pioneers of Philippines Travel with millions of fans in Facebook.

TravelOnline operates a network of specialized web sites under the travelonline.ph banner, designed to assist the Philippines traveler with all aspects of booking a holiday. Our Agents give a quick response, the best price, and personal service when you want it. Our goal is to make your vacation – hassle free!

1403 Entrata (Crimson Hotel), Alabang: --> 2nd Floor Festival Mall Alabang (AirAsia Store) : 02-88732753

ALABANG, 1403 Entrata(Crimson Hotel): 02-8333344

4/F One E-com Bldg, Pasay, Mall of Asia: 02-87379400

Email us: [email protected]

Check out the 1000's of testimonials of satisfied Travelonline clients. Join our Travelonline FaceBook Fan page with over 1 million fans.

Like us   On Facebook Follow Us   On Twitter Subscribe Now   On Youtube

© 2024 TravelOnline Philippines Travel Agency - All rights reserved

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The 10 best online travel agencies in 2024

The top 10 online travel agencies.

• Booking.com
• Lastminute.com

Best online travel agencies for business travel

1. travelperk.

Main offerings and features:

• Industry-leading travel inventory
• Flexible booking with FlexiPerk
• Safety alerts with TravelCare
• Integrated travel policy & approval flows
• Centralized invoicing
• Easy & real-time expense reports
• Carbon offsetting with GreenPerk
• 24/7 fast customer support in target 15s
• VAT reclaim
• Integration with 3rd party tools , such as expense management or HR software like Expensify and BambooHR

Save time and money on your business travel with TravelPerk

2. sap concur.

• Works with some of the biggest brands
• Easy tracking and reporting of expenses for expense reports
• Many connected apps, such as Uber and Airbnb for cars and hotels
• One solution for a variety of business travel spending

Click below to compare both platforms’ features and benefits

• Ample integrations
• Award-winning mobile app
• Employee-centric travel management

Click below for a more detailed comparison between both platforms:

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel, 1. booking.com.

• Intuitive booking tool and website
• Flight + Hotel booking for easily planning trips with no cross-referencing travel websites
• Simple car rental options and taxi hire
• Available in over 40 different languages and offers over half a million properties across 207 countries
• You can book experiences in your destination city to entertain you on your travels
• Genius rewards program

• Simple interface and booking tool
• Deals when making more than one booking
• 38 different languages and offers a 24-hour, multilingual customer support service
• Free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• Millions of reviews to help make your decision

3. Lastminute.com

• Filter hotels according to budgets, star ratings, guest ratings, board types, and more
• ATOL protection on flight + hotel bundles
• Flash sales for last-minute deals
• Payment plans to spread out the cost of travel
• Extra entertainment booking for your trips, like theatrical productions and day trips
• Gift cards for gifting travel

• Expedia rewards for hotels, cars, and more
• Experienced support
• Compare cruise lines
• Big savings when booking flights, hotels, and car rentals
• Operates in nearly 70 countries and in over 35 different languages
• Luxury travel options

• Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
• 24/7 support
• Lower prices on the app
• Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel

6. Bookmundi

Best online travel agencies for flights

1. skyscanner.

• Super flexible booking filters
• Cheaper flights and hotels than other OTAs
• Price alerts for travel routes of interest
• Easy-to-use booking tool and UI
• Hundreds of location and currency options
• One-way, return, and multi-city travel options

2. Kiwi.com

• Simple flight booking tool
• Partnerships with Booking.com and Rentalcars.com
• Discover deals anywhere with the option to open up your search
• Easy-to-use app

How do online travel agencies work?

What are the advantages of booking through an online travel agency.

• Access to comparison tools
• Peer reviews to help you with your decisions
• Flexible cancellation policies
• All your travel in one place
• Local flights and deals

Rewards programs

Comparison tools, peer reviews, flexible cancellation.

Flexiperk: Cancel anytime, anywhere. Get a minimum of 80% of your money back.

One account for all of your travel needs, a local approach to global travel, wrapping up.

Make business travel simpler. Forever.

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How to find cheap flights, what is the best day to buy a plane ticket.

This just in! Airfares offered on Thursdays tend to be the cheapest, according to flight demand on Travelocity in 2021. Tuesday and Wednesday prices are also good, but you may want to prepare your budget if booking during the weekend, as data shows that is when prices are generally at their highest.

What are the cheapest days to fly?

Frequent travelers may already know this, but earlier in the week can be the cheapest time to fly. In 2021, flights departing on a Monday were generally the cheapest of the week, whereas you may pay a premium for weekend flights when demand is usually high. On average, tickets were most expensive for Saturday departures, so if you need to fly out on a weekend, you might look for deals ahead of time.

How far in advance can you book a flight?

Trying to figure out how early you should book your flight? It’s possible to start comparing international airfares on Travelocity up to 12 months in advance. However, it does depend on the carrier as not all airlines release their prices that far out. According to our 2021 flight demand trends, last minute planners can still bag a bargain with some of the cheapest fares appearing 0-2 weeks prior to their travel dates.

