If you are looking for the best travel agencies in South Africa, look no further. In this article, we will cover 10 of the best based on unique travel experiences. There are the well-known large travel agencies that offer great service that is largely similar. For those, you can pick a name you already know and just go with it. Here we will be focusing on travel agencies based on a variety in specialty so that it’s not all the same thing with a different label.
If you ARE looking for the biggest ones (for example, if your requirement is corporate travel), here are 5 easy ones
- Club Travel
- Thompsons
- Pentravel
- Flight Centre
- Sure Travel
Before we delve into the intricacies of travel agencies in South Africa, let us begin with a relevant personal story to set the context.
As the big thirty was approaching a few years ago, like anyone else celebrating a milestone, I wanted to do so in a spectacularly fitting way. So, I planned a solo trip to Plettenberg Bay. I had never been along the Garden Route before, but I wanted to demonstrate my adulthood by choosing my itinerary and hotel. It didn’t occur to me to seek guidance because I imagined that the process would be straightforward enough.
I was disappointed to find that the ‘affordable’ hotel I chose was right next to the airport. That meant that I was too far away from anything worth seeing. I even had to endure the costly exercise of organising a meter taxi just to find a place to eat! Luckily, I was too distracted by Instagram updates and the magnificence of the Knysna landscape to be frustrated by my choices.
In hindsight, I realize it was a mistake not to refer to someone who could carefully package a trip for me. Someone that could do the leg work of not only finding comfortable accommodation but could ensure a manageable and convenient itinerary that would create the peace of mind I needed to be a contented tourist.
Given their expertise, a travel agent can serve as that person.
Table of Contents
What is a Travel Agency?
A travel agency (also known as a travel advisory) is an institution that has all the necessary information and resources related to tourist products, including destinations, modes of transportation, accommodation, and popular attractions, basically all areas of the tourism services sector.
The agency can structure and coordinate travel goods and services from key suppliers to meet any traveller’s requirements.
Travel agencies are vital to national tourism. They play a substantial role in the process of developing and promoting tourism at a location or in a country.
Upon request, a travel agency can package and procure all the experiences, accesses, amenities, and supplementary services relevant to a location. A solicited travel agent arranges travel tickets – air, rail, road, and sea; travel documents – passports, visas, and other documents required to travel; accommodation, entertainment, and other travel-related services. They can also secure travel insurance and foreign currency where necessary.
Our List of Travel Agencies in South Africa
We have handpicked these travel agencies because of their reputations in the industry. They are revered by their clientele for their efficiency and reliability over the years (having been rated highly on numerous review sites) and have built a generous supplier network across sectors and locations.
With each travel agency review, we will provide a final rating that aggregates clients’ scores across digital media platforms.
Travelleeto
Travelleeto is a true hidden gem and the agency that we use for our bookings because they get us the best price, simple and plain.
If you are looking for holiday packages and want the best deals without doing all the searching yourself, definitely give Travelleeto a shout.
They are a travel agency based in Johannesburg that assists with holiday planning. They reason we like them is because they do all of the queries with tour operators for you and then find you the best price for your holiday package. So instead of paying more when you could have saved elsewhere, they find you the best prices from the tour operators available.
Their aim is to make travel more approachable with innovative offerings and by engaging with you, their client on the platforms you are most comfortable and allowing you to choose exactly what you want for your travel plans. This is includes the option to create travel packages on lay-by where you can pay in installments, and engaging with you wherever you are most comfortable, whether by email, WhatsApp, DM… which ever feels best for you
So whether you want immediate travel arrangements or a planning for a trip months down the line, you can give them your brief and let them do all the leg work to create your perfect getaway.
The company has created a good impression on its Google reviews has an average of 4.8 with professionalism, quality, and value coming up consistently in the comments.
To get in touch with them, drop them an email at info@travelleeto.com or a WhatsApp at +27827496478.
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
Travati Travel
The quote “We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us” conspicuously describes Travati Travel in the ‘Who We Are’ section of its website. Based in Cape Town, the travel agency clearly emphasizes its passion for travel. And having 120 years of cumulative experience under its belt allows it to affordably provide travel to everyone.
Travati has eliminated all the fluff from its business model i.e., massive commissions, elaborate marketing campaigns, retail store rentals, fancy digital screens, and expensive brochures so that it can focus entirely on servicing its clients.
The company has created such an impression that every one of its 36 Google reviews has a 5-star rating; professionalism, quality, and value come up consistently in the comments.
But Google is not the only review site with these stellar results. SouthAfricaFirm.com, with 32 ratings, also only has 5-star scores. Keshnee, a reviewer wrote, “Fast, efficient, and always available to assist. Making my bucket list affordable and more adventurous. Thank you, Travati.”
