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Is Options Travel Group a Legitimate Travel Agency?

Is Options Travel Group Legit?

Options Travel Group (OTG) is a travel agency that has been in business for over 20 years. It offers a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. But is OTG legit? Is it a safe and reliable company to use?

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at OTG to see if it’s a legitimate travel agency. We’ll look at its history, its customer reviews, and its BBB rating. We’ll also provide some tips on how to choose a travel agency that you can trust.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of OTG and whether or not it’s a good option for you.

Overview of Options Travel Group

History of the company

Options Travel Group was founded in 1999 by two travel industry veterans, David Anderson and Chris Anderson. The company started out as a small boutique travel agency, but quickly grew to become one of the largest online travel agencies in the United States. In 2015, Options Travel Group was acquired by Expedia Group, one of the world’s largest travel companies.

Services offered

Options Travel Group offers a wide range of travel services, including:

• Rental cars

The company also offers a variety of travel planning tools and resources, such as:

• A travel blog
• A travel advice center
• A rewards program

Customer reviews

Options Travel Group has received mixed reviews from customers. Some customers have praised the company for its great customer service and competitive prices, while others have complained about the company’s lack of transparency and hidden fees. Overall, Options Travel Group seems to be a legitimate travel agency, but it is important to do your research before booking a trip with the company.

Legitimacy of Options Travel Group

Is Options Travel Group a legitimate company?

Yes, Options Travel Group is a legitimate company. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and has an A+ rating. Options Travel Group is also a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

What are the company’s financials?

Options Travel Group is a privately held company, so its financials are not publicly available. However, the company has been profitable for several years and has been growing steadily.

What are the company’s legal issues?

Options Travel Group has been involved in a few legal disputes over the years. In 2012, the company was sued by a customer who claimed that the company had overcharged her for a flight. The case was settled out of court. In 2015, the company was sued by a group of consumers who claimed that the company had misled them about the terms of their travel contracts. The case was also settled out of court.

Overall, Options Travel Group seems to be a legitimate company with a good track record. However, it is important to do your research before booking a trip with the company.

Options Travel Group is a large online travel agency that offers a wide range of travel services. The company has been in business for over 20 years and has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, the company has been involved in some legal disputes over the years. Overall, Options Travel Group seems to be a legitimate company, but it is important to do your research before booking a trip with the company.

Options Travel Group is a travel agency that offers a variety of services, including booking flights, hotels, and car rentals. The company also offers travel insurance and other add-on services. Options Travel Group is headquartered in New York City and has offices in several other cities around the United States.

Options Travel Group has been in business for over 20 years and has a good reputation among consumers. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited by the National Association of Travel Agents (NAFTA).

However, there have been some complaints about Options Travel Group in recent years. Some customers have reported problems with the company’s customer service, and others have said that they have been overcharged for their travel arrangements.

Overall, Options Travel Group is a legitimate travel agency that offers a variety of services. However, it is important to be aware of the company’s reputation and to read reviews before booking your travel arrangements.

Complaints About Options Travel Group

There have been a number of complaints about Options Travel Group in recent years. Some of the most common complaints include:

• Customer service issues: Customers have complained about the company’s customer service, saying that they have been difficult to reach and that they have not been able to resolve their problems.
• Overcharging: Customers have also complained about being overcharged for their travel arrangements. Some customers have said that they were charged more than the quoted price, and others have said that they were charged for services that they did not receive.
• Cancellation fees: Customers have also complained about the company’s cancellation fees. Some customers have said that they were charged a large fee for cancelling their trip, even though they cancelled well in advance.

How Does Options Travel Group Respond to Complaints?

Options Travel Group has a customer service department that is responsible for handling complaints. The department is available by phone, email, and chat. Customers can also file a complaint on the company’s website.

Options Travel Group typically responds to complaints within 24 hours. The company will try to resolve the complaint by working with the customer to find a solution. If the complaint cannot be resolved, the company will typically offer the customer a refund or credit.

Options Travel Group’s Refund Policies

Options Travel Group has a flexible refund policy. The company will typically issue a full refund if a customer cancels their trip more than 24 hours before the departure date. If a customer cancels their trip within 24 hours of the departure date, the company will typically issue a partial refund.

Options Travel Group also has a policy for refunds on unused travel services. If a customer does not use a flight, hotel, or car rental that they have booked through Options Travel Group, the company will typically issue a refund. The amount of the refund will depend on the specific policy for the service that was not used.

Alternatives to Options Travel Group

There are a number of other travel agencies that offer similar services to Options Travel Group. Some of the most popular alternatives include:

• Expedia: Expedia is a large online travel agency that offers a wide variety of travel services, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. The company has a good reputation among consumers and offers a variety of discounts and promotions.
• Travelocity: Travelocity is another large online travel agency that offers a similar range of services to Expedia. The company also has a good reputation among consumers and offers a variety of discounts and promotions.
• Priceline: Priceline is a discount travel agency that allows customers to bid on travel packages. The company offers a wide variety of packages, including flights, hotels, and car rentals. Priceline is a good option for customers who are looking for a cheap deal on their travel arrangements.

Options Travel Group is a legitimate travel agency that offers a variety of services. However, there have been some complaints about the company in recent years. It is important to be aware of the company’s reputation and to read reviews before booking your travel arrangements.

If you are looking for an alternative to Options Travel Group, there are a number of other reputable travel agencies that offer similar services.