*According to flight demand on Travelocity.com from January to December 2021. Savings are subject to change based on departure location, date and destination.

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• Dallas (DFW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
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• Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
• Orlando (MCO) to Los Angeles (LAX)

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• Minneapolis (MSP) to Denver (DEN)
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• Philadelphia (PHL) to Denver (DEN)
• Atlanta (ATL) to Denver (DEN)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver (DEN)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Denver (DEN)
• Boston (BOS) to Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW) to Denver (DEN)
• Kansas City (MCI) to Denver (DEN)
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• Philadelphia (PHL) to Miami (MIA)
• Newark (EWR) to Miami (MIA)
• New York (JFK) to Miami (MIA)
• (ATL) to Miami (MIA)
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• Detroit (DTW) to Miami (MIA)
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• Los Angeles (LAX) to Miami (MIA)
• Chicago (ORD) to Miami (MIA)
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• Los Angeles (LAX) to Washington (DCA)
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Best online travel sites 2022

Use the best online travel sites to plan your trip ahead of time so you can enjoy your time away.

• Buying advice
• Testing process

The best online travel sites are wonderful not only plan your next trip for peace of mind, they're also a fun way to get excited ahead of your next adventure. You can simply go to one site and plan most of your trip's main parts from flights and hotels to rental cars and excursions. If what you're after is just hotel bookings, check out our list of the best hotel booking sites .

While what many of these sites offer is similar, it's the way in which they do it which is important. The last thing you need is a stress-inducing website when planning to go away to relax and unwind. So we've reviewed the best sites based on their price, of course, but also on the way they work, with the ease of use and clarity as important features. We also checked to make sure you won't suffer any extra charges added on top at the last minute. Plus, we took rewards schemes into account, which could help you save money upfront or in the longer term if you use some sites more than once.

With all that in mind, these are the very best online travel sites out there right now.

The best online travel sites

1. expedia.com: best online travel site overall .

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Expedia is a big name in online travel sites and hotel booking services and owns many popular sites like Hotels.com and Hotwire.com. We're fans of the original, though, thanks to its clean and straightforward to use interface. Hit the packages section of the site, and you can add up to five connecting flights, choose to add accommodation for all of or only part of your trip, and tag on car rentals too. 

It's all suitably well laid out, and it only takes a few seconds to start putting together your itinerary. However, we do wish there were a few more options for filtering out accessibility issues. Still, for most people, Expedia.com has everything they'll need, and there's even the option of a cruise too if you fancy it. It's as aspirational to look at as it is useful to, well, use and there are extra discounts for booking multiple parts of your vacation with the site. A Things To Do section rounds off the site's bid to help you plan your entire trip in one place.

2. Booking.com: Best for ease of use

Booking.com

Booking.com is a giant in the world of holiday bookings and not only offers over half a million properties in more than 207 countries but also offers flights and car rental services too. As such you can do it all from this one spot which makes it a very easy-to-use option. That said, there is a lot going on, and the user interface can be a little overwhelming at times. 

But with a superb rewards program, it is a great option that encourages you to keep coming back, making it easier to use as you become accustomed. You can even sort your taxi hire from this site meaning there is very little to think about when you get traveling as it's all been planned ahead of time. You also don't have to pay a booking fee on lots of hotels, allowing you to remain flexible – ideal if you're traveling about a lot on your journey.

3. CheapTickets.com: Best for finding things to do 

CheapTickets.com

CheapTickets is another site acquired by Expedia, but it does things a little differently. You can easily add on flight, hotel, and car or any combination of the three for package deals, although multiple flights are under a different option. So far, so Expedia (if less intuitive), but you can also clearly purchase event tickets from the site, which is far more useful if you want a one-stop-shop place to buy your trip. It's something other sites provide, but CheapTickets is that bit keener to entice you into the process, even if the site itself is a little cheesier looking than others. 

There's also the site's Vacation Value Finder, which lets you tweak how much you're willing to spend and what you're looking for from a vacation before making some fun suggestions. It's perfect for finding a last-minute deal if you don't have your heart set on one place. Students will also appreciate a section dedicated to them with extra discounts once you verify you're a student. All in all, it's a great varied site for numerous different needs. 

4. Priceline.com: Best for user reviews 

Priceline.com

Priceline is a big deal in the online travel site world for a good reason. It's effortless to use with options available for flights, cars, hotels, or any combination of the three. It's mildly annoying that Priceline's super cheap Pricebreaker deals don't extend to bundles, so you won't get an incredible bargain like you would if you booked separately. However, combining the set is still a worthwhile deal with discounts offered for the more you bundle together. 

One thing we really appreciated is that every hotel we looked at had dozens of reviews, and they're all from verified customers. It takes seconds to gain a reasonably accurate picture of what to expect from wherever you're considering booking. That's the perfect peace of mind when you're booking online, and you can't be sure of what you're getting without user reviews backing hotel statements up. Clearly laid out, you can focus on enjoying rather than worrying. Finally, Priceline is keen to make its VIP scheme easily accessible with straightforward discounts offered to you over time -- something that not all sites so clearly highlight. 

