With the choice of the tour operator or travel agent, the vacation stands or falls. In particular, those who book a package tour must have great confidence in the company planning their vacation. Below I have listed some providers that are active in Europe.
As a traveler or vacationer, you basically have two options: Either you book a trip individually by booking flights, Hotels, transfers and other services search and book themselves. Or you trust a tour operator or travel agent when planning your holiday, from whom you buy a package tour or individual products.
In Germany alone there are 3.089 tour operators with a turnover of 12,5 billion euros (2020 - in the previous year 2019 35,4 billion euros) per year. The largest tour operator in Germany is TUI with a turnover of 7,9 billion euros (as of 2020 - source: Statista.de). Especially in times of Corona pandemic The concept of the package tour has proven itself: If problems arise at the holiday destination, the tour operator usually steps in and helps the holidaymaker to survive the crisis or to plan the return trip.
Depending on what type of crisis it is and what services travelers and holidaymakers have booked in advance, they can even claim reimbursement of the travel price. In the case of a private, individual booking, however, travelers are responsible for all services themselves and may have to deal with hotels and airlines themselves in crisis situations. Because of this, I would - maybe my most important Vacation tip currently - currently always recommend booking a package tour with a tour operator - or booking through a travel agent with a tour operator.
Because the difference between a tour operator and a travel agent is that travel agents only refer customers to a tour operator about their offers. Ultimately, it is the tour operator who plans the trip or vacation
Video – How travel providers work
By downloading the video you accept the privacy policy of YouTube.
Read more
Book your well-deserved vacation now!
Book your dream vacation now at favorable conditions on the renowned booking portal HolidayCheck – top rated by Stiftung Warentest (01/2024). Click and browse now!
Related Articles
Book a summer holiday cheaply Tips – this is how it gets cheaper
Mövenpick Resort Soma Bay experiences & reviews – the perfect hotel on the Red Sea?
The most beautiful places in the world - and how to find them
Ranking – best rated tour operators and travel booking websites in Germany
In the BrandIndex of the market research institute YouGov, the five top rated tour operator and travel agents in Germany. For the vote, 900.000 people aged 18 and over were surveyed between September 01.09.2019, 31.08.2020 and August XNUMX, XNUMX.
- booking.com
- TUI
- Meiers world travel
- HomeAway
- mountains & sea
Book your holiday – tour operator and travel agent for an unforgettable dream holiday
I have given you a list of tour operators and travel agents with whom I have had good experiences so far. Depending on what type of vacation you are planning, there are different travel providers and booking platforms available to you. The list of tour operators currently only includes German providers.
| Tour operators & travel agents | Description |
|---|---|
| On vacation | Over 18 years of experience & best holiday offers. Exclusive trips for your best time! Whether alone, as a couple or with the family: we have a dream vacation at the best price! |
| alltours.de | Book package tours and hotels directly with the tour operator alltours – discover the best service at the best price! |
| Mountains & sea | Flights, round trips, car trips and cruises – book your dream holiday now! Enjoy exclusive round trips - dream vacation with a top price-performance ratio. Note travel safety. Booking without risk. Purchase on account. |
| BestFewo.de | Book online now! eg with WLAN, pool, air conditioning, TV, terrace or near the water. Simply specify the destination and period and conveniently choose from thousands of providers. |
| booking.com | Special accommodation for a small price. New offers every day. 98% customer satisfaction. Book in over 85.000 destinations worldwide. The official site of Booking .com. Real reviews. holiday homes. bed and breakfast Apartments. Villas. |
| Check24 travel | Compare all tour operators at CHECK24. Find the best travel deals now. Now compare, book and save the best travel offers with the test winner CHECK24. Over 750.000 top marks. Over 300 travel consultants. Huge savings. |
| dertour.de | Enjoy full flexibility when booking your holiday thanks to our flex options. Discover extensive holiday & travel options at DERTOUR now and book securely. Security & Stability. Individual & flexible. Transparent prices. |
