If you are looking for travel agencies in Cape Town, look no further than this list.
A travel agency is an organization that provides travel-related services to the public. They usually provide a range of services, including booking flights, hotels, accommodations, and vacation packages. Some agencies also offer other services such as passport or visa assistance. The job of a travel agent is to provide information about destinations, flights, hotels, and other services. They help people find the best deals for their budget and schedule.
One of the most important aspects of a good travel agency is professionalism. The employees need to be polite and well-educated about their products. They should also be able to answer any questions about the destination or product with confidence. The price and quality are also important factors when it comes to choosing a good travel agency.
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Our list of Travel Agencies in Cape Town
Travel Start
If you’re looking for a travel agency with a track record, consider that Travel start has an average of four stars across an incredible 2.1K reviews on Google. Their services include accommodation, bus tickets, car hire, flights, meals, tours, and travel insurance.
If their 2.1K reviews hasn’t convinced you, consider that they’re also highly active on social media with 1.5K posts on Instagram, an average of one post a day on Facebook, and 22.8K tweets on Twitter. Travel Start’s social media presence is absolutely phenomenal, boasting 55.8K Instagram followers, 711.7K Facebook followers, and 25.1K Twitter followers.
Website: https://www.travelstart.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4
Number of Reviews: 2.1K
Best Compliment: “I had the pleasure of dealing with Lindsay from Travelstart and she reminded me what service is all about. She was caring, took time to come back to me on various queries, worked with me to secure my booking and confirmed that all arrangements had been secured. I would highly recommend doing all travel bookings with them.” – Tracey Palmer (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “Travelstart is the absolute worst online booking site. DO NOT I REPEAT, DO NOT book flights or accommodation through them. Firstly they charge you around R800-R1000 more that Budget Air. Their website does not work correctly when they send you a link via e-mail. I am absolutely appalled by their service and do not recommend them at all.” – Candice De Stadler (1/5 stars).
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Certification: IATA certified.
Thompsons Travel
Thompsons Travel offers a wide variety of services, including some unique ones. Their list of services includes accommodation, corporate business travel, cruises, entertainment, events, flights, meals, pet-friendly holidays, safaris, self-drives, and travel insurance. Thompsons is also a member of the Global Business Travel Association, South Africa.
Thompsons is active on social media with 619 posts on Instagram, an average of three posts a week on Facebook, and 2.3K tweets on twitter. The result of this consistent posting is 4.4K Instagram followers, 12.7K Facebook followers, and 2K Twitter followers.
Website: https://www.thompsonstravel.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.3
Number of Reviews: 23
Best Compliment: “A hidden gem in the Southern Suburbs. Go visit!” – Stephen Berry (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “Terrible. No information at all during a cyclone. Transport organised was late, making us late for our flights. Wrong hotel was booked. The terrible rep that we had just shrugged her shoulders when approached. Avoid Thompsons Travel at all costs” – Tanja Beeton (1/5 stars).
Certification: IATA & ASATA certified.
TE Tours
TE Tours is a member of the Automobile Association and offers a variety of services including accommodation, car hire, corporate travel management, flights, foreign exchange, group tours, international driver’s licenses, travel insurance, and visas.
TE Tours can only be found on Facebook and are fairly active with an average of two posts a week. The result is 1.4K Facebook followers. One concern is that their IATA or ASATA certification could not be found on their website.
Website: https://www.smallgrouptours.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.3
Number of Reviews: 87
Best Compliment: “They were super helpful and very friendly! Great service and a good place to get your international drivers licence sorted!” – Christ Krüger (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “I won’t use them again for anything. You stand around waiting to be attended too, but the people behind the counter are looking at each other as if deciding who is going to help the client.Do not ask to have your picture taken…a whole new story. Just do not use them Amen” – Pieter de Beer (1/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
Flight Centre Canal Walk
As one of South Africa’s travel giants, Flight Centre has a clearly proven track record, and their Canal Walk branch is no exception. Flight Centre offers accommodation, corporate travel management, cruises, and tours.
As you might expect from a well-known brand, Flight Centre is very active on multiple social media platforms including Facebook (averaging 2 posts a day), Instagram (with 1.5K posts), Twitter (averaging 2 tweets a day), and even Tik-Tok (with a respectable 232 posts). Unsurprisingly their following is also massive with 421K Followers on Facebook, 70K on Instagram, 21.6K on Twitter, and 9.8K on Tik-Tok.