5. Kayak.com: Best for aggregated results 

If you're short on time, Kayak is pretty useful. That's because you simply enter where you want to go, and it aggregates results from multiple different sources. While it means you never book directly with Kayak, it does mean you get results quickly and without having to search around yourself, even if you will feel a bit overwhelmed with adverts while you search. 

The site itself looks a little basic, but under the hood is a surprising number of different filters (although no accessibility ones to speak of) and all the critical information you could require, although obviously you'll be sent to another site for the full details. The site also has a deals section, which has some great bargains for things you can do once you reach your destination, along with cheap car rental deals. It might not be pretty, but if you simply don't want to do the groundwork yourself, Kayak has you covered. It can be a real time-saver, and we reckon it's particularly useful if you're mostly researching possible trips in the future and want rough price estimates. Just watch out for the fact you can’t bundle in car rental deals. 

6. Hotwire.com: Best for renting properties 

Hotwire keeps things straightforward. All you need to do is enter what you're looking for, and a somewhat dated interface tells you what's available. It's not as pretty as some sites, but we really liked the extensive property type filters available. Want to stay on a houseboat or in a chalet at your destination? Hit the relevant filter, and you can find out if that's an option in the locale. That might not matter if your heart is set on a hotel, but it's a nice bonus even amongst the awkward site layout. 

Elsewhere, it's mostly business as usual, but that's no bad thing. Well laid out discounts are available to compare reasonably quickly, and most locations have plenty of reviews. If you feel like tracking down specific deals, you can do that too, with the site keen to offer up discounts to central locations if you're not quite sure where you'd like to visit next. It feels like the site needs updating when you compare it to its rivals, but it works well and speedily enough.

7. Agoda: Best for private home rental in Asia 

Agoda is a great option if you want to look for accommodation that isn't a hotel as this specializes in offering apartments and private rentals. In fact, there are dedicated market managers that work on finding properties, especially in Asia. As such you can find unique destination rentals at decent rates and should you change your mind there is a helpful 24-hour free cancellation policy in place. 

Everything is very easy to use and if you want to make more than one booking you can make great savings. Customer support is also a plus, as there is a 24-hour multilingual customer support service available when booking. With millions of reviews, Agoda makes finding a property very easy with a feeling of trust that can offer great peace of mind.

What to look for in an online travel site

Booking Travel Packages Travel packages can let you combine flights, hotel reservations and car rentals together for a better deal than booking separately. Some companies, like Priceline, pick hotels and flights for you, to get you to your destination for the lowest price. Other companies let you mix and match flights, hotels and car rentals to fit your schedule.

Booking Airfare One of the biggest reasons for searching on a travel site is to find cheap airfare. While there are dozens of airfare-specific websites, travel sites also give you the option to add hotel stays and car rentals. The best travel sites combine flight information from over nine different airlines and let you sort flights by price, number of stops, duration and flight class.

Booking International Travel Finding airfare for international travel is the easiest part of booking an overseas trip. AirGorilla helps you find accommodations and rent GPS units with your rental car, so you can find your way around. Often, sites will recommend hotels that are far from your actual destination or event. Searching for reservations on a site that gives accommodation recommendations will help you schedule an international trip with less stress.

How we tested the best online travel sites

We looked at how easy each site is to use during our testing, such as how quickly the site loaded and how easy it was to find what we were looking for. We considered whether the site felt cluttered with adverts or seemed like a dated interface. We also looked at how easy it was to find Contact Us pages, price guarantee information, and any kind of special deals section. 

We also considered how easily bundle deals could be arranged and how extensive they were and any potential discounts tied to them. We checked filter options to see how flexible and easy it was to look up different needs along the way.

We looked at trips between Los Angeles and Miami, Paris to Lisbon, and New York City to Los Angeles during testing. We also looked at lesser-known routes to see if they were also catered for appropriately.

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Jennifer has been freelancing for over 10 years. In the past, she's written about all things tech and gaming wise for outlets as varied as The Independent, Playboy, Eurogamer, and TechRadar. In her spare time, she spends far too much time watching films, attempting to train her pet guinea pigs, and mastering making the perfect burrito.  She's a full time freelancer, but a regular tech news contributor to Top Ten Reviews.

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State Department rolls out updated online passport renewal

The State Department has launched an updated online passport renewal service, making it possible for travelers to forgo mailing documents and upload them digitally instead.

Right now, the rollout is restricted to certain windows at midday Eastern time — starting at 1 p.m., according to T he Wall Street Journal.

Once a daily limit of applications is reached, the system will close. The department advises travelers to try again another day if they get a message saying they can't start their applications.

Travelers should watch a video on how to select and upload their passport photo.

The limited-service run is expected to last for several months.

Processing times are the normal six to eight weeks. And right now, the online system is not available to applicants who need expedited service or urgent travel options.

This is not the first time online renewal has been available but the department said it has been updated with improvements.

Following pandemic reopenings, passport processing times slowed dramatically amid a surge in travel and reduced agency staffing, but the department says it has recovered to normal service .