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
The Travel Group
The Travel Group (TG) specialises in cost-effective corporate and business travel in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) region. The agency recognises the need for tailor-made solutions and has structured itself accordingly. They have services across 3 categories:
- Traditional – clients are assigned a travel expert.
- Self-booking – clients are provided with an online booking tool and have relative independence.
- Owned – clients are allocated a dedicated travel agent because of their frequent travels.
TG’s offices are in Randburg and given the demands of business travel, are available 24/7, every day of the year, via phone, email, WhatsApp, or Skype.
28 out of 31 Google reviewers felt that TG deserved a 5-star rating for its professionalism and responsiveness; giving it a collective score of 4.9.
Facebook reviewers were more liberal because the agency received 5 stars out of 5 from them (there were 12 ratings in total).
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
Just Honeymoons
Just Honeymoons does just what it says on the box; it is the ultimate local repository for sensational romantic destinations. The agency can be found in Mount Edgecombe in Durban.
By combining their travel expertise with a commitment to attention to detail and carving a niche for themselves in a broad sector, they have constructed profound deals and offerings. These include cruises to the Caribbean and other coasts, and majestic sightseeing adventures in both near and far-flung places such as the Indian Ocean Islands of the Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar, Zanzibar, Bali, and Thailand.
27 lovebirds expressed their excitement on Google by giving Just Honeymoons an ecstatic 5-stars. With the oldest rating being from 4 years ago and the newest from just a month ago, there is satisfaction consistency and not a single deviation from the full score.
Just Honeymoon’s Facebook rating remains close at 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Final Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Hello Islands
Cape Town’s Hello Islands is a specialist agency for travel to top-rated islands in Thailand. There is not much of a description of the consultancy across their social media pages but a brief scroll through their Instagram page is all the explanation that is needed. They have created a picturesque brochure of magnificent and inviting Thailand.
The agency’s packages seem so comprehensive that clients will have everything they need during their island stays. And while prices do not include flight costs, Hello Islands can make the arrangements on a traveller’s behalf.
Hello Islands, has been reviewed by a staggering 320 tourists. And while the only 3-star review came from a traveller whose trip was cancelled due to the pandemic, the company claims a considerable 315 5-star reviews from Google.
Facebook’s 364 votes also culminated in a 5-star rating. There are no better compliments than these.
Final Rating: 5 out of 5.
Fly Now Travel and Tours
Fly Now Travel and Tours belongs to the XL Travel Group. Fly Now Travel does not have a website, but the XL Travel Group describes itself as “a leading travel consortium with a membership base of 150 prominent travel agencies spread across Southern Africa.”
Given the group’s size and influence (it has 900 experienced travel counsellors), XL Travel Group has established itself within the South African Travel and Tourism industry. It can procure maximal benefits from major suppliers within the airline, hotel, car rental, inbound, and tour operating subsectors. XL has a diverse membership that integrates many of South Africa’s largest and most valued leisure and travel management agencies. Therefore, it deserves a spot on this list in addition to its client ratings.
2 of Fly Now Travel’s branches (Houghton and Mayfair) have received only 5-star ratings from the 8 Google reviews between them. Both were praised for their exceptional service.
There was no Facebook rating, but the following comment was left on the review tab: “great customer service, bespoke package deals, competitive prices.”
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
Computravel
Computravel’s overwhelming promise is convenience. The Johannesburg-based travel agency gives prospective clients the following five reasons that explain how they stand out from the rest:
- They can identify a Traveller’s individual needs such as their budgetary constraints and provide complete solutions for them.
- They acknowledge that while cost-efficiency is important, quality must also be accounted for.
- They are knowledgeable about global leisure travel, having facilitated trips since 2008. Training and development are high on their priority list.
- They make sure to thoroughly advise clients on all travel implications including safety/security, health, weather, and any other country-related detail.
- Their customised solutions are so efficient that they save a traveller’s time.
Computravel does not have a Google rating, but 30 Facebook voters gave it a score of 4.7 out of 5. Local.Infobel.co.za awarded the agency with 5-starts from 3 ratings.
Final Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Good Life Travels
Good Life Travel’s website is still under construction, but the Alberton travel agency has an active Facebook account. The page has promotions to various destinations like Egypt, Victoria Falls, Israel, Mauritius, and a few indigenous locations.
Most of the agency’s copywriting come from its clientele through the words of admiration for its owner, Maryke. She received compliments for her fantastic and speedy service.
She has received nothing but 5-stars from a total of 19 reviews from Google, Facebook, and SouthAfricaFirm.com.
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
Pentravel
With almost 40 years under its belt, Pentravel has earned itself a #1 rating for Travel on Hellopeter.com as well as an 8.9/10 on its Trust Index. It has a Net Promoter score of 89 (with more than 49 being good).