• [Options Travel Group website](https://www.optionstravelgroup.com/)
• [Better Business Bureau rating for Options Travel Group](https://www.bbb.org/us/ny/new-york/profile/travel-agency/options-travel-group-0500-232120)

Options Travel Group is a legitimate travel agency that has been in business for over 20 years. The company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has an A+ rating. Options Travel Group is also a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

What are some of the benefits of using Options Travel Group?

• Options Travel Group offers a wide range of travel services, including flights, hotels, car rentals, and cruises.
• The company has a team of experienced travel agents who can help you plan your perfect trip.
• Options Travel Group offers competitive prices on travel packages.
• The company offers a variety of flexible payment options.
• Options Travel Group offers a satisfaction guarantee.

What are some of the complaints about Options Travel Group?

• Some customers have complained about the company’s customer service.
• Some customers have complained about the company’s prices.
• Some customers have complained about the company’s cancellation policies.

How can I avoid problems when using Options Travel Group?

• Do your research before booking your trip. Read reviews of the company online and make sure that you understand the company’s policies.
• Be clear about your travel needs when you speak to a travel agent.
• Get everything in writing, including your flight confirmation, hotel reservation, and car rental reservation.
• Keep a copy of all your paperwork in case you need to file a claim.

Is Options Travel Group a good choice for me?

Options Travel Group is a good choice for travelers who are looking for a reputable travel agency that can help them plan their perfect trip. The company offers a wide range of services, competitive prices, and a satisfaction guarantee. However, some customers have complained about the company’s customer service and prices. If you are concerned about these issues, you may want to consider using a different travel agency.

Options Travel Group is a legitimate travel agency that has been in business for over 20 years. They offer a wide variety of travel services, including flights, hotels, cruises, and car rentals. They also have a good reputation for customer service. However, it is important to note that Options Travel Group is not a travel consolidator. This means that they do not own or operate any of the travel services that they sell. Instead, they work with other travel providers to find the best deals for their customers. As a result, it is important to do your research before booking a trip with Options Travel Group to make sure that you are getting the best possible deal.

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The Complete Guide to Booking Travel Online

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

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

Photo by Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

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

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

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

What is an OTA?

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

What are the main OTAs?

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

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

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

Are OTA fares lower than booking directly?

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

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

Are all airlines available to be booked through OTAs?

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

Are smaller OTAs safe to use?

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

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

What if you need to change your itinerary?

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

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

What is an OTA price match policy?

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

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

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

How do Google Flights and other travel metasearch engines work?

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

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

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

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

Why not just book directly?

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

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

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

What are the options for booking on your mobile device?

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

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

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

The bottom line?

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

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

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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The Journal

Travel Advisor Resources

How to Start a Travel Agency (& Why It’s Not Your Best Option)

The Modern Travel Agency

Fora Travel

https://www.foratravel.com/the-journal/how-to-start-a-travel-agency

Wondering how to start a travel agency? We’re breaking down all the steps below — and highlighting why joining a host agency like Fora may be the better (and more financially rewarding) path.

Ready to start selling travel? Sign up to become a Fora Advisor today. All it takes is a passion for travel. We’ll hook you up with everything you need — from expert-led travel agent training to a mountain of marketing resources — to be successful. 

First, what exactly is a travel agency?

Travel agencies are different from individual travel agents — or travel advisors (the Fora term has a better ring to it, doesn’t it?). Agencies are collections of advisors that plan and book trips for clients. (Asking yourself, " What does a travel agent do? We've got you.)

The advisors can either be independent contractors — as they are at Fora — or dedicated employees. The former are largely in control of their business while the latter typically adheres to rigid schedules, dedicated offices and so on. Independent travel agents have significantly more freedom. 

At Fora, our advisors can work as much or as little as they want. A large number of Fora Advisors plan trips as a travel side hustle , for instance. This typically isn’t allowed at non-independent agencies.

(Learn how to become an independent travel agent .)

Are there different types of travel agencies?

Yes. Some agencies offer specific travel agent jobs , with distinct travel agent niches. Examples include luxury travel agencies, cruise agencies, agencies that cater to select destinations and more. 

Learning how to start a travel agency with a niche doesn’t dramatically alter the process, but it can affect your bottom line (see below).

What benefits and perks do travel agencies offer?

Exact perks will vary by agency, and some agencies offer little more than brand name. If you’re learning how to start a travel agency, then it’s up to you to decide what types of benefits and perks programs to offer.

At Fora, we offer extensive support, a multitude of travel agent training covering every aspect of the travel industry, virtually all the marketing resources you could need and access to our community of travel advisors, which is built upon sharing insider wisdom, deals and travel tips that can be shared with clients. Oh, and Fora Advisors can also offer their clients VIP hotel and travel perks at thousands of properties around the world thanks to our travel partnerships .

Do you need an agency to become a travel advisor?

Technically, you can become a travel advisor without joining or starting a travel agency. However, this can be a difficult path because you’ll have to forge supplier relationships on your own.

While most hotel groups offer commissions — that’s how travel agents are paid — only a few offer client-facing perks, and many of these programs are by invitation only. To obtain an invite, you need to be successful as a travel agency. But to be successful, you need to be able to offer perks and deals to entice clients away from online travel agencies like Expedia, not to mention more established travel agencies.

If this sounds difficult, we get it; it's crucial to understand that starting a travel agency is more difficult in general. In addition to securing partnerships with major travel brands, you’ll have to worry about things like licensing, startup costs and the like (we’ll come back to this soon).