The rollout is part of President Joe Biden's 2023 budget , which directed $163 million toward revamping the delivery of passport services so the public can access core services online. The budget also earmarked funds for customer-facing upgrades to Transportation Safety Administration and the Social Security Administration.

The announcement by the State Department follows on the IRS' decision to permanently e stablish its free Direct File system for submitting simplified tax returns , itself a part of a $642 million effort by the Biden administration to improve customer service for taxpayers.

Rob Wile is a breaking business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

South Florida faces more storms after days of record-breaking rain, flooding

Thunderstorms reemerged over rain-soaked South Florida on Thursday, further inundating the region with floodwaters, forcing road closures and disrupting hundreds of flights as a daylong stretch of severe weather rages on.

The storms, which began on Tuesday and are the result of a slow-moving low-pressure system, pummeled South Florida with upwards of 20 inches of rain drenching some areas, according to the National Weather Service . The downpour prompted multiple rescues and urgent warnings of "life-threatening floods" on Wednesday as major travel arteries closed, including a section of Interstate 95; hundreds of flights at several major airports were delayed and canceled.

A tornado with peak winds of 85-95 mph touched down in Hobe Sound, just north of West Palm Beach, and moved 1.7 miles toward Jupiter Island before entering the Atlantic, a survey team with the weather service confirmed . Across Hobe Sound and several nearby coastal communities, the storms toppled power poles, uprooted trees and damaged homes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency to coordinate and mobilize recovery efforts; the mayors of Fort Lauderdale, Miami and other cities also made emergency declarations. With many roads still under several feet of water, more rain could be dangerous, especially for Collier, Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which includes the cities of Naples, Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

"It's been awful," said Peaches Stevenson, a longtime resident of Hollywood, a coastal city between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. On Wednesday, the 44-year-old ventured out with her husband to get some groceries at Winn-Dixie and encountered dozens of flooded roads. Once they reached the parking lot, the couple turned around because it was too flooded to park.

"The rain has been non-stop," said Stevenson, the owner of a local restaurant, The Daily Bread. "It's been flooded here before, but not like this and not so quickly."

On Thursday, meteorologists said 4-8 inches of rainfall with locally higher amounts of more than 10 inches was in the forecast. The weather service issued a "high risk" of excessive rainfall advisory for parts of South Florida, including Miami, Naples and Fort Lauderdale, adding: "Locally catastrophic flash flooding is possible."

In a news conference on Thursday, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava urged residents to remain cautious and vigilant as the threat of dangerous flooding continues.

“Don’t be deceived by the sun that is peeking out from behind the clouds,” she said. “If you can, stay home or indoors.”

Developments:

∎ At Miami International Airport, more than 200 flights were canceled and 160 were delayed as of 11:30 a.m., according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website . A day earlier, there were 411 delays and 367 cancellations. Delays also impacted Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which had 114 cancellations and 168 delayed flights by Thursday afternoon, according to FlightAware.

∎ Hallandale Beach, a city between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, suspended bus operations and closed all administrative offices and park facilities, citing the incoming storms. Hallandale has been drenched with more rain than any other part of Broward County, with 19.39 inches of rainfall in about a 48-hour period through early Thursday.

∎ State Farm reported it had already received about 300 auto claims associated with the torrential downpours by early Thursday, according to the Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY Network.

Rainfall totals

Below is a list of the rainfall totals recorded by the weather service across South Florida during a 48-hour period that ended early Thursday morning.

• 25.13 inches, Big Cypress National Preserve
• 20.43 inches, North Miami
• 19.39 inches, Hallandale
• 19.1 inches, Hollywood
• 17.97 inches, Davie

Storms, confirmed tornado hits Hobe Sound

Paul Feinsinger had just arrived at a home he uses for his accounting business in Hobe Sound – a community along Florida's Treasure Coast – around 10:30 a.m. when he got a tornado warning.

“All of the sudden the wind started blowing, things started banging around,” Feinsinger said . “I got down on the floor and within about 2 or 3 minutes it passed.”

Trees were uprooted in the backyard of the property and screens and windows were blown out. The interior of the office was strewn with paper and office supplies after the storm.

 “I’ve been here since 1970, and been through hurricanes and things like that, but there’s nothing like this,” he said. “This is crazy.”

A short walk from Feinsinger’s business, David Anderson stood in front of a damaged home. He runs his landscape company out of it and his mother-in-law lives there. He wasn’t there at the time, but got a call from his alarm company indicating the garage door opened.

“I got here and it was blown in and that's when we found out the roof is dropped on the inside,” Anderson said. “It's leaking all over the place.”

He said parts of his roof are in the backyard, and on the side of the single-story home. No one was hurt, he said, adding that the storm "destroyed the whole nursery behind us."

– Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers

In Aventura, streets resemble canals

The city of Aventura, about 15 miles north of Miami, declared a state of emergency after dark Wednesday as main streets flooded with waist-high water and roads became littered with abandoned cars, blocking traffic. 