Pentravel is proudly South African, having started its journey in Durban, and now has branches countrywide with a team of expert consultants that are available 24/7. They are part of The Travel Corporation (TTC), which includes global brands such as Red Carnation Hotels (who own the famous Oyster Box in Durban and the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa in Cape Town), Contiki Holidays, and Trafalgar.
The agency has made itself competitive with its Price Promise: “If clients happen to find the same holiday package at a more affordable price through any other South African registered travel agency, they will match it.” The clause does however have a few exclusions such as flight-only bookings and online agency pricing.
Pentravel’s packages are infinite. They include beach getaways, bush breaks, boat cruises, and many others.
Other ratings include:
- com: 4.7
- Facebook: 4.7
- TripAdvisor: 5
- com: 5
Final Rating: 4.9 out of 5
Haniel Travel Solutions
Located in the prestigious Michelangelo Towers in Sandton, Johannesburg, and founded in 2007, Haniel Travel Solution (HTS) has a combined century of experience. With both a national and international footprint, this boutique travel management firm is confident that it can fulfil most travel requirements. The company caters to both business and leisure tourism. Flight bookings and visa applications are included in HTS’ product suite.
HTS esteems the values of integrity, honesty, and respect for human dignity. They seek to provide a ‘quality and cost-effective service.’ Their team is made up of junior, intermediate, and senior travel consultants with over 30 joint years of industry exposure from the airline, wholesale, and retail travel sectors.
The agency’s services seem to meet their surroundings because 10 out of 12 Google reviewers gave Haniel a 5-star rating. Its 5 Facebook votes also occasioned a 5-star score.
Final Rating: 5 out of 5
Sure Etnique Travel
Sure Etnique Travel can manage the full scope of travel requirements such as visa services, flights, hotels, entertainment, and destination information. They provide expert advice and professional guidance to cover every detail of a client’s trip; they seek to assist in making their client’s dreams a reality. In addition to travel, the agency distributes a newsletter that captures the founder’s photographic and written pursuits.
Sure Etnique’s uniqueness is noted through its in-house library in Bloemfontein consisting of 3000 travel books, travel DVDs, and detailed route maps.
With a single 1-star reviewer describing their experience of the agency as the ‘absolutely worst experience,’ the other 16 reviews all came out at 5-stars. Facebook faired better with only 5-star ratings from 9 votes. SAYellow.com presented Sure Etnique with 4.5 out of 5 from 10 reviews, while Local.Infobel.co.za collected 5-stars from its 11 reviewers.
Final Rating: 4.8 out of 5
How Do You Choose a Travel Agency?
Since travel remains an essential part of our lives, with many people living far away from home, others needing to retreat and recuperate, and the residual having to visit distant places to make important decisions; the right travel planning partner can serve to support these largely personal and necessary activities.
There are a few important factors to consider when choosing a travel agency that can cater to your specific requirements. These characteristics may vary according to the type of travel being embarked on; for instance, business travel may be more urgent and involved than other categories. The right agency will be able to identify the distinctions and respond proactively.
Credit: Black Girls Travel Too
Customer Service
From the very first contact with the agency, there should be attentive, immediate, and comprehensive communication. A lot of travel deals are time-bound given limited capacities and an efficient agent, considering your schedule, will act accordingly. It is good to observe the following:
- How are they addressing your concerns?
- Are they following up regularly?
- Are you being notified of appropriate developments?
- Is your agent decisive?
Travelling can be highly unpredictable; flights can be missed or delayed, a health emergency may arise; the possibilities of unexpected occurrences are many. The early interactions with an agent will demonstrate how secure you can feel about your needs being taken care of while you’re preoccupied with your travels.
Industry Knowledge
Earlier in the article, we indicated that a travel agent is also your travel advisor. They should know things about the travel industry that you generally would not.
In South Africa for example, Uber has been around since 2013 but its services only expanded into eighty percent of the country in late 2021. Before this time, getting around without a rental car in places like Polokwane, Mbombela (previously Nelspruit), Newcastle, Richards Bay, the Garden Route (Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, and Plettenberg Bay), Kimberley, and Rustenburg, would’ve been difficult.
A reliable agent would be aware of such and other useful information.
Travel agencies should have unique relationships with travel-related services and their providers and should therefore be able to make beneficial suggestions. Using an agency should be so seamless that turning to them is more worthwhile than putting together a trip on your own.
Cost Efficiency
Transparency when it comes to what you are paying for is a great tell-tale sign of a good travel agency.
An agent should be able to take you through the costs of the items in your itinerary as well as why these would be the best options for you.
You should be alert when the prices are too low as the agency may be concealing costs that can creep in at a later stage. Take note of what your package entails and ask questions. You should not have to worry about anything being left out.
Convenience
Constructing the ideal holiday can be a time-consuming exercise because there are a lot of details to consider.
With the use of an agency, the highest amount of time investment you should make is providing the particulars about where you would like to go, what you would like to do when you get there, and when.
