Sometimes, a vacation somewhere far away is the best solution to stress. It can also awaken our adventurous side.
If you live in the area, we can help you choose the top travel agencies in Cork. We’ve done our research to help you pick the agency to trust your vacation experience with.
We also made one for Dublin, so check that out too when you have the time.
The Cost of Travel Agencies in Cork
Travel agencies’ fees greatly differ depending on factors like the country you’re visiting, the package inclusions, and their service fees.
However, they usually charge 5% – 10% of every booked aeroplane and hotel. These are already included in the package they offer you, which is why you don’t have to calculate them separately.
The Top Travel Agencies in Cork
To create our list of the top travel agencies in Cork, we used the following criteria:
1. Trailfinders
| Customer experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Website design | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| User interface | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
What we liked best about Trailfinders is that they have one of the most comprehensive travel offerings. They offer feature-filled travel packages, coverage for many countries, and daily itineraries for these.
Choosing the destination of your choice is made easier through the inclusion of multiple information on their website. You can read about the location’s highlights, the agency’s itinerary, and their fees here.
To make them friendlier to the adventurer, they also have a mobile application. It has a simple user interface that notifies you about places of interest, flight details, and more.
They also have a very well-made insurance service, which they’ve been offering since 1970. This is simple to purchase and affordable and has many useful benefits.
Trailfinders accommodates almost any travel style, from city breaks to cruises, ski trips, and honeymoons. Their representatives also guide you well in choosing one depending on your preferences and budget.
However, we encountered some minor issues on their website. Specifically, some buttons are unresponsive.
Their website can also benefit from a more streamlined design, as it can be busy at times. There are also lots of unnecessary pop-ups, such as special offers for countries in Asia, which appear while you browse through European countries.
Pros
- Comprehensive travel package
- Good insurance service
- Information-rich website
- Informed and courteous representatives
Cons
- Website needs to be streamlined
- Irregular weekend hours
Customer Reviews
Contacted us regularly with updates
“Recently had our holiday plans cancelled due to Covid -19. Trailfinders contacted us regularly with updates on the return of our money and it was very reassuring to have them deal with it.
I am 100% going to book all future travel with them due to their professional, friendly manner and the security of having them there when things go wrong”. – James Meehan, Google Reviews
They are brilliant travel agents
“I love Trailfinders Cork. Niamh and Robert are top of the pile when it comes to understanding their Clients. I started using them about two years ago and have never looked back. It is a joy to be liberated from the tyranny of doing it yourself on the net. Most importantly – they come in cheaper. They are brilliant travel agents.”- Patrick Shanahan, Google Reviews
2. Barter’s Travelnet
| Customer experience | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★☆☆(3/5) |
| Website design | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| User interface | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
A standout feature of Barter’s is their Camino de Santiago packages, which are centred on cycling and hiking the pilgrimage route.
Barter’s is unrivalled in the simplicity of its interface, which we appreciate. Browsing through a tourist spot’s specialties, prices, and photo galleries is easy.
They also have a simple yet effective travel search engine. With this, choosing your destination, the number of persons included, and other travelling variables is done simply.
We also liked the different holiday packages they offer, which include honeymoon, over 50s, ski trips, and more. Although limited in the locations covered, the itinerary, features, and prices of each are well-justified.
The service is prepared for almost all holidays. Their deals include Lapland (Santa-themed holidays) for winter, Sun Holidays for summer, and more.
A downside with their packages is that most of them are centred around European countries, especially because Camino packages are their specialty.
Their customer service is also criticised by some for being disorganised and unreliable for emergencies, which may cause some minor inconveniences when you are abroad.
Pros
- Unique and well-made packages
- Straightforward website interface
- Information-website filled website
- Seasonal packages
Cons
- Packages are mostly for European countries
- Minor complaints about customer service
Customer Reviews
Extremely professional and pleasant
“We had the pleasure of dealing with Noelle Looney when we went to book a holiday in Croatia. She dealt with us in an extremely professional and pleasant manner and identified our needs immediately. The accomodation was spot on and her follow up was superb. We couldn’t recommend her highly enough.”. – Conor Johnson, Google Reviews
Friendly and efficient
“J barter travel organised my holiday to the Algarve in Portugal, Flights Transfers and accommodation. The staff in Barters are so friendly and efficient they took all the stress
out of any worries i might have before I went on holiday.”- Brendan Lawless, Google Reviews
3. Lee Travel Limited
| Customer experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Website design | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| User interface | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Lee Travel is well-liked because of their dedication in providing a flexible and friendly service. They ensure that customers are guided throughout the process of planning, booking, and enjoying their vacation.