Alternatively, you can join Fora and take advantage of all the resources and partnerships we offer from day one.

Is it a good idea to start a travel agency?

So far, we’ve largely focused on why it’s difficult to start a travel agency. And we’ve touched on why joining a host agency like Fora is the better deal. But if you're still keen on this option, let’s cover the advantages of starting a travel agency from scratch.

There’s always a demand for travel

In fact, travel demand is at an all-time high. Between jobs where you travel , vacations and remote work, more people than ever are regularly seeing the world. 

Considering travel advisors and agencies are astronomically outnumbered by the amount of people seeking travel, there are opportunities to start your own agency from scratch. However, this gap is shrinking, and competing with the big agencies is only going to get tougher. 

Want to join a successful travel agency? Check out Fora's 2023 year in review : good things are happening here, and our travel advisors are reaping the benefits.

The value of a travel agent is better than it has ever been

As more people travel, suppliers (such a hotels and cruises) are more likely to offer perks that travel agencies and advisors can offer their clients. Plus, there’s less risk to a supplier’s bottom line because the advisors tend to bring in higher quality guests, and there's a greater chance for repeat business.

Travel agencies can be very lucrative…once they get off the ground

Because so many people are traveling right now, the opportunity to earn income from commissions and planning is exceptional. However, it’s worth noting that established agencies have a clear advantage here. People are much more likely to plan their travel through familiar brands than untested agencies.

If you’re looking for brand recognition, you don’t have to look far. We have an ever-growing presence on social media, and perhaps more importantly, we’re constantly being acknowledged by the biggest names in travel, from The New York Times to Virtuoso.

How to start a travel agency: step-by-step

Ready for the exact steps? Here’s how to start a travel agency from scratch. 

A warning though: this guide isn’t meant to be taken as business or legal advice, nor is this an all-encompassing plan for all jurisdictions. Some locales, states and countries may require additional or alternative steps.

Or, skip the hassle of building your own travel agency and start selling travel as an independent advisor right away when you sign up to become a Fora Advisor .

1. Understand the travel industry, conduct market research & identify a niche

Before you ever touch a business plan, it is important that you learn the ins and outs of the travel industry. This means understanding the triangular relationship between suppliers — such as hotel brands and rental-car services — travel advisors and clients. It’s then critical to know the exact products and services you’ll be selling. This includes hotel reservations, tours, cruises… you get the idea. 

Next, it’s important that you know your competition, and this will rise and fall depending on the audience you’re seeking. For example, it’s generally easier to get your foot in the door at the local level than to start on an international field, where all the major players have already found their market share. 

On the flip side, while there may be less competition the smaller you scale, there may also be exponentially less demand for your agency’s services. Ultimately, it's all a balancing act.

To do all of this, you’ll need to enroll in travel supplier training courses, conduct market research and perhaps ideally, find a niche to exploit.

If you opt to join a travel agency instead, the amount of material you need to cover is but a fraction of what we’ve mentioned thus far.

2. Create a business plan, register your business, make a financial plan & secure startup costs

After you get a handle on the industry, you have to understand the more technical aspects of starting a travel agency. 

This includes creating a business plan, registering your business with all local, state and federal entities (requirements varies by country), pitching a financial plan to investors and securing your startup costs, which could be anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars and beyond — the exact number relies on many more factors than can reasonably be listed here. But generally, the larger your target market, the larger the initial investment needs to be. 

This isn’t a one-time ordeal either, as you’ll need to secure investments to fund regular business operations until you start turning a profit.

Comparatively, our membership fee costs either $49 per month or $299 per year, a far better deal.

3. Understand your tax obligations

Another technical aspect of starting a travel agency, or any business, is understanding your tax obligations. Taxes for agencies, regardless of how they are organized (as a corporation, LLC, etc.), are going to be more complicated than taxes for travel advisors because there are a lot more factors to consider, such as employees, nuanced expenses and so on. 

4. Acquire all the necessary licenses & registrations for your travel agency (local, state, international…)

In addition to ordinary business licenses (i.e., the licenses you need to run any business), you may also need to register as a seller of travel. Exact license requirements change with your location — and the specifics get convoluted fast. Moreover, you may also need licenses in select areas before you can sell travel within their borders (e.g. California).

As such, this is a good time to mention that when you become a Fora Advisor , you’re operating under our already established licenses, saving you loads of time and money on fees.

5. Create a website & set up your office (online and / or brick-and-mortar)

Next up on how to start a travel agency: creating a website and choosing an office location. 

In today’s world, websites are essential, and it’s not enough to “set it and forget it.” You’ll either need to hire a dedicated web team or devote a portion of your time to maintenance, functionality and development. It’s also worth mentioning that a barebones website isn’t going to cut it — you’ll need something that explains what your business does and why clients should choose you over your competitors.

Additionally, you’ll need to set up an office and decide whether to operate as an in-person agency, an online agency or somewhere in between. The brick-and-mortar route can be helpful in terms of managing your agency from a centralized point, especially as you grow, but there are many perks to allowing your travel advisors to operate online (see more about how to become a travel agent online ). Your agency won’t be limited to in-person travel consultations, and can therefore work with clients anywhere in the world. 

6. Hire or contract travel advisors, plus support staff

Unless you’re an agency of one, you’ll need to either hire or contract travel advisors along with various support staff. Moreover, you’ll need to decide whether you’ll train advisors in-house or require some sort of prior travel agent school . 