The agency should then be able to provide you with a few thorough package options that match your descriptions. A remarkable agency will stand out from the rest by including something innovative in your package.
Negotiation Skills
Your agency should be a master at negotiating the best deals for you.
According to ZA Recruitment, the Association of South African Travel Agents has an astounding 1741 members (more on this here: https://zarecruitment.com/list-of-travel-agencies-in-south-africa/). Because of this, the right agency will know enough about you and what is out there to curate an exceptional solution suited to you and what you can afford.
Client Reviews
Lastly, you can be secure that you have found the right agency when others are saying so.
If the agency has a digital media presence, be it a website or social media platform, there should be great reviews of the agency from current and previous clients.
Credit: Hospitality Net
How Does a Travel Agency Work?
You can find a travel agency online, at a nearby mall, or the airport. You can also rely on referrals from friends and family, or you can search Google for the right agency based on your travel preferences.
Once you find the contact details of the ideal agency and reach out to them, they should be able to guide you through their processes to get the ball rolling. Once they are familiar with your travel criteria, they should be able to handle the bulk of your booking.
The Advantages of Using a Travel Agency
There are many benefits involved in entrusting your travels to an advisor.
Less Hassle
There is comfort in knowing that someone who has more influence and exposure than you on travel-related services and their suppliers will be handling your vacation or business trip. They have dealt with a myriad of client requests and know which solutions work the best. They bear the brunt of the time it takes to do research, manage suppliers from different locations, and handle any conflicts that may arise.
The heaviest lifting on your part would be managing your luggage, and most importantly, making sure you show up on time!
Better Pricing
It is possible for an agency, through its relationships, to get a few bargains, exclusive promotions, and travel perks for you. They may be able to pull some strings on your behalf in getting you a service you wanted at a great price.
Building a Relationship
Because of the relationship you are building with the agency/your agent, you will have someone that will be willing to go the extra mile to ensure that all your travel needs are met. And if you have never been to a particular destination before, an agency can prove to be incredibly helpful.
A wonderful commercial relationship is a compounding factor to the privileges that come with trust.
The Disadvantages of Using a Travel Agency
While the advantages discussed may sound tempting, there are some downsides to consider.
There is Homework to Do
If you are a novice when it comes to using a travel agency, you must put in the work to find one that suits your travel style.
The list of the things to look for when choosing a travel agency, which is covered in this article, should help.
Limited Involvement
If you prefer to have more control over the details of your travel, you may find working with an agency slightly frustrating. The agency may not be as passionate as you are about certain aspects of your trip or may ask you to consider some compromises that you are not prepared to make.
The trade-off for convenience is self-sufficiency.
Office Hours
Some travel agencies may be confined to certain office hours so any last-minute weekend and late-night changes/requests may be out of bounds. And since you must call ahead, the time it takes for an issue to be resolved can be halved when the added step of calling your agency is eliminated.
Credit: Travel Daily
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to use a travel agent or do it yourself?
Being your intimate travel consultant, a travel agent can serve as your financial planner/advisor, your travel guide, and your trusted travel companion.
It would be easier to have someone available to assist with the stress involved in travelling.
Travel agencies have a wealth of resources to facilitate the trip/holiday of your dreams.
Is it cheaper to travel with an agency?
While it is not always cheaper to make travel arrangements through an agency, the added costs are adequately compensated by perks and convenience.
Travel agents can step in when flights are missed, hotel rooms are not up to standard, and whimsical tickets to a local event must be arranged.
All of this could end up costing you more, particularly in time and energy, to manage on your own.
Conclusion
In this article, we recognised the necessity of travel and covered with some relative depth, an overview of travel agencies in South Africa.
Travel agencies play a pivotal role in the tourism sector of the country because they link travel-related products and services to the end user.
Travel agencies use their resources to interact with multiple stakeholders, cultivate meaningful relationships, listen to their clients, and then structure products and services accordingly.
Tourism is exceedingly broad therefore; some role players may have specialised services. But all of them have one thing in common; they are the middlemen (and women) that seek to ensure that travel happens to the satisfaction of all the parties involved.
I am looking for a travel agency to take over and manage the flight, accommodation and care hire bookings on my behalf for my organisation.
Hi Celeste. We have listed a few in the article that you can choose from. As you know, there are different types of travel, e.g., leisure travel vs corporate travel (this article is geared more towards leisure), as well as different volumes. Which one would be ideal for you would depend on how much travel booking is done in your organization and what type of services you require e.g., corporate or boutique.
i need a traveling agent for my family we want to travel to Canada I want you to help us
Hi Puleng. I am glad that yo found this information useful. When are you travelling? Do you want me to assist you with questions you have at the moment or to refer you to one of the travel agents that I use? I am happy to answer any questions you have and if you want to get to the planning part of it, I can refer you to the perfect agent. 😃