As worried parents took to local Facebook groups and WhatsApp chats for suggestions on how to pick up their kids who were stuck at the city's rec center for summer camp, police delivered pizza to keep everyone fed and in good spirits.

"Thank you to our incredible staff who is working overtime to make sure over 140 campers are safe and having fun!" the city posted on Instagram along with videos of the flooding. 

Neighbors waded into water during heavy rains to attempt to clear clogged storm drains as high-tide brought surges. Some sent messages in bottles to float around streets that had appeared more like canals in the darkness. 

– Leora Arnowitz

Record-breaking rainfall soaks South Florida

The blitzkrieg of rain started on Tuesday, drenching southwest Florida in a deluge that raised the heights of rivers and flooded the streets of Sarasota, Naples and Fort Myers.

In Sarasota, nearly 4 inches of rain fell in one hour, the most to fall in such a short time since records began in 1972, according to the weather service. In Siesta Key, just south of Sarasota, more than half a foot of rain was recorded. Videos showed residents across the region pushing cars out of floodwaters.

Darryl Dillon, the general manager of Mattison's City Grill in downtown Sarasota, said water crept into the outdoor patio for the first time in a storm that wasn’t a hurricane. “Nobody was out,” Dillon told the Herald-Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network . “I stepped out of my car into a foot-and-a-half of water.”

While Miami and other parts of southeastern Florida were hit by bands of rain on Tuesday, it wouldn't be until Wednesday that the region would see "life-threatening" floods.

According to preliminary figures, 5-6.5 inches of rain fell per hour in some parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties on Wednesday. At Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, 6.77 inches of rain was recorded, dashing the record of 5.47 inches recorded in 1978, according to the weather service.

Emergency responders in Miami-Dade County rescued 34 people who were trapped in vehicles and inside homes on Wednesday, said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava at a news conference. In Fort Lauderdale, 60 vehicles were towed from the roadways, the city said in a statement .

The rain forced officials to shut down I-95 in the southbound direction in Fort Lauderdale. After six hours, the interstate, which runs from Miami up the eastern United States to the Canadian border, was reopened.

The foul weather is associated with a tropical disturbance over the state, one that the  National Hurricane Center  is giving a  20% chance of development  into a depression or tropical storm over the next seven days.

Florida weather advisory map

National weather radar.

Contributing: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY; Melissa Pérez-Carrillo and Heather Bushman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune; Kimberly Miller and Antonio Fins, Palm Beach Post

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How to get upgraded on a cruise ship in 2024.

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Complimentary drinks and balcony views are among the benefits of being upgraded on a cruise ship.

Cruise vacations have never been more popular, with record passenger numbers leading to fully booked ships and fewer opportunities for complimentary or even paid upgrades. However, with the right approach, you can still secure an upgrade on your next cruise.

Upgrades to a higher grade of stateroom sometimes come with additional perks beyond the additional space and balcony views. That’s especially true if you land a suite, which often includes complimentary drinks packages and/or specialty dining opportunities.

It’s still possible to upgrade by simply asking at check-in or, better still, on board. At this stage, the cruise line knows exactly how many empty premium rooms there are and that it will otherwise be impossible to sell them, so cheaper upgrades may be available.

However, given the number of ships sailing at full capacity these days, you may find this impossible. Nevertheless, there are still some options to get upgraded in 2024.

Turn Auto-Upgrades On

Many cruise lines offer an auto-upgrade option when you book your cabin. By turning this setting on, you are allowing the cruise line to move you to a higher category cabin if one becomes available.

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This can happen for operational reasons, or because the cruise line thinks it has more chance of selling cheaper, lower-grade cabins at the last minute. Such upgrades can happen at any time before your departure, and you will usually be notified via email or through your online account with the cruise line.

However, there is a risk with turning this setting on. If successful, although you may be given what the cruise line considers a higher-grade cabin, it won’t necessarily be much of a difference in practice and also it may not be in the best location.

For example, you might be moved from an interior cabin to an ocean-view cabin, but it could be situated in a less desirable part of the ship, potentially at the very front or back of the ship, with a fully obstructed view, or adjacent to a noisy crew area.

Upgrade Bidding

The concept of bidding for premium economy or business class seats on airlines has been around for several years now, but it has only recently become popular in the cruise industry.

Several cruise lines now offer the opportunity to bid for an upgrade after you have booked your initial cabin. You place a bid on the type of cabin you want . If your bid is accepted, you get the upgrade at your bid price.

Of course, there is no guarantee your bid will be accepted, as it depends on many factors.

Working with a travel agent could increase your chances, as they may have access to information such as how much unsold inventory there is at higher accommodation grades on your specific cruise. The more unsold inventory, the lower the price you’ll need to bid to be successful.

Unfortunately for solo travelers, bidding on upgrades comes at a major disadvantage. The bidding process usually requires a minimum bid per person assuming double occupancy, which can make the upgrade quite costly for those traveling alone.

Forget It In High Season

Timing can significantly impact your chances of securing an upgrade, regardless of the upgrade method.