The first part isn’t too difficult — plenty of people have a passion for travel — but the second part can make or break your agency. Quality training will go a long way in ensuring your agency's relevance and success.

7. Adopt travel software platforms used for bookings

The best travel agencies can book hotels and other reservations (learn about the types of bookings Fora Advisors can make ) through their in-house systems. This is a huge technical advantage that boosts efficiency and convenience, which in turn draws top talent. The best travel advisors want to work with agencies that offer great tools.

Unfortunately, developing these systems is no easy feat. You’ll either need to hire a software team or outsource projects to a third party, both of which require massive investments in time and capital.

Or you can become a Fora Advisor and make use of our proprietary booking platform that allows you to book 29,000 hotels worldwide (and counting).

8. Secure supplier relationships and establish perks to make your travel agency appealing to clients

Supplier partnerships are essential to start a travel agency. They are one of the main reasons clients choose an agency to book travel. 

Fora has dozens of global partnerships with hotel brands, experiences, cruise lines and more. And these relationships have played a massive role in our early success. Moreover, through these supplier partnerships, Fora Advisors can offer VIP perks to their clients. 

9. Establish your brand & begin marketing

The last major aspect of learning how to start a travel agency: marketing. What sets your agency apart? You’ll have to answer that question successfully if you want to last beyond the startup phase.

On the other hand, you can join Fora as an independent travel advisor and we’ll teach you how to market your travel business like a pro . Wondering how travel agents get clients ? We'll help you there, too. You’ll still be in charge of virtually every aspect of your business, plus you’ll have access to unwavering technical support, awesome supplier programs, an in-house booking platform… the benefits go on and on. Plus, you don’t have to worry about obtaining travel licenses, office overhead, hiring staff and other tasks that are critical to running an agency.

How to start a travel agency: FAQs

Before we wrap up, here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about how to start a travel agency.

How much does it cost to start a travel agency?

There’s no straightforward answer to this question because it depends on your target market, location (especially if you’re starting up in a big city, where office space is costly) and numerous other factors. 

Ballpark estimates suggest that you’re going to have to spend, at a minimum, several thousand dollars to start your own agency. On the other hand, you can spend a fraction of that, enjoy the perks of an established host agency and start making money right away as a Fora Advisor. 

What are the legal requirements for starting a travel agency?

The legal requirements for starting a travel agency vary by jurisdiction. 

Generally speaking, you’ll need to register your business as you would any business, then check to see if there are additional licenses or certifications both where you’re based and anywhere you hope to book travel to for your clients.

What skills & traits are necessary to run a travel agency?

To start and run a successful travel agency, you’ll need to be very business savvy. There’s no way around it. In today’s economy, it’s also prudent to either possess or have access to a team with excellent technical skills.

Conversely, what does it take to become a travel agent ? To become a Fora Advisor, all you need is a passion for travel.

Starting a travel agency can be risky

Simply put, there’s no guarantee that starting your own travel agency will be successful. The endeavor requires colossal effort and capital. 

On the other hand, becoming an independent travel advisor is a ticket to one of the best jobs in the travel industry . You still get to live out your passion for travel. You still get to be your own boss. And the risks involved are, frankly, negligible compared to the risks involved in starting a travel agency.

Overall, is starting a travel agency from scratch worth it?

This is a question only you can answer. But we will say that becoming an independent travel agent has much less ambiguity around it (and is far more fun, especially at Fora). 

P.S. Check out the myths about becoming a travel advisor .

Does it make more sense to sign with a host agency like Fora?

Absolutely. (What can we say?) There are a lot of reasons to become a Fora travel advisor . But it’s monumentally easier to become an independent travel advisor with Fora than to start your own agency, and this factor is a big one.

Startup costs are minimal

Starting an agency is going to, at a minimum, cost thousands of dollars. Startup costs to become a Fora Advisor are limited to our membership fee, which currently costs $49 monthly or $299 annually.

How much does it cost to become a travel agent ? Our guide spells it out.

You don’t have to worry about as many licenses and fees

Blanket statements about government licenses and fees are dangerous to make, but it’s true that as a Fora Advisor, you’ll have to worry much less about this sort of thing than if you start a travel agency from scratch.

Fora’s licenses allow independent agents to operate as extensions of Fora, thus circumventing most or all (depending on where you live and sell travel) licensing requirements.

You can start making money right away

Seriously. And considering it could be months or years before a new company can turn a profit, this is a massive advantage. 

Our guide to how much travel agents make has specifics, but the average Fora travel advisor salary is nothing to balk at, especially for top performers.

Fora provides all the training & certification you need to be successful

When you learn how to start a travel agency, you’re largely going about it alone. But when you join Fora, we've got your back, providing you with an inclusive, experienced community, travel agent training , travel agent certification and more. 

This training teaches you everything you need to know to become successful as a travel advisor, from simple concepts such as booking commissionable hotels to more advanced subjects like multi-destination itinerary planning.

You’re still in complete control of your business as a travel advisor with Fora

We mean no bookings quotas (unless you join our elite Fora X program), and no set schedules. And you can work from anywhere, so long as you have an internet connection. 

Want a travel side hustle ? No problem. Want to make a full-time career out of selling vacations? Consider it done. 

At Fora, you’re still very much in charge of how and when you sell travel — just as if you started your own travel agency.

Skip learning how to start a travel agency — become a Fora Advisor today

Want to be a successful travel advisor? Don’t worry about learning how to start a travel agency — join one of the best and start selling travel right away. All you have to do is apply to become a Fora Advisor today.

