The 11 best online travel agencies in 2024

30 Dec 2023 · 14
Choosing the right online travel agency, with many options and varying prices, can be challenging. You want a service that offers good deals, reliable bookings, and an easy-to-use platform without hidden fees.
To help you cut through the noise, we’ve researched and ranked the top 11 online travel agents for 2024. These agencies stand out for their reliability, great deals, and user-friendly experiences. Whether you’re booking a business trip or planning a vacation, these top picks will make your travel planning smoother and more efficient.

The top 11 online travel agencies

We categorize our top online travel agencies into leisure travel and business travel solutions. Each of these platforms offers different solutions to different customers.Here’s a quick look:
OTAs for business travel:
  1. TravelPerk
  2. SAP Concur
  3. MyCWT
OTAs for leisure travel:
  1. Booking.com
  2. Agoda
  3. Lastminute.com
  4. Expedia
  5. Hotwire
  6. Bookmundi
  7. Skyscanner
  8. Kiwi.com
Let’s get this show on the road.

Best online travel agencies for business travel

First, let’s take a look at the top online travel agencies for corporate travel. There’s plenty on offer, but we’ve compiled our top three.
TravelPerk is a modern solution for modern corporate travel. It offers a wide range of options for flights, hotels, car rentals, and trains, all in one place. The platform is simple to use, whether on the web or via its mobile app. The platform is accessible via both web and mobile apps, and it features transparent pricing—customers only pay when they travel, avoiding hidden fees.
TravelPerk is praised for its customer support, which is available 24/7 with a 15-second target response time. The booking platform also integrates with popular expense management tools, and provides additional features like integrated travel policies and carbon offsetting options via GreenPerk. This makes managing travel both efficient and eco-friendly.
Main offerings and features:
TravelPerk gives employees access to the information and the security they need to travel with peace of mind. It also gives organizations and travel managers access to competitive corporate travel rates.

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2. SAP Concur

Sap Concur homepage
SAP Concur has been around for years—since 1993—and is trusted by many businesses to provide comprehensive business travel solutions. Its technology is self-owned and managed, meaning there’s no back and forth with third parties for changes or updates.
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
SAP Concur is a great tool for organizations looking for a traditional approach to business travel. However, it requires patience–the platform takes 6-8 weeks to implement and user onboarding in order to make the most of it. Plus, some users report that the UI is outdated, making it a less enjoyable experience for business travelers.
Here’s why you should upgrade to TravelPerk from SAP Concur and experience the difference today.

3. MyCWT

CWT homepage
MyCWT is CWT’s corporate travel management solution. Its dedicated industry and country specialists ensure your employees are well looked after wherever they are.
CWT’s been in the travel industry for over 150 years, but MyCWT is an experienced travel management solution for business travelers everywhere.
Main offerings and features:
  • Ample integrations
  • Award-winning mobile app
  • Employee-centric travel management
MyCWT is a great solution for companies with a bigger budget and big corporate travel needs. They do, however, use third-party software to deliver deals to business travelers and organizations—meaning updates and changes to the software can take time. There’s lots of back and forth that slows down progress and platform development.
See why TravelPerk outshines CWT—click here to compare and find your perfect travel solution.

Best online travel agencies for leisure travel

Now, let’s take a look at online travel agencies for leisure travel. These are websites used by the everyday user to book their next big holiday or family vacation—whether that's to New York or the Caribbean.
Note: We’ve included our top picks for OTAs specializing in flights at the bottom of this section—if you prefer to jump ahead.

4. Booking.com

Booking.com_homepage
Booking.com is a leading online travel agency known for its extensive selection of hotel rooms and travel services. With millions of listings, it provides options ranging from budget hostels to luxury hotels, making it easy for travelers to find the right fit for their needs. 
The platform’s user-friendly interface allows customers to search, compare, and book accommodations effortlessly. Additionally, Booking.com offers various travel services, including flights, car rentals, and airport taxis, all integrated into one convenient platform.
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
Overall, booking.com is a comprehensive online travel agency with hotels and flights anywhere in the world. 
That being said, some users share instances of booking fake listings, causing travelers to show up at properties that aren't actually available for rent. Some users also claim that initial prices shown with discounts often differ from final booking prices—sometimes by hundreds of dollars.