| Flugladen.de | Always find cheap offers and reach all destinations with Flugladen.de™. Compare flight prices cleverly, book easily and fly safely. Options: hotels, transfers. |
| HolidayCheck | Compare and book cheap hotels with the test winner HolidayCheck – 9 million hotel reviews – price comparison from 100 tour operators – best price guarantee. |
| HotelsCombined | HotelsCombined® finds the best hotel deals in one simple search. According to the provider, they guarantee the lowest prices. The best hotel deals are waiting. Book today - the best price is guaranteed. 800.000+ hotels worldwide. No booking fee. |
| ITS Rironn | With flex options, you can enjoy full flexibility when booking your next holiday! Find your dream trip at a top price-performance ratio. Holiday highlights at ITS. 24h service at the holiday destination. Complete family package. Flexible payment. |
| yornaway.de | Journaway is a German travel agency specializing in round trips based in Leer / East Friesland. More than 30 employees ensure that you can book your desired round trip safely and easily at the best price. |
| kurz-mal-weg.de | 35.000 short break offers in Germany including massages, half board and much more. Offers with discounted additional services such as massage, candlelight dinner or tickets. Payment only at the hotel. customer service anytime. 50.000 guest reviews. |
| ltur.de | Book cheap last-minute package tours! The best offers for your vacation. lture Last minute – book cheap flights and hotels. Discover our top offers. Including hotel transfer. Bookings at the Flex rate. |
| Meier's world travel | Discover the most beautiful places in the world now & enjoy full flexibility when booking. With MEIERS WELTREISEN you benefit from the security and stability of the REWE Group. First class care. Exclusive trips. Over 100 years of experience. |
| rental vehiclegenCheck | Rental car in price comparison – book cheap at MietwagenCheck. Pick up your rental car directly at the airport or in the city. |
| no-how-weg.de | Book a last-minute vacation – Nix-wie-weg®.de is a multiple TEST WINNER! All travel providers in the price comparison - top holiday consultants help. |
| Opodo.de | We compare more than +650 airlines, +900 rental car companies and +2 million accommodations. All flights, hotels & package tours with best price and money-back guarantee. Last minute offers. Discover hotel offers. Cheap vacation trips. Award winner 2017. |
| Sunnycars.de | Fair prices with no hidden extra costs: Our comprehensive basic package! Preferred vehicle pick-up directly at the airport or in the city office. Unlimited kilometers. |
| SunTrips.de | Your tour operator for individually arranged round trips, combination trips, island hopping and individual trips worldwide. |
| TravelCircus.de | Experience true holiday highlights - from €49 per person. Save with travelcircus! Options: holiday parks, houseboats, spa holidays. |
| TravelScout24.de | Cheap holidays at TravelScout24 – book the perfect last-minute holiday online! Low price guarantee - free hotline - price comparison. |
| tripz.de | The tripz experts have the most beautiful travel destinations, the most fantastic hotels and the most irresistible bargains for the perfect one for you Getaway put together to make your holiday dreams come true. |
| useoehnwochenende.de | Find your short vacation - wellness weekend, short trip, hotel short trip & weekend trips - pampering trips for couples & families with wellness & romance. |
| weg.de | Find top offers for your next holiday at weg.de & book today! Find up now weg.de Your perfect dream vacation. weg.de low price guarantee. Bargain Deals. price hit. top destinations. |
List of the most popular tour operators and travel agents in Germany
Below I have put together a list for you of many of the largest and most popular tour operators in Germany. The list is certainly not complete. New suppliers are constantly being added - and some are disappearing from the market.
- 5vorFlug
- ADAC travel
- Air Marin
- airtours
- Aldiana
- alltours
- Ameropa
- Attica travel
- Bentour
- BigXtra
- Mountains & sea
- Bucher
- TUI MAGIC LIFE
- Club Med
- DERTOUR
- DER Touristik
- ETI
- Holiday tourism
- fit travel
- For You Travel
- Fti
- HLX travel
- ID Riva Tours
- Inter Chalet
- Interhome
- ITS
- Jahn travel
- JT tourism
- LMX tourism
- LTUR
- Lufthansa Holidays
- Maris travel
- Meier's world travel
- Neckermann
- ÖGER TOURS
- OLIMAR
- Phoenix Reisen
- Robinson Club
- Schauinsland Travel
- Snowtrex
- Thomas Cook (bankrupt)
- carpenter
- TRAVELIX
- tropo
- TUI
- Vtours
- vtours international
For different preferences – Which tour operators are there?