Need more convincing? Check out these additional travel advisor resources :

How to Become a Luxury Travel Agent: the 2023 Guide  

How to Become a Disney Travel Agent  

Why Group Bookings Are Great: Tips from an Expert  

Room Blocks 101: Mastering the Art of Group Bookings  

How Do Travel Agents Get Paid (& Why Fora Does It Differently)  

Book a Cruise With a Virgin Voyages Travel Agent  

How to Be a Successful Travel Advisor: Insider Tips from the Pros

Are you the go-to person for travel tips?

Transform your passion for travel into your dream job. We'll set you up with everything you need to succeed as a travel advisor. From training to top-notch tech, marketing assets, community, commission tracking & payments (and more), we've got you.

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• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Saturn Stadium
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center

Members can access discounts and special features

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Bykovo Manor
• Balashikha Arena
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Military Technical Museum
• Church of Our Lady of Kazan
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Borisoglebsky Sports Palace
• Church of Vladimir
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall
• Shirokov House
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Zheleznodorozhny Museum of Local Lore
• Stella Municipal Drama Theater
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Fryazino Centre for Culture and Leisure
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Art Gallery of The City District

Cincinnati named Ohio’s first passport agency location

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — People looking to receive a passport to travel internationally will have another option in southwest Ohio.

The U.S. Department of State announced Monday that a new passport agency would be coming to Cincinnati, the first location in Ohio.

Five other cities across the country selected include:

• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Orlando, Florida
• Salt Lake City
• San Antonio

According to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the new locations are for travelers that have “urgent travel needs.” By adding the six new locations across the nation, the spots will allow prospective travelers to receive quicker customer service.

“In 1990, only five percent of Americans had a passport,” said a release. “Today, that number is 48 percent. In Fiscal Year 2023, the Department of State issued over 24 million passport books and cards – more than ever before.”

Individuals not in need of immediate services can still visit any of the 7,400 passport acceptance or 26 current passport agencies across the country for support.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.

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The 7 Best Scuba Diving Travel Insurance for Underwater Adventurers [2024]

Content Contributor

74 Published Articles

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Michael Y. Park

20 Published Articles 221 Edited Articles

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Editor-in-Chief

36 Published Articles 3293 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

The 7 best scuba diving travel insurance policies, is travel insurance for scuba diving worth it, scuba diving travel insurance costs, what scuba diving travel insurance covers (and doesn’t cover), how to get travel insurance that covers scuba diving, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

As a divemaster, I understand that life under the water is incredible. I also understand that it poses serious risks, even if you take every possible precaution. Accidents happen, which is why scuba diving travel insurance can be a good investment.

Before you think, “I have travel insurance, so I’m set,” know that you might not be. Many travel insurance policies don’t cover what they classify as “high-risk activities,” such as skydiving, skiing, and scuba diving. Bummer. Thus, it pays to evaluate travel insurance with scuba diving cover specifically included.

How do you choose the right one? And what separates a good policy from the pack? I’m glad you asked.

Let’s get this out of the way first: Not every type of travel insurance covers scuba diving. Even those we rate as the best travel insurance plans focus on other things, such as trip delays and lost luggage. Divers likely have other concerns, though it’s possible to find hybrid policies that cover both dive-related accidents and things like damaged gear in your checked luggage .

* On top of the annual membership fee in Divers Alert Network, discussed below.

Insurance: You hope you never need it. And it’s something you pay for hoping you never have to use it. Most things in life aren’t worth paying for if you’re not using them, so does that mean you shouldn’t get travel insurance for scuba diving?

Let’s consider the alternative: What if you don’t get coverage?

Depending on where you are in the world, getting to an appropriate medical facility for your diving-related accident might not be that simple. Consider that several island nations in the Caribbean don’t have a decompression chamber. When I did my divemaster course in Bayahibe in the Dominican Republic, the nearest chamber was 2 hours away by car in Santo Domingo, the capital.

As you may know, delays in treatment decrease the likelihood of positive outcomes during diving accidents. They also increase your costs. Imagine diving in Nicaragua, which doesn’t have a chamber. After a serious dive accident, you may need emergency transportation to Costa Rica to access the nearest decompression chamber. As you’ll see from our evaluation of medical evacuation insurance policies , the cost of emergency medical evacuation can surpass $10,000 faster than you can say, “How much will this treatment cost?” And skipping treatment might not be an option, regardless of the price tag.

So, while it might look like one more item to trim to keep travel costs low, the alternative to forgoing scuba diving insurance might not be worth the risk if something goes wrong.

Travel insurance that covers scuba diving can be broken down into 2 categories: traditional travel insurance that also covers scuba diving and scuba-focused policies that have some “regular travel insurance” elements tacked on. Thus, you’ll see familiar travel insurance companies offering plan supplements to cover scuba diving (and other adventure sports) or sports travel-themed policies from these travel insurance regulars. Conversely, you can find insurance policies that are acutely focused on scuba accident insurance while also including a few other elements on top.

Let’s start with the travel insurance companies.

Costs From Traditional Travel Insurance Agencies

To get an idea of pricing, we used Squaremouth — a travel insurance comparison website that lets you sort through hundreds of travel insurance plans — to compare plans and prices. We priced a sample trip for 2 people, ages 37 and 35, who live in Illinois and paid for their trip yesterday but are shopping for travel insurance today. They want insurance to cover their 10-day trip in September, heading to one of my favorite diving destinations: Belize.