5. Agoda

Agoda_homepage
Agoda is a prominent online travel agency (OTA) offering everything from hotel bookings to flights, airport transfers, and activities. As part of Booking Holdings, Agoda taps into a massive network of over 4 million hotels worldwide, with a strong focus on the Asian region and a growing global presence.
One key feature is the "Best Price Guarantee," which promises that you’ll get the lowest rate available for a hotel room when booking through Agoda. If you find a lower price for the same accommodation on another website, Agoda will match or beat that price—a pretty bold claim.
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
The flight search and booking process tool isn’t as user-friendly as some dedicated booking platforms.  Some customers have experienced technical issues when booking flights, including payment failures and unexpected booking confirmations.

6. Lastminute.com

Lastminute homepage
Lastminute.com offers various travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and complete holiday packages. These packages cover everything from lodging to meals and entertainment. The platform is particularly well-known for its last-minute deals, providing travelers with significant savings on bookings made closer to the travel date. 
A unique feature of Lastminute.com is its dynamic holiday packages, which allow users to customize their trips by combining flights, accommodations, and additional services in one booking. The platform’s user-friendly interface and mobile app further streamline the booking process, making it easy for users to find and secure great deals.
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
However, despite its strengths, some users have reported issues with unresponsive customer service and difficulty in getting refunds for canceled bookings. Some users also claim that bookings are not properly confirmed with airlines or hotels. This suggests it’s wise to double-check reservations directly with service providers when using Lastminute.com

7. Expedia

Expedia homepage
As part of the Expedia Group, which also owns brands like Orbitz, Travelocity, and Hotwire, Expedia benefits from an extensive network of distribution channels. Expedia’s booking engine is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for travelers to search, compare, and book trips that fit their preferences and budget.
Expedia also offers a loyalty program, “Expedia Rewards,” which lets you earn points on every booking. These points can be redeemed for discounts on future travel. Plus, the platform integrates well with channel managers, making it easier for hoteliers to manage their listings and optimize direct bookings. 
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
While Expedia is popular for its offerings, some users have complained of poor customer service.  when problems arise, such as flight cancellations or hotel booking issues, customers are often directed back to Expedia instead of the service providers, complicating the resolution process.

5. Hotwire

Hotwire homepage
Hotwire, a subsidiary of the Expedia Group, is known for its focus on providing discounts on hotel rooms, flights, and car rentals. Hotwire offers "Hot Rate," where travelers can book discounted rates without knowing the name of the hotel or car rental company until after the purchase.Hotwire's search engine is designed to quickly scan for the best deals across various categories, making it easy for users to find affordable travel options. The platform also offers vacation packages that bundle flights, hotels, and car rentals for additional savings. Although Hotwire primarily caters to the American market, it has a growing presence in European and other international markets.
Main offerings and features:
  • Book hotels, flights, cars, and bundles
  • 24/7 support
  • Lower prices on the app
  • Great last-minute deals for spontaneous travel
If you’re booking last minute, consider doing it with Hotwire. However, some users report that the advertised savings on "Hot Rate" hotels aren't always as good as claimed or that they could have gotten similar rates with direct booking. A few travelers have also reported being assigned to low-quality hotels that didn't match the advertised star rating.

9. Bookmundi

Bookmundi homepage
Bookmundi is a global travel marketplace that specializes in travel experiences like guided tours, adventure trips, and vacation packages. What sets Bookmundi apart is its focus on adventure and cultural experiences, making it an ideal choice for travelers looking for more than just the typical tourist spots.
The platform is user-friendly, allowing travelers to search for and compare different tours based on their interests, budget, and preferred destinations. Plus, Bookmundi supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, German, French, and Italian, and currencies, making it accessible to a global audience.
Main offerings and features:
  • Flexible payment options with installations
  • Best price guarantee so travelers get the best possible deals
  • 24/7 customer support for bookings and any travel-related inquiries
  • Offers over 10,000 tours across various adventure and cultural experiences worldwide

Best online travel agencies for flights

Whether you’re a frequent flier or planning a special trip, these agencies offer the tools and services to help you find the perfect flight at the right price.