High season, which includes school breaks and summer months, is when ships are most likely to sail at full capacity. During these times, upgrades are much harder to come by due to the lack of available staterooms.

To increase your chances of an upgrade, consider booking your cruise during the shoulder season or the off-season. These are times when fewer people are traveling, and ships are not as full. As a result, cruise lines may be more inclined to offer upgrades to fill available premium cabins.

Prices are often lower during these periods, making it a more economical vacation choice.

Cruise Line Loyalty Programs

Typically, cruise line reward programs are not as lucrative or generous as equivalent airline or hotel programs. Free cruises are a rarity, but some perks such as free or discounted laundry, or free specialty dining, still make signing up worthwhile.

While it’s rare to find cabin upgrades as a perk in a loyalty program, they do exist, albeit at the high levels of cruise line loyalty.

Carnival’s VIFP club offers a complimentary cabin upgrade to guests reaching Diamond status, although this is a one-time benefit. Celebrity offers a free upgrade to its Aqua Class cabins as a perk in its Captain’s Club program.

Even if cabin upgrades aren’t a specified perk, signing up to a loyalty program is worth the few minutes it takes, especially if you’re a frequent cruiser with one line.

Cruise lines are likely to prioritize their most loyal customers when making more informal upgrade decisions.

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Travel | From Jamaica to Morocco, some iconic travel…

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Travel | north bay: point fire prompts evacuations, burns over 1,000 acres, travel | from jamaica to morocco, some iconic travel destinations criminalize homosexuality. lgbtq travelers are split on whether they should visit.

When Emma-Jane Nutbrown went on a family vacation to Jamaica last year, she did so with one condition: that everyone donated to an LGBTQ charity once they got there.

Nutbrown felt uncomfortable with her parents’ choice of destination. Same-sex sexual activity between men is against the law in Jamaica and carries a maximum jail term of 10 years with hard labor. Both Nutbrown and her brother, Simon – whose 40th birthday the family was celebrating on that trip – are gay.

“It made Simon uneasy going there, but most people like to travel for the place, not the politics behind it, so we couldn’t really hold my parents accountable,” says Nutbrown, founder of Queer Edge , which creates safe spaces for the community in London. “I won’t refuse to travel somewhere with family, but I will raise it. So instead of us refusing to go, Simon made everyone donate to a charity out there as his birthday present.”

Nutbrown and her brother are some of the millions worldwide who have an extra layer to consider when booking a vacation: Will they be safe in the destination, and how are local members of the LGBTQ community treated?

“I’m predominantly against it [travel to destinations where homosexuality is banned], but I’m pragmatic. It’s not as easy as ‘Don’t go,’ ” she says. “If there was a shared consensus across the planet [to boycott destinations] then it would work, but I think it’s a lot more complex.”

There are 62 countries worldwide that still criminalize (or de facto criminalize) homosexuality, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association ( ILGA ), which counts UN member states. The Human Dignity Trust counts 64.

Of these, 12 could potentially impose the death penalty for same-sex activity, including tourist favorite the United Arab Emirates; Qatar, whose airline was this week deemed the best in the world ; Nigeria, which welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May; and Saudi Arabia, which last year claimed that it welcomed LGBTQ travelers.

Many people – even those outside the LGBTQ community – simply will not travel to countries where homosexuality is illegal. Corey O’Neill, an office manager from London, is one.

“Safety is at the forefront of anyone’s mind when traveling,” he says. “Even if you’re not visibly queer, there’s an innate danger that how you act might be perceived as gay, which entails not only formal punishments, but police brutality, hate crimes, the general atmosphere. I don’t want to have that in my mind on vacation.”

O’Neill’s stance means that unless laws change, he will never see the pyramids (Egypt has de-facto criminalized homosexuality with jail-term punishment); sleep overwater in the Maldives (up to eight years jail-time plus 100 lashes); take a Kenyan safari (maximum 14 years imprisonment); see Red Square (Russia designates the LGBTQ movement – even displaying a rainbow flag – as ‘extremist’ with up to 12-year sentences); or stop over in Qatar (up to 10 years in prison, with “no legal certainty” over a potential death penalty).

But he’s OK with that. “Why would I give money to a country that doesn’t want me to exist? Even if $10 went towards a tax that actively harmed people, that’d be my money I gave them.”

It’s not just LGBTQ people who feel this way.

Members and allies of the community are currently in their 10th year of boycotting the Dorchester Collection hotels, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (part of the Ministry of Finance and Economy), since the country introduced laws authorizing the stoning to death of LGBTQ people, as well as the public flogging of women for adultery. In 2019, George Clooney wrote of the importance of boycotting.

But while a boycott may be possible against a business, some feel that swerving an entire country harms the local community even more.

“It can cause a very visceral reaction in people, but there are 50 shades of discrimination, and the challenge is where you draw the line,” says Darren Burn, founder of inclusive travel companies Out of Office and TravelGay .