Website: https://www.flightcentre.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4
Number of Reviews: 54
Best Compliment: “10/10 – I would highly recommend Flight Centre Canal Walk and highly recommend booking with Eka. Eka was professional, friendly, funny, and thorough.” – Kim Christians (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “This is the worst service once you have booked they do not do refunds even although they have not discussed this with you and you are forced to cancel due to global pandemic. Absolutely disgusted, being my first trip overseas” – Caroline Wiborg (1/5 stars).
Certification: IATA & ASATA certified.
Pentravel Tyger Valley
If Flight Centre isn’t for you, consider one of their closest competitors. Pentravel offers all the standard services that you’d expect to receive from an established travel agency, such as accommodation, cruises, flights, luxury holidays, transport, and travel insurance.
Pentravel is active on social media with 1.6K posts on Instagram, an average of 3 posts a day on Facebook, and one tweet a day on Twitter. Pentravel also boasts 23.8K Instagram followers, 120.6K Facebook followers, and 3.9K Twitter followers proving it’s one of South Africa’s biggest travel agencies.
Website: https://www.pentravel.co.za/branch-locator/wc/tyger_valley
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.3
Number of Reviews: 40
Best Compliment: “Loved the service of the staff members. Always a pleasure purchasing my getaway here.” – Kurt Jonathan (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “I called and noone answered. I then filled in an online form to book a getaway. It has been 2 weeks, I have heard nothing.” – Stephanie Mkandla (1/5 stars).
Certification: IATA & ASATA certified.
Chelsea Travel
Chelsea Travel has some excellent reviews on Google. They offer most standard services including accommodation, activities, car hire, coaches, cruises, entertainment, flights, foreign exchange, and travel insurance.
While their 4.6 average rating is a good indicator, there are two concerns. One is that although Chelsea Travel used to post an average of three posts a month on Facebook, they seem to have been inactive since March 2021, something that might disappoint their 344 Facebook followers. The second concern is that their IATA and ASATA certification isn’t readily available on their website.
Don’t discount Chelsea Travel though. It’s worth checking out more of their reviews on Google to get a feel for their service.
Website: https://chelseatravel.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.6
Number of Reviews: 38
Best Compliment: “Wonderful service. Natalie the consultant was available and professional. Best service I’ve had for a long time.” – Lorna Mulder (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “Booked a flight, phoned to cancel it, found out later that it was not cancelled when it was charged to my credit card and as I found out only much later it was too late to argue the charge. Thanks for wasting my money.” – AC Achermann (1/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
Prospur Travel
Another travel agency boasting 4.6 stars on Google Reviews is Prospur Travel. Their services include accommodation, cruises, flights, foreign exchange, meals, travel insurance, and travel documents.
Unfortunately, Prospur Travel is inactive on Facebook and only has 137 tweets on Twitter. Unsurprisingly, the result is that their social media is dwindling with 1.1K Facebook followers, and 42 Twitter followers. Prospur Travel is both IATA and ASATA certified.
Website: http://www.prospurtravel.com/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.6
Number of Reviews: 22
Best Compliment: “Excellent service. Timely, efficient, friendly and willing to go the extra mile. Couldn’t recommend them enough.” – Naadiya Hoosen (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “I phoned for a quote 2 wks ago, received not response. They must have lots of business not to want mine. I purchased from elsewhere” – IHM Tassiopoulos (1/5 stars).
Certification: IATA & ASATA certified.
West Beach Travel
Coming across a travel agency with only 5-star reviews is pretty rare these days. West Beach travel offer services such as 24/7 assistance, accommodation, activities, flights, itineraries, meals, travel insurance, and visas.
Their social media presence is fairly small, due to a lack of activity with only 209 posts on Instagram, and an average of two posts a day on Facebook. The result is 327 Instagram followers and 2.5K Facebook followers.
One issue you would need to clarify with West Beach Travel, is whether they are IATA or ASATA certified, as this isn’t available on their website.
Website: https://westbeachtravel.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 5
Number of Reviews: 33
Best Compliment: “I have dealt with Glenda for over 10years. She has always given me prompt and wonderful service while giving me the most cost affective options. I would rather book with Glenda knowing that she is one call away if I run into trouble while travelling.” – Mandy Salonika (5/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
Travel With Flair
Travel With Flare seems to be more business orientated, which can be seen by the services they offer. Some of these are 24/7 assistance, accommodation, car hire, conferences, corporate travel management, events, flights, and incentive packages. TWF is the only travel agency on this list that has an ISO 27001. They’re also a member of the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry, and the American Society of Travel Advisors.
