Live Desk: Planning a trip is a huge task! But with the advent of online travel agencies (OTAs), modern-day travellers can now access the world from the comfort of their homes.

From the flight to the hotel booking, and everything in between, customers can now book their reservations across the entire travelling journey in one go online.

The demand has been rising as travellers are getting used to ordering everything online. In this age when anyone with a smartphone and a credit card may book everything by themselves, many people feel sceptical about the usefulness of online travel agencies.

In reality, using a travel agency for booking hotels, flights or any other travel-related services can be beneficial for plenty of reasons.

To many travellers, online travel agencies are considered the cheapest place to book and the best place to find package deals.

Although many hotel brands and airlines have been trying to change this perception by asking for direct booking through their websites.

Online agencies also allow travellers to compare and select the best airline or hotel. Besides, when searching for flights or hotel booking online, travellers may also see different prices for the same routes that vary across websites.

They often offer customized package deals that bundle air, hotel and activities into one affordable price. Besides, some online travel agents can offer other advice, such as they can help the traveller with the nitty-gritty of visas, the latest news and updates related to travelling abroad, and other things that they might not have thought about while planning the trip.

Again, unlike direct booking, online booking agents have more flexible cancellation policies with full refunds. Nonetheless, hand-picked OTAs also have loyalty programmes that reward travellers for booking multiple trips through their sites which can be used for future travel needs, including flight booking, car rentals, airfare, and other activities.

Dhaka, 04 November (campuslive24.com)//BSC