Basically, for every preference and every type of travel, there is a suitable tour operator who specializes in exactly that. This makes it easy for travelers to contact a tour operator when planning their vacation, who will plan and organize the trip. Which tour operators are there? Different types of tour operators are presented below and their characteristics are described.
Traditional Tour Operators
Traditional tour operators are companies that plan and organize trips for their customers. They often offer vacation packages that include flights, accommodation and sometimes activities. These tour operators often have a wide variety of destinations and types of travel, and cater to a wide variety of interests and budgets. Some well-known traditional tour operators in Germany are TUI, FTI and Alltours.
specialist tour operator
Special tour operators concentrate on certain types of travel, regions or target groups. For example, there are tour operators who specialize in city trips or active trips. Others are aimed at specific target groups such as families or seniors. These tour operators often offer special know-how and a wide range of trips for their specific target group or type of travel. Well-known special tour operators are, for example, StaTravel for student trips or ADAC Reisen for tours with a mobile home.
Online Tour Operator
Online tour operators are tour operators who sell their tours over the Internet. Customers can conveniently book and plan trips from home. Many online tour operators offer a wide variety of trips at great prices because they don't have the high cost of running travel agencies. Well-known online tour operators are Booking.com, Expedia and Opodo.
individual tour operator
Individual tour operators are tour operators who offer individually tailored trips. These tour operators often work with local suppliers to provide a tailor-made trip for the customer. These operators offer more flexible travel planning and can accommodate special requests and needs. Well-known individual tour operators are, for example, Tourlane or itravel.
There are a variety of tour operators that offer different types of travel and specialize in different target groups and types of travel. Anyone planning a trip has a wide range of tour operators to choose from and can choose the one that best suits their needs and desires. Whether one chooses a traditional tour operator, a specialist tour operator, an online tour operator or an individual tour operator depends on personal preferences and travel needs. However, it is worth comparing different operators and checking the offers carefully in order to book the best trip at a great price.
FAQs – Tour operators and travel agents – the most important questions and answers
If you are looking for a reputable and sustainable tour operator, travel agent, travel provider or an online travel booking platform, you certainly have many questions - for example where is the best place to book a holiday? I have put together the most important questions and answers on the subject of tour operators for you.
Who is the best tour operator?
There are numerous good and popular tour operators in Germany. My personal best tour operator is FTI Touristik. I have booked through this travel agent very often and have had very good experiences so far. In terms of booking numbers and turnover, TUI is the most popular tour operator in Germany. My personal ranking of the best tour operators looks like this:
1. FTI tourism
2. Meier's world travel
3.TUI
4 before flight
5. Neckermann Travel
6. Dertour
7. Alltours
8. ITS travel
9. Schauinsland travel
10. VTours
Which other tour operators are there?
The big tour operator Thomas Cook has gone bankrupt. Many travelers ask themselves: "Which tour operators are still there?" A selection of tour operators that are still active on the market are:
1. FTI tourism
2. Meier's world travel
3.TUI
4 before flight
5. Neckermann Travel
6. Dertour
7. Alltours
8. ITS travel
9. Schauinsland travel
10. VTours
Which tour operator is the cheapest?
The Stiftung Warentest has in "test 01/2018“Travel organizer tested. Schauinsland, FTI and Neckermann were the cheapest tour operators in this test. All other travel agents were more expensive. Neckermann also did well in the area of sustainability.
How is a package tour defined?
By definition, a package tour is characterized by the fact that a tour operator sells at least two travel services as a bundle - such as flight and hotel, but also food, leisure activities and transfer. Of course, more than two travel services can also be sold. The traveler pays a flat rate for the services offered.