“Would you go somewhere you can’t get married, or can’t go into the army? The reality is there are loads of places where, even if it’s not illegal to be gay, there are challenges. I totally respect that some people don’t want to support an economy where [homosexuality] is illegal. But the other side is that I want to go, and by going, I’m helping to change mindsets. Every country has gay people. We hear from staff members and locals in destinations, who say, ‘Please come.’ ”

Burn never planned to enter the travel industry. He was a journalist when he went on holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

“I was in my early 20s, and I was a bit naïve. It was Sharm – a tourist haven,” he says.

“I was traveling with my ex, and we weren’t allowed to check in. We had to go to another hotel. I thought, that shouldn’t happen to anyone, ever.” In 2016, he founded Out of Office, building a contact book of “welcoming suppliers and tour guides.”

‘Do you need two beds?’

In recent years, destination marketers have become more vociferous in attracting LGBTQ clients. There’s usually a financial reason behind it, says Burn. Travelers from the community “are less likely to have children and more likely to have disposable income. They’re loyal customers and trust word-of-mouth referrals.”

Sherwin Banda, president of luxury safari provider African Travel Inc says that the LGBTQ community has “the largest disposable income of any other niche market.”

“A destination’s reputation as being LGBT-friendly is a primary motivation for us,” he says.

A 2021 report from nonprofit Open for Business showed that Caribbean nations outlawing homosexuality saw their GDP hit by up to 5.7% and lost the tourist industry $423 million to $689 million annually.

In Jamaica,  tourism officials  have tried to downplay the impact of the island nation’s laws against homosexuality.

In 2022, legislation was repealed in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Trinidad and Tobago had already decriminalized same-sex relations in 2018; in April 2024, Dominica followed suit .

“The Caribbean is moving quite quickly,” says Burn, who adds that the anti-homosexuality laws in many Caribbean and African countries were established under European colonialism.

Banda, who is South African, agrees. “Colonial laws combined with stringent religious beliefs have prolonged a stigma attached to homosexuality across Africa,” he says.

However, he is still comfortable arranging safaris for LGBTQ travelers.

“Once we know travelers are from the community, we take great care to ensure guides, hotels, all the touchpoints throughout the journey are safe for them, but also inclusive,” he says.

“Nobody will say, ‘Do you need two beds?’ We ensure our clients don’t have to come out again to everyone they meet in Africa.”

‘Tolerance is practiced not preached’

The experience on the ground is often different from the letter of the law. As Burn says, “It’s also illegal to drink alcohol in the Maldives, but all resorts have it.” (He advises not holding hands at the airport, however.)

In 2020, Bilal El Hammoumy and Rania Chentouf launched Inclusive Morocco , the first LGBT-founded tour operator in a country that punishes same-sex activity with up to three years in jail.

“Being members of the community, we felt we would understand better how to approach it,” says El Hammoumy. “Morocco is a country where tolerance is practiced but not preached.

“We could understand clients’ fears, but on the other hand, it was important to create a space where the local LGBT community can be involved in training programs and hiring opportunities.”

El Hammoumy says that in Morocco , “the reality is a bit different from the law.”

In the early 20th century, cities such as Tangier were “gay heavens” for creatives escaping conservative Western countries. One of Marrakech’s main sights is the Majorelle Garden, where the ashes of former owner Yves Saint Laurent were scattered by his former partner, Pierre Bergé.

El Hammoumy says that Moroccan hotels are generally accepting of same-sex couples, but those they work with have extra training to ensure travelers are comfortable. Some guides have opted not to work with them when they explain their clientele, he says.

However, he says that visiting destinations can change mindsets.

“A lot of anti-LGBT feelings come from prejudice and a lack of education, and direct contact can change preconceived ideas about the community,” he says. Burn agrees.

There’s the economic incentive, too. Banda, who grew up under apartheid, believes that South Africa would not have changed without economic pressure from the wider world.

“Travel does something no other industry can do,” he says. “Africa is heavily dependent on tourism dollars. We can advocate for inclusivity with partners who are prepared to actively welcome our guests. If we stay away, we lose that opportunity to use our voice.”

Travel can ‘bring change’

Uganda is another sticking point – its 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act legalized the targeting of the LGBTQ community in myriad ways and even carries the death sentence.

“As a company, you need to stand for something, and Uganda advocates for brutal violent acts against gay people. We cannot in good conscience send people there,” says Banda.

Michael Kajubi has a different perspective. In 2013 he founded McBern Tours , curating Uganda tours, after being fired from his previous job because of “suspicions” that he was gay.

“I had to start a company to employ myself and people like me who could not get jobs because of who they are,” he says. The majority of McBern staff are LGBTQ, and all profits go to the McBern Foundation, which supports elderly Ugandans and marginalized youths.

Kajubi – who left Uganda four years ago because of his activism – says that he is still comfortable sending LGBTQ travelers there, as long as they “respect the laws – don’t wave their rainbow flag all over the place.”

All the hotels that McBern uses – even for straight guests – have been carefully vetted as LGBTQ-friendly, says Kajubi. He believes travelers should still visit these destinations but be vigilant where their money is going. He suggests looking for tour operators affiliated to the IGLTA , so that you can be sure you’re not funding inequality.