If you’re still uncertain, it’s worth considering that TWF won the World Travel Awards for South Africa’s Leading Travel Management Company is 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Their social media presence is a bit lacking with an average of one post a month on Facebook, and 137 tweets on Twitter. Their following is decent with 14.9K Facebook followers, and 1.3K Twitter followers.
Website: https://www.travelwithflair.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 3.9
Number of Reviews: 27
Best Compliment: “Thank you for your excellent, efficient and lowest cost travel arrangements. I would make you the best travel company in Cape Town by far.” – AB Westin (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “These people do not know there own system.” – Eugene Anthony Van der Walt (1/5 stars).
Certification: IATA & ASATA certified.
Love Africa Travel
Love Africa Travel offers fewer services than most of the travel agencies on this list. Yet, it’s clear from their average of 5-star reviews that they do these services well. These services include accommodation, activities, flights, meals, safaris, and transfers.
Their social media presence is small with only 159 posts on Instagram, an average of two posts a month on Facebook, and 307 tweets on Twitter. It’s therefore unsurprising that their following is average with 157 Instagram followers, 4.9K Facebook followers, and 28 Twitter followers.
Make sure to find out if they are IATA or ASATA certified before making a booking!
Website: https://www.loveafricatravel.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 5
Number of Reviews: 18
Best Compliment: “Sandy did an amazing job of suggesting places to visit coordinating our travel. All our excursions, safaris, transport and flights went perfect. It was a trip that exceeded all our expectations. We LOVED Africa Travel.” – John P (5/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
Global Travel Alliance
Global Travel Alliance offer a handful of services including accommodation, flights, self-driving tours, and tours. Global Travel is a member of the Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Cape Town Tourism.
Surprisingly their main social media activity seems to be on Twitter, with only 377 posts on Instagram, an average of two posts a month on Facebook, and 2.3K tweets on Twitter. And yet their main following stems from Facebook with only 509 Instagram followers, a fantastic 17K Facebook followers, and a decent 372 Twitter followers.
Like with all the travel agencies who don’t display their certification, you need to ensure that they’re IATA and ASATA certified before enquiring about their services.
Website: https://globaltravelalliance.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 3.8
Number of Reviews: 60
Best Compliment: “Each agent I spoke to was very polite and helpful. The specific agent who assisted me, Pieter, was a great help and a pleasure to speak to. Would definitely plan all of my future trips through this agency.” – Ryan Dean November (5/5 stars).
Worst Complaint: “Each agent I spoke to was very polite and helpful. The specific agent who assisted me, Pieter, was a great help and a pleasure to speak to. Would definitely plan all of my future trips through this agency.” – Jo-anne Molema (1/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
ATC Travel
African Travel Concept offer services such as accommodation, activities, cruises, flights, meals, safaris, self-drive holidays, and tours. ATC Travel is a member of the African Travel & Tourism Association, Cape Town Tourism, the United States Tour Operators Association, and the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association.
With only 381 posts on Instagram, an average of one post a day on Facebook, and 455 tweets on twitter, their social media following is average at only 880 Instagram followers, 1.1K Facebook followers, and 263 Twitter followers. Check for IATA and ASATA certification before making a purchase!
Website: https://www.atctravel.co.za/
Google Reviews (out of 5): 4.8
Number of Reviews: 17
Best Compliment: “Great people, friendly and extremely efficient.” – Andrew Thackwray (5/5 stars).
Certification: Unavailable.
10 Traits of the Ideal Travel Agent
A good travel agent will make booking your dream vacation a breeze. Here are 10 traits of the ideal travel agent:
1. They’re organized and efficient
Organization and efficiency are important for any company, but for a travel agency, it is crucial. When you work in a travel agency, you have to be able to organize everything from flights to hotels and itineraries. But if you don’t have the proper organizational skills, this can get very difficult.
2. They have great attention to detail.
Attention to detail is the most important thing in a travel agency. If you are not able to provide your clients with the whole package, they will look for someone else who can. We need to make sure that we always have the best rates, offer a variety of services and be able to meet the needs of our customers. It is also important that we keep up with all of the latest developments in the industry and are able to provide them with information about what is going on around them.
3. They’re great communicators.
Communication is one of the most important aspects of a travel agency. They need to be able to communicate with their customers, other agencies, and the public. A good communication strategy can help increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, as well as improve the company’s reputation in the industry. It also improves the company’s chances of receiving new business from referrals.
