HOLIDAYMAKERS have been warned to avoid a mistake that could add hundreds to the cost of their break.
Jetsetters are increasingly turning to travel agents to get help planning their getaways after last summer’s disastrous flight disruption.
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But an investigation by consumer group Which? found it could cost you hundreds of pounds more compared to booking online yourself.
In February and March, it sent mystery shoppers to Co-op Travel, Kuoni, Hays Travel and Tui branches to see if they could get the best price for a week’s holiday in Marbella, Spain, in June.
They also inquired about two weeks away in the Dominican Republic in November.
In most cases the quotes given by high street agents were significantly higher than Which? researchers found when booking the same trip themselves online.
A week in Marbella would have cost you over £500 more when booked through a Kuoni travel agent in London’s Oxford Street branch.
Meanwhile, an all-inclusive four-star trip to the Dominican Republic would have been £400 more expensive when booking at a Co-op Travel branch in Birmingham.
After visiting Hays in Warminster, Which? found you could have saved £369 on a Tui-provided two-week break in the Dominican Republic by booking directly on the Tui website.
Tui showed the least difference in its prices. It was just £5 more expensive when booking a two-week trip to the Dominican Republic in its branch compared to online and it came out even for a one-week holiday to Marbella.
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It means customers booking across the four companies would have paid an average of £252 more for the Dominican Republic holiday if they’d used an agent rather than booking online.
The week in Marbella would have cost £162 more bought in branch rather than online.
The personal touch
Despite the differences in price, the Which? investigation also found most of the mystery shoppers were pleased with the customer service they received from the four companies.
Eleven out of 16 gave their travel agent between four and five out of five stars for customer service.
Hays Travel received very good reviews, with three of four mystery shoppers giving them five stars for customer service.
Laura Sanders, Which? senior researcher and writer, said: “We were quietly rooting for high street travel agents, hoping to show that you can get special attention at competitive rates.
“But our mystery shopping proved disappointing.
“With our package holidays, it was cheaper to book directly online.”
So is there a point to using a travel agent? Yes, said Laura.
“When it comes to that big holiday with lots of moving parts, it’s worth calling in the experts.
“They can advise on the intangible things like how much spending money you will need and the easiest ways to get around.
“This is where Hays and Kuoni shone through.
“The more complex and unusual the holiday is, the more likely they are to save you some money too.”
Laura said the customer service received when booking was “excellent”.
She added: “That could be invaluable if any part of your holiday doesn’t work as planned and you need help.”
Laura said value for money looks different to everyone and urged: “Regardless of your budget, the key is to ask what you’re really seeing for your hard-earned cash.”
You get what you pay for
A Kuoni spokesperson said the majority of holidays they arrange are highly tailored to the customer and usually involve multiple bookings.
They said: “Tailor-made trips are not easy to replicate online.
“The Which? research was based on very specific beach breaks, which we can sell but wouldn’t normally do in any volume and aren’t typical of the type of holiday people usually come to us for.”
Tui’s spokesperson said the company strove to “give customers the best experience possible regardless of where they book”.
Co-Op Travel pointed to the extra support customers could get in branch.
This includes support with passports, Foreign and Commonwealth Office guidance, visa requirements and health and vaccination advice.
The Sun has approached Hays Travel for comment.
How else can I save money on a holiday?
If you’re thinking about heading away this summer, there are a few tricks you can use to save money.
Avoiding travelling on a Saturday could see you save up to £380, while travelling mid-week is much cheaper.
Switching up the airport you fly from can save you up to £336 too, while setting up price alerts will let you know when prices have dropped.
And if you aren’t tied to a holiday in Spain or Greece, keeping your options open can save you money too.
Skyscanner’s Everywhere function lets you see flight costs to every country – so you could save money if you choose a cheaper destination.
