There are some real benefits of booking with an agent, such as local knowledge and help in finding the right deal.

In a first, online travel agents (OTAs) have been sued and lost over the issue of transient occupancy taxes (per night tax charges in hotels) after years of underpaying

Cheap air fare is the holy grail of travel. It used to be that I'd budget $500 for the flight and $250 for the rest of the trip... but now competition has driven down prices to the point where truly cheap flights can be had.

The internet is the best place to find cheap airfares. While online travel agencies, or 'travel consolidators', lack the attention and service of a traditional travel agent, the ease of price comparison is unbeatable.