10. Skyscanner

Skyscanner homepage
Skyscanner is a popular global travel search engine aggregating prices from various airlines and travel agencies. It lets users compare options and book directly through the provider’s website. 
Unlike traditional online travel agencies, Skyscanner functions as a meta-search engine, meaning it doesn’t handle bookings directly but redirects users to external websites to complete their transactions.Plus, Skyscanner provides information on the carbon emissions associated with each flight. It allows travelers to offset their carbon footprint by contributing to certified environmental projects. These projects typically focus on reducing or capturing carbon emissions, such as reforestation efforts, renewable energy development, or other sustainability initiatives.
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
Skyscanner is trusted by millions of people to find the best deals with the most flexibility. It essentially gathers all the offers from every OTA to present customers with the best deals available.

11. Kiwi.com

Kiwi.com homepage
Kiwi.com is particularly known for its proprietary "Virtual Interlining" technology. This allows travelers to book connections between airlines and other transportation providers that do not traditionally partner with each other. 
This approach enables users to find unique routes and often more affordable travel options unavailable through traditional booking methods.
One of the go-to features of Kiwi.com is its "Kiwi.com Guarantee," which provides protection for travelers in case of missed connections due to delays or cancellations, even when the trip involves multiple carriers. This service is particularly valuable given the complex itineraries that Kiwi.com often constructs
Main offerings and features:
  • 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
Kiwi.com is an innovative OTA—perfect for city-hoppers and the travel-hungry. Be wary, though—some reviews claim that cancellation is tricky and customer service can be unreliable.

How do online travel agencies work?

An Online Travel Agency (OTA) is a website that sells travel-related services like hotels, flights, and car rentals from one central location.. They're the digital equivalent of a travel agent.
These platforms offer a broad selection of options by aggregating offerings from various service providers—hotels, airlines, and car rental companies—who pay OTAs for the visibility and reach they provide. For travelers, this means they can compare prices, read reviews, and book everything they need for their trip in one place, often securing better deals due to the competitive environment OTAs create.

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

Here are some of the benefits of booking travel services through an OTA:
  • 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
These benefits are why OTAs are so popular with travelers worldwide, and why you want to consider finding the one that works best for you. Here are the details you need to have in mind before considering the corporate travel services of an online travel agency:

Access to comparison tools

The main advantage of using an OTA is that you can quickly and easily compare the prices of accommodation, flights, and more. Most have search filters and comparison tools so you can target your search and find exactly what you’re looking for.

Peer reviews

Another benefit to booking through an online travel agency is the review system, whereby users leave ratings and written reviews for future customers. The option to leave a review is usually only available after a user has booked a service, so they’re a reliable source of feedback.

Flexible cancellation

To be featured on an online travel agency, hotels, airlines, and other service providers often must adhere to the OTA’s cancellation policy. All of the information is clearly laid out for the customer in an email or on the website upon booking, which makes it very user-friendly and customer-centric.
Note: Not all OTA’s have their own cancellation and change policy—some, like Skyscanner, take you to the vendor’s website to confirm your ticket. This then means you’re subject to the vendor’s cancellation and changes policy, which may not be all that flexible.
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One account for all of your travel needs

You can also use one account for all your different travel planning, saving the hassle of entering details over and over again. Remember: a good OTA is an intuitive OTA—you want to be able to easily navigate your options without the need for constant support.Again, some platforms—mainly aggregator sites—will send you to a third-party website for booking. This means you’ll need to liaise directly with the third-party for any changes.

A local approach to global travel

OTAs personalize things like measurements and currencies to improve the individual user’s experience. Consequently, independently run establishments that may not have the resources to adapt their website internationally are unable to compete.
You’re offered the best deals for your area in a currency you know—making sure everything’s crystal clear when it comes to booking.

Rewards programs

Lots of online travel agencies offer reward systems, such as Booking.com and Expedia. These offer frequent users access to special deals and discounts—much like the rewards programs you get with an airline or hotel.

Wrapping up the best online travel agencies of 2024

That’s a wrap on the 11 best travel agencies to help you secure the best online bookings. Please make your way to the nearest exit and make sure to enjoy the rest of your trip. For your leisure travel, take your pick from the other great options listed. Whether you're heading to Hawaii, Peru, or any destination that catches your fancy, these tools are here to help you find the best deals available.
And if you’re planning your next business trip, opt forTravelPerk. TravelPerk simplifies every aspect of corporate travel—from booking flights and accommodation to managing itineraries.
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