After you fill out the destination, dates of travel, number of travelers, and ages, the final page asks for the cost of the trip and the date of the first deposit . You need to put in a price (per traveler or total trip cost) and whether the full amount of the trip has been paid for yet. You also choose whether you want your policy to cover the trip cost. This affects whether you see policies covering lost deposits for missing or canceling your trip, for example.

We chose “cover my trip cost” and said that the trip cost was $1,000 per person, already paid in full with a deposit date in the past 24 hours. Squaremouth returned 4 policies that met all of the criteria (covering scuba diving and trip reimbursement) for this example.

Prices range from $130 to $204.22 for these policies. All of the policies cover cancellation for COVID-19 sickness and 100% of the trip cost for trip cancellation. Three of the policies cover 150% of the trip cost (up to $3,000) for trip interruption; however, the IMG Travel Sport policy only covers up to 125% here.

Weather-related issues showed some major differences in the policies. Travelex and TinLeg cover delays of “any length of time,” while the 2 IMG policies require delays of at least 6 hours. Moreover, IMG’s Travel LX Basic policy covers mandatory evacuation. All of the policies require purchasing prior to a named storm being named, and all of them cover your accommodation becoming uninhabitable.

All of the policies allow for extensions if you’re quarantined or injured during the trip, with the IMG policies providing up to 10 days of extension. The other policies provide only 7 days of extension. The waiting period for travel delay coverage is similar in all policies, but the TinLeg Adventure policy has a much lower maximum payout for expenses you incur during delays: just $600, while the other policies are in the thousands. Also, the IMG policies have higher maximum payouts for baggage delays than Travelex and TinLeg . This could be important if your suitcase full of dive gear is delayed and you have to rent a full kit for several days.

Speaking of gear, if items become lost, stolen, or damaged while you’re traveling, that’s not just a headache. It’s also expensive. These policies can help cover costs, but they all have flaws here. Travelex and TinLeg only cover up to $1,000 per person. All policies have per-item maximum costs of $250 or $500. That won’t cover the full cost of your waterproof housing with external lights for your camera or your BCD. Note that the IMG Travel Sport plan doesn’t cover missed connections that create extra costs during your trip, but the other plans cover this.

Now, let’s talk about the medical issues you could encounter during your trip. IMG’s Travel LX Basic doesn’t include coverage for preexisting conditions, but the other plans have allowances for these under certain conditions. None of the plans have a medical deductible, which is great. However, emergency medical maximum payouts range considerably across the plans.

IMG’s Travel Sport is the only plan where coverage is secondary , and its maximum payout is $250,000. The lowest coverage maximum comes on the Travelex plan, at $50,000. IMG’s Travel LX Basic has the highest coverage amount, at $500,000 per person.

Costs From DAN for Diving-Focused Coverage

Now, let’s turn our focus to diving-specific insurance. The industry leader in this area is Divers Alert Network , or DAN for short.

Before you can buy one of DAN’s dive accident insurance policies, you must have a membership . You can buy an individual or family plan, and each has an option for Regular or Enhanced membership.

Both membership types include coverage for emergency evacuation costs, repatriation of remains, family member visits if you’re in a hospital away from home, costs for returning your rental car on your behalf, and even costs for getting your children home after you’re in an accident. The maximum benefit payouts are typically 3 to 4 times higher with the Enhanced membership. The Enhanced membership also has additional benefits not offered on the Regular plan: medical transportation to get home, transportation to rejoin a tour after you had an emergency, search and rescue costs, and repatriation after an emergency.

The cost for an individual membership are $40 for Regular and $60 for Enhanced. Those costs increase to $75 and $100, respectively, for a family membership. To create a family membership, you must attest that all adults and children on the plan live at the same address.

Once you have a DAN membership, you can sign up for its travel insurance with scuba diving accident and emergency coverage. Regardless of whether you have a Regular or Enhanced membership, you’ll find 3 plans: Guardian, Preferred, and Master. Master is the most basic plan, while Guardian is the most robust.

The key focus of these plans is covering you for accidents and emergencies likely to occur during water sports, largely focused on diving (though that’s not the only activity covered). With this focus, you won’t find things like flight delay insurance or delayed luggage insurance — items covered with more traditional travel insurance. Instead, the plans cover medical expenses, extra accommodation costs, lost diving equipment, and disability — so far as any of these are related to diving accidents.

The Preferred and Guardian plans also cover medical expenses not related to diving when you’re in another country, and the Guardian plan covers a much broader list of accidents and emergencies related to all water activities.

It’s also worth pointing out that only the Guardian plan provides additional coverage for search and rescue costs , should a rescue operation be mounted to find you and then a bill sent your way for the costs involved.

While it may seem confusing to find a list of coverage for a DAN membership and a separate list for DAN’s scuba diving travel insurance , you can best understand the differences like this: A DAN membership can cover the costs of getting you, your belongings, and your travel group home after a diving-related accident. DAN’s insurance plans, conversely, cover the medical costs related to your water accidents or emergencies.

The more traditional travel insurance companies offer reimbursement for money lost or expenses you incur during delays, cancellations, and interruptions for your trip. They also can cover costs related to baggage delays, such as needing to rent gear for a day if your suitcase didn’t arrive at your destination. These plans also can cover damage to or loss of your luggage, and they provide varying amounts of emergency medical coverage should you become sick or injured during a trip. And so long as you compare plans with add-ons for scuba diving coverage, the medical coverage should apply to any accidents or injuries that happen in the water.