Boycotting leaves the local community stranded, he argues. Companies that have stopped working with McBern because of Uganda’s anti-gay legislation “have a valid point, but supporting local companies can bring change. You’re paying salaries for people who wouldn’t otherwise be employed.

“If people don’t come we can’t support [Foundation] beneficiaries with healthcare, tuition and basic needs.”

‘Discrimination all over the place’

Of course, discrimination isn’t confined to countries where homosexuality is illegal.

For starters, over 500 anti-LGBTQ laws were introduced in US state legislatures last year alone. In May, the US State Department issued a worldwide alert about potential attacks on LGBTQ+ people and events.

In 2014, Matthieu Jost founded MisterB&B , an LGBTQ travel community with 1.3 million members, after an Airbnb host in Barcelona made it clear that he and his partner were unwelcome. Previously, a French hotel had refused him and his then-boyfriend a double bed.

“This kind of discrimination is all over the place, even in 2024,” says Jost, who won’t even hold hands with his partner in Paris. Banda won’t do that in Los Angeles, either.

For Jost, traveling to a country where homosexuality is banned means abiding by local rules. MisterB&B users are not allowed to book travel in a country with the death penalty for same-sex behavior. In a destination where it’s illegal, users are flagged before booking.

“We warn travelers they need to be cautious. Ask for separate beds, don’t show personal gestures, let family know where they’re traveling and have the embassy contact,” he says.

“If you really want to go there, you need to respect the laws and religion of these countries and play the game.” Burn adds that booking with a specialist is essential – his staff have mystery-shopped mainstream tour operators and found them lacking in knowledge, he says.

For O’Neill, and many like him, it’s not enough.

“I know it limits where I can go – I’ll probably never see the pyramids or go on safari. But there are so many beautiful places in the world that support queer people. That sounds like a much nicer vacation to me.”

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The Post Fire North Of L.A. Burns 14,600 Acres, Only 2% Contained As It Fouls Air Over Much Of Southern California; Strong Winds Expected Monday – Update

By Bruce Haring , Tom Tapp

UPDATED Sunday night: The Post Fire near the Tajon Pass and Pyramid Lake north of Los Angeles has grown to 14,600-plus acres and was just 2% contained as of late Sunday, fouling the air across much of L.A. Little progress had been made on containment throughout the day as the wildfire spread. Winds are forecast to pick up in the next 24 hours. More on that below.

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Pyramid Lake #postfire #california #fireWx pic.twitter.com/TOnmFPvk5n — Katie – California LandBird….. (@CaLandBird) June 17, 2024

Fire in the sky sunset over Hollywood Mt. #postFire smoke drifting into LA. pic.twitter.com/onLu3z0xzX — Helen Driscoll (@HelenDriscoll) June 17, 2024

The forecast for Monday was not promising. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the Fort Tejon area Sunday that indicated, “Very strong Northwesterly to North winds and relative humidity values of near 10 percent…The strongest winds are anticipated tonight and Monday, with sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph, with frequent gusts near 55 mph.” Maximum gusts could reach 50-70 mph along the ridgetops, per NWS . Strong winds were also forecast for the Ventura County mountains.

Per the NWS, “A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly.”

Thankfully, temperatures are expected to cool by a few degrees in the upcoming week. But the NWS warned of the “potential for gusty winds to continue into Monday night and Tuesday. There is a 40 percent chance that the Red Flag Warning is extended into Monday night or Tuesday. There is also the potential for winds to shift to the northeast Monday night and Tuesday.” That means the blaze could burn toward Santa Barbara and/or the northern stretches of the San Fernando Valley.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a Smoke Advisory for Santa Clarita, Gorman , the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Tujunga and the Angeles National Forest.

According to Cal Fire, “the wind is expected to push the fire further south towards Pyramid Lake.”

The cause of the blaze is unknown.

UPDATED early Sunday: A Southern California wildfire has doubled in size overnight. The Post Fire, located in the Tejon Pass north of Los Angeles, had grown on Sunday to more than 12,000 acres with 2% containment, according to Cal Fire.

The fire had burned an auto repair shop, damaged another building, and threatened other structures to the south and west of I-5, authorities said.

A worker in Gorman captured the moment a fire ravaged an auto shop. The #Postfire now spreading to more than 3,600 acres and according to @LACoFDPIO it’s zero contained. pic.twitter.com/W2csYFWL9B — Christian Cázares 📝 (@Cazaresreports) June 16, 2024

The fire is located parallel to Interstate 5 in Los Angeles County, causing the freeway to briefly close on Saturday, triggering a traffic jam through the area, officials said.

More than 1,000 campers from a park near the fire have been evacuated.

The blaze started just before 2 p.m. PT on Saturday in the area. Gusty winds fanned the flames, which quickly spread.

At least two structures have been damaged by the fire, Cal Fire said. No injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation Sunday. More than 300 firefighters, including air tanker crews, are battling the fire from the ground and sky, authorities said.

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