Where can I book the cheapest package holidays?
The cheapest way to book package tours is to book them on the Internet at residual space exchanges. You have to be flexible and spontaneous and definitely be ready to leave in a day or two if in doubt. Often these are trips that have been canceled at short notice and would otherwise have been canceled. Some of these can be booked with a discount of up to 70 percent.
Where can I book package holidays?
The cheapest way to book package tours is to book them on the Internet at residual space exchanges. You have to be flexible and spontaneous and definitely be ready to leave in a day or two if in doubt. Often these are trips that have been canceled at short notice and would otherwise have been canceled. Some of these can be booked with a discount of up to 70 percent.
Which travel company is still safe?
Most of the major tour operators in Germany are safe and won't go bankrupt anytime soon. If you want to be on the safe side, you should book with one of the large and established tour operators such as TUI, FTI or Meier's Weltreisen. These are usually well insured against bankruptcy.
Which tour operator is broke?
Every now and then a tour operator goes bankrupt - just like in any other industry. The British tour operator Thomas Cook went bankrupt in autumn 2019. For many travelers this was a disaster - even years later, many did not get the money back for their booked trips. The German subsidiaries of Thomas Cook were also affected by the bankruptcy.
Which tour operators are still in Germany?
- FTI tourism
- Meier's world travel
- TUI
- 5 before flight
- Neckermann Reisen
- Dertour
- Alltours
- ITS travel
- Schauinsland Reisen
- VTours
Which travel portal?
The Computer picture has rated travel portals and compiled a ranking of the best travel portals that can be used for online travel booking:
1st place: Opodo - www.opodo.de
2nd place: Expedia - www.expedia.de
3rd place: Thomas Cook - is insolvent
4th place: Check24 - www.check24.de
4th place: Holidaycheck - www.holidaycheck.de
6th place: Neckermann - www.neckermann-reisen.de
7th place: WEG - www.weg.de
8th place: TUI - www.tui.com
9th place: off on vacation - www.ab-in-den-urlaub.de
Place 10: Alltours - www.alltours.de
Which online travel provider is the best?
The Computer picture has rated travel portals and compiled a ranking of the best travel portals that can be used for online travel booking:
1st place: Opodo - www.opodo.de
2nd place: Expedia - www.expedia.de
3rd place: Thomas Cook - is insolvent
4th place: Check24 - www.check24.de
4th place: Holidaycheck - www.holidaycheck.de
6th place: Neckermann - www.neckermann-reisen.de
7th place: WEG - www.weg.de
8th place: TUI - www.tui.com
9th place: off on vacation - www.ab-in-den-urlaub.de
Place 10: Alltours - www.alltours.de
Related Articles
Travel report Krk – tips, experiences & highlights
Travel report Scharbeutz – tips & experiences for a holiday by the sea
Travel report Lüneburg Heath - tips & recommendations for your vacation
Ski vacation in Fieberbrunn / PillerseeTal – my winter travel report
Bucket list ideas, tips & experiences - to-do list for the rest of your life?
Snorkeling in Abu Dabbab – my experience report
Book with a reputable tour operator and travel agent
My detailed conclusion
Many travelers and vacationers rightly swear by booking their trip on their own as an adventure vacation or an individual trip. That's perfectly okay. The package tour is considered a synonym for mass tourism and inexperienced cheap holidaymakers, especially among travel professionals. But that's at most half the story: For mine Travel Blog Since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, I have been booking Just-Wanderlust.com almost exclusively through tour operators or through travel agents with tour operators.
Because if something goes wrong in a crisis situation, the tour operator is there to take care of it. Corresponding insurance policies are often offered against Corona and even if there is a natural disaster at the holiday destination (think of the volcanic eruption on the Canary Island of La Palma), the tour operator in Germany is responsible.
What experiences have you had so far with tour operators and travel agents? Which is your personal favorite? Share your experiences in the comments.
0 Comments