4. They’re patient and calm under pressure.
Patience and calm are two very important traits for a travel agent. Travel agents have to deal with many different types of customers, from the ones who are easy to please, to the ones who want everything their way. They also have to deal with difficult situations such as flight delays or cancellations. The best way to be patient is by being confident in your abilities and providing good customer service. The best way to be calm is by taking deep breaths and staying focused on what you’re doing at the moment.
5. They have a positive attitude.
It is important to have a positive attitude while working in the travel industry because it can make or break the customer experience. A customer who has bad experience will not come back, but a customer who has a good experience will return for more. A positive attitude can make the difference between whether or not you get that client to book their next vacation with you.
6. They’re flexible and adaptable.
A travel agency should be ready to take on any task, whether it be helping their clients plan a weeklong vacation or assisting them with booking a last-minute flight. They should also be able to work with any type of client, from those who have been traveling for years to those who are just starting out and want to experience something new.
7. They have a wealth of knowledge about destinations and travel options.
The knowledge that a travel agent possesses can be divided into two groups: general knowledge and destination-specific knowledge. General knowledge includes the ability to provide information about destinations and accommodations, as well as the ability to answer questions about destinations. Destination-specific knowledge includes destination-specific information such as available attractions, restaurants, weather, safety issues, local customs, etc.
8. They’re able to provide personalized service.
A personalized service from a travel agency can make a big difference to the traveller. They can help travellers find the best deals on flights and hotels while also providing them with advice on how to plan their trip based on their needs. Travel agencies provide an individualized service that is not offered by online booking sites. They offer personal attention to each customer and make sure that they are getting the best deal possible for their needs.
9. They have a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.
To deliver the best customer service, a travel agency needs to be committed to its customers. This means providing them with information on what they need and being available for any questions or concerns. A travel agency should also make sure that their clients are satisfied with their experience by offering the best deals and finding out what they want in order to provide them with an unforgettable experience.
10. They’re passionate about travel.
A travel agent must have a passion for travel in order to be successful in the industry. A passion for travel means that the agent is constantly looking for new destinations to recommend to clients, is always exploring ways to make travel more efficient and enjoyable and is always seeking out new travel opportunities for him or herself. Without a passion for travel, a travel agent is likely to become bored with the job and will not be able to provide the same level of service to clients.
Relavance of Social Media?
When considering a travel agency, one important factor to consider is the agency’s social media presence. In today’s world, social media is a powerful tool that can be used to reach a large number of people with relative ease. A travel agency that has a strong social media presence is more likely to be able to reach potential customers and promote its business.
A travel agency’s social media presence can also give potential customers a good idea of the type of company it is. For example, if an agency regularly posts photos and updates from its happy customers, this is a good sign that it is a customer-focused company. On the other hand, if an agency’s social media posts are mainly advertisements or promotions, this could be a sign that the company is more interested in making a sale than providing a good customer experience.
A travel agency with hundreds of thousands of followers (such as Travel Stars 711.7K Facebook followers) shows that the brand is established and has a track record. This should always be considered alongside their ratings on platforms such as Google Reviews or Hello Peter. A large following doesn’t necessarily equate to fantastic service. It might even indicate that you’ll just be a number to the company and that you might not get the best service or personal touch that the smaller agencies would offer.
Always be skeptical of travel agencies with either no social media, inactive accounts, or small followings. While this shouldn’t be the nail in the coffin for these agencies, it’s important to factor it in when deciding who to go to for your next vacation or business trip. More important, is how the travel agency interacts with it’s followers and how they report its services. It’s all well and good to have 100K Facebook followers, but if every 10th post is a complaint about their service, it’s not worth booking anything with them.
In short, when considering a travel agency, be sure to check out its social media presence. This can give you a good idea of the type of company it is and how likely it is to be able to reach potential customers.
Importance of Google Reviews?
If you’re like most people, you rely on online reviews to help you make informed decisions about where to spend your hard-earned money. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to Google Reviews when you’re selecting a travel agency.
Google Reviews provide an unbiased, third-party opinion of an agency’s service. And since they’re easy to find and read, they can be a helpful way to compare agencies and make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.
Of course, not all reviews are created equal. Some people may be more critical than others, and some agencies may be better at responding to negative reviews than others. But overall, Google Reviews can be a helpful way to get a sense of an agency’s reputation.
If you’re looking for a travel agency, be sure to check out their Google Reviews. It may not be the only factor you consider, but it’s certainly worth taking into account. Ultimately, the best travel agency for your needs can be found by doing a little bit of research and comparing social media presence and following, Google Reviews, price, certification, and services offered.