However, these plans don’t cover every risk related to diving , such as needing emergency transportation to a decompression chamber or replacing your equipment if you had to ditch it to help a troubled diver.

The plans from DAN focus largely on the latter and may be seen as a supplement to traditional travel insurance focusing on flight delays and cancellations. Divers Alert Network plans include the following:

• Emergency medical transportation by land, air, or sea to the nearest qualified hospital or hyperbaric chamber to provide the treatment you need
• Hospital charges
• Hyperbaric chamber treatment costs
• Costs related to permanent and total disability after a covered diving accident
• Extra transportation or accommodation costs if you need to stay at your destination for recuperation or can’t use your original ticket home after a covered accident
• Replacement of lost or damaged diving gear after a covered accident
• Includes divers over age 70 now after policy updates

To find the right policy for you, comparison shopping is the best way to start . To compare plans, use a comparison website like Squaremouth . After filling out information about your intended trip, costs, and what you’re looking for, you can compare plans side by side to see their differences and costs. This lets you select the best option from what’s available.

Conversely, if your top priority is covering potential diving accidents, DAN has been the leader in this area for a while now . Run by divers, it may better (and more quickly) understand the issue than a customer service number for a general travel insurance company when there’s a diving accident involved. That said, DAN doesn’t cover every aspect of your trip, so it’s worth evaluating what parts of your trip you’re not protecting and what nonrefundable costs you’re not insuring.

There’s also a third option: getting both a travel insurance policy and a dive accident-focused policy. DAN’s diving accident coverage applies annually, and it may be worth purchasing a cheap travel insurance policy any time you head away from home to dive. Getting a weeklong policy to cover your flights, hotel costs, and other travel expenses can provide peace of mind when it’s time to travel, and a policy from DAN can provide peace of mind in the water.

Even after hundreds of dives without ever needing evacuation or emergency treatment, I still consider scuba diving travel insurance worth it. If something goes wrong underwater, the costs to get emergency care can skyrocket quickly. While you hope you never need to file a claim for a serious diving accident, you’ll be glad someone else is picking up the tab if you do.

Consider the list of options above to see which is the best fit for your diving plans. If you dive infrequently and always near top-notch facilities, that might make you pick a different plan than someone who frequents live-aboard vessels that take them far from a hyperbaric chamber while diving day in and day out.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does travel insurance cover scuba diving.

Typically, no. Many plans don’t cover items classified as high risk, and the list of exclusions here often includes scuba diving. Reading the plan terms and conditions before purchasing is the best way to ensure scuba diving is covered by your plan. Alternatively, choose a plan that’s geared toward scuba diving travel insurance coverage.

How much does scuba diving travel insurance cost?

Depending on the plan you choose, you can find plans from roughly $45 per year up to $200 for a 1-week policy that covers much more than just your time spent in the water. Plan costs and coverage types vary significantly.

Does travel insurance include diving?

Casual water sports like Jet-Skiing and snorkeling are covered by most travel insurance policies. Because of the increased risks, however, most providers see scuba diving as an extreme sport and exclude it from coverage. However, policies vary here, with some saying you’re covered up to a certain depth. Check whether this is specified in your policy.

Should I get diving insurance?

Scuba diving insurance can provide peace of mind during your trip, with you knowing that your medical necessities and related costs can be covered if you have an accident or emergency. Despite the best planning, accidents can happen, and diving isn’t without risks. The money spent on a policy is likely a fraction of the costs you might incur if something goes wrong while you’re diving.

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About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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I booked a weeklong trip to a mystery destination. I had a lot of fun, but I'd do a few things differently next time.

• I booked a solo  trip to a mystery destination with a company that planned everything for me.
• I traveled to Lisbon and enjoyed group tours and activities — as well as some alone time.
• It was fun to step outside my comfort zone, but I would have liked more time to explore by myself.

When traveling, I prefer leaving things to chance, as many of my most memorable moments typically happen on less-crowded streets or when I'm chatting up strangers at a restaurant.

That's why when my friend suggested I check out Journee — a travel company that specializes in mystery tours and plans everything, including your destination — I couldn't resist trying it out for a solo trip .

Companies like Journee have become more popular in recent years as more travelers lean into the idea of having a trip planned for them. In fact, a survey of 27,000 travelers by Booking.com found that over half of the respondents would welcome the idea of a trip to an unknown destination.

I was excited to see what all the hype was about and book a surprise trip of my own. Here's what it was like to travel to an unknown destination with Journee.

The company asked me questions about my travel preferences and sent clues leading up to the reveal

When booking my trip, the company provided me with an in-depth travel questionnaire that asked about my interests, curiosities, risk tolerance, well-being, and overall travel philosophy. It also dug into the "why" of my trip, the safety criteria, and logistics and budget.

The company then sent me a trip proposal, which provided a few clues about the city I'd be traveling to. There was no pressure to book and the proposal itself was completely free.

Once I committed, they built up the suspense by gamifying the pre-trip content, slipping fun facts and clues into my WhatsApp DMs.

I challenged myself (and my friends) to rely on our brains (no Googling) to figure out where I might be going, which led to many meaningful conversations about travel.

The company also provided a high-level packing list , which included items like a bank card, phone, charger, passport, and comfortable walking shoes.

The destination reveal turned out to be pretty underwhelming

On the day of departure, I added some euros to my carry-on before taking an Uber to Newark Airport. In the car, I found myself daydreaming about my destination, secretly hoping it was somewhere I'd never been.

My plan to film a reveal video at the airport was quickly foiled when my driver informed me that Newark has two international terminals.

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Because the tour company didn't note the terminal information on the envelope, I had no choice but to open the card in the car, which was underwhelming.

However, I was excited by the location listed on my card — Lisbon.

Along with the destination, the envelope included a detailed itinerary with daily pre-booked excursions, including an e-bike tour and a sunset cruise, with one free day to myself.

The company did a great job arranging my accommodations and activities

I arrived in Lisbon mid-morning after my basic-economy flight . I was relieved to find the company booked me a studio apartment with a sweeping balcony overlooking the street.

I liked being in a residential area, and the proximity to a metro hub and grocery stores made it feel like I had moved abroad.

My first group excursion turned out to be a one-on-one personalized e-bike tour of the city when folks bailed because of the rain.

My city guide took me on a two-hour tour along the Tagus River waterfront, and I ended up taking that same route several times throughout the week.

I also enjoyed the other trips Journee booked for me, including a drive along the countryside to a small village southeast of the city. Here, my group dodged the rain to visit a Stonehenge-like megalithic complex dating back 7,000 years .

One of the last curated events of the trip was visiting the Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Feeling utter tranquility in the cloisters was worth the 90 minutes I spent waiting in line.

As the week went on, I started veering from the pre-planned schedule

Although I enjoyed the group excursions, I worried that I wouldn't have enough time to explore the city on my own. That's why I decided to skip my third-day excursion to wander off the beaten path.

I weaved through the Alcântara district, stopping at the LXFactory, an old industrial textile complex turned food and art hall.

I also biked to explore the Mouraria and Alfama districts, filling up on bacalhau, Lisbon's salted codfish tapas. I even spent a few hours at the Fado Museum , an interactive and immersive cultural arts center where I learned about the history of Portugal's soulful music.

I loved being able to explore another side of the city, which hadn't been in my original itinerary.

I enjoyed the trip, but would make a few changes next time

Overall, it was exciting to step outside my comfort zone and hand over the travel planning to someone else. I loved the surprise of not knowing the destination and visiting historical sites off the beaten path.

Next time, I would book with a friend and have a more direct conversation with the tour company about having more time for independent exploration.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

• Main content

Before you embark on a summer vacation, check out these suggestions for better travels

Here are 18 travel tips sure to make your next vacation a smoother experience:

1. It's best to always keep a travel checklist of items that you can update as you gain experience in your travels. I always check mine two to three times before I ever walk out the door.

2. If traveling abroad, carry an extra copy of your passport in a separate piece of luggage or on your phone. That will make it a lot easier to obtain an emergency replacement if you lose your original. Generally, it is never a good idea to carry your original around with you on the streets.

3. Always double-check all your confirmations of airline flights, hotels, rental cars. Too many vacations have been ruined because of a date error on a reservation.

4. If you are faced with suddenly having to rebook flights and hotels, often travel providers have “chat” features on their apps, which is a quicker communication method than being on hold for an hour or more.

More: Traveling abroad? Respect customs, traditions. Don't disregard local laws | Opinion

5. Always know the currency foreign exchange of the countries to which you are traveling. Avoid being taken advantage of by hotels, restaurants, etc. that want to do currency exchanges for you at unfavorable rates. The FOREX website is the best place to check exchange rates. Resist the urge to have it charged in U.S. dollars when you settle the bill.

6. Some countries will give you a more favorable rate if you exchange new, undamaged U.S. $100 bills at exchange kiosks.

7. If you want to have a little bit of foreign currency before you land, you can go to a major bank or AAA in the United States and have them order currency for you. However, be aware, even though they tell you there is “no fee,” the fee gets taken out by a less-than-favorable exchange rate.

8. I always have two to three alternate travel routes in mind before I ever go to the airport in case of cancellations. You are in a more powerful position if you know your alternate options.

9. Make sure you have pre-selected your phone plans for calls and texts. Understand the limits of your plan when out of the country to avoid high surcharge surprises

More: We want to hear from you | What travel precautions, preparations do you take to avoid delays?

10. Carry only a minimum amount of cash with you on the streets of a strange city or country. Pickpockets abound in many countries.

11. Most pickpockets depend on distraction to complete their task. “Distraction is always followed by extraction!"

12. Split up your credit cards to avoid one person carrying all of them.

13. Don’t put your medicine in a checked bag. It may not show up for two weeks.

14. If you take several medications, it is best to keep a list of those in case you need to replace them in a travel destination.

15. Make sure you explicitly understand your travel medical insurance policies in the event something happens such as illness or needed medical evacuation. Certain credit cards cover these types of events. Know those credit card policies. The devil is in the details!

16. On vacation, I always try to take some clothes that are at “end of life.” I can leave those behind as I go. Often a maid at a hotel or bed and breakfast knows someone who can use them. If you give them to the hotel maid, attach a note with them so management will know you gave them away.

17. Don’t overpack! You can buy just about anything you need in your travels ― unless you are going to Mt. Everest. Packing large containers of toiletries doesn’t make sense when you can buy them along the way if you run out.

18. The last thing to do before you walk out the door is to set the thermostat at minimum settings. You don’t want to pay for energy bills when you're not using your house.

Steve Barrymore, of Oklahoma City, has been a lifelong world traveler with recent emphasis on Latin America where he has attended over a dozen Spanish language immersion programs in nine different Spanish-speaking countries .