We liked how well-informed their representatives are about the hotels, tourist spots, and unique activities in the countries you visit. They can adjust your experience specifically to cater to your preferences.
Lee Travel also has many branches all over Cork, including those in Paul Street, Midleton, Youghal, Ballincollig, and Heffernan. This is why it’s easy to plan your vacation directly with their representatives.
Fees are not an issue with them, as they offer affordable packages which have many inclusions. It’s a good sign of their expertise in choosing hotels that give good value for your money.
However, they have very few packages compared to other agencies. Most of these are also quite simplistic and are mostly centred around ski, beach, and cruise trips.
We also found their website to be lacking in terms of details about their different packages. Many of its entries are also outdated or are already fully booked by the time you contact them.
As of writing, they are still in the process of creating a new website, so we expect these issues may be fixed later.
Pros
- Many branches in Cork
- Affordable packages
- Flexible and friendly representatives
- Packages can be catered towards your preferences
Cons
- Website lacks details
- Few packages offered
Customer Reviews
The staff are so accommodating
“The staff are so accommodating, I dealt with Rebecca and Louise who went above and beyond to satisfy the needs of a nervous traveler in my family and really put their mind at rest with great ease and at no point did it seem like too much work for them. I really highly recommend Lee Travel.” – Feargal Harrington, Google Reviews
Very friendly staff
“Very friendly staff and they are knowledgeable. They took the strain out of our group booking which was worth the extra few quid of booking with them, thanks.”- Tim O Leary, Google Reviews
4. Dawson Travel
| Customer experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Website design | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| User interface | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Dawson Travel stands out because of their speciality in sports-related vacations. This includes trips for watching rugby, Grand Prix, and football events abroad.
Variety is their specialty, as customers are given a lot of destination and hotel choices. There are always at least 10 available accommodations for most popular tourist destinations.
They also have a more affordable booking deposit fee compared to other travel agencies. We also appreciate the free travel insurance they provide for those who’ve already used their services.
Bringing your friends along to use their service is encouraged, as they give out discounts for these. You can also feel more secure during your trips, as they have a 24/7 emergency number.
Their search engine is one of the fastest and most comprehensive ones we’ve used. Here, putting information such as duration, aeroplane cabin class, and rooms needed is very easy.
We find their website design to be lacking in terms of aesthetics, though, as most of them feature pixelated photos of the tourist destinations. Given that their services are centred around online services, this can discourage some users.
We also disliked their travel packages, as they are simply accommodations arranged under themes such as “Disneyland Paris” or “Luxury Holidays.”
Instead of having a complete itinerary and travel plan, these are simply recommendations of hotels and flight trips to the destinations, which can be a hassle for those who prefer everything pre-planned.
Pros
- Excellent search engine
- Great variety of destinations offered
- Provides many discounts
- Centred around sports-related vacations
Cons
- Few packages offered
- Website lacking in terms of design
Customer Reviews
I would totally recommend Dawson Travel
“I would totally recommend Dawson Travel to anyone who is thinking of booking their next holiday. I had the pleasure of booking with Stephanie who was amazing from the start on deciding the best suitable destination for us to changing and sorting out our holiday we cancelled over this pandemic.
She made the whole experience stress free and we are now happy to get exactly what we want all changed to next year 😁”. – Shirley Hallissey, Google Reviews
The team here are super helpful
“The team here are super helpful, always happy to suggest new locations. They are your personal shopper, over time they have got to know my likes and dislikes. They are true professionals.”- Sonia Cribbin, Google Reviews
5. Shandon Travel
| Customer experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Website design | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| User interface | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
We like Shandon Travel’s dedication to providing a specialised experience for clients by creating special tour groups for the Caribbean, South and Central America, India, Europe, and Middle East.
They’re also certified and recognized by the Irish Travel Agents Association, Worldchoice, and Association of Cruise Experts, which makes them more reputable.
Their representatives are flexible in terms of handling refunds, insurance, and flight delays, which helps in keeping your vacation experience more convenient.
The agency also offers good prices for airport lounges, which can greatly reduce your stress and fatigue after changing time zones.
You can also get a lot of information about the different locations and packages they offer, as their website is rich with this. It’s also easy to navigate.
They have offices available in Cork City, Bantry, and Clonakilty, which makes them easier to contact face-to-face.
We honestly think that their rates are a little higher compared to other agencies. This is especially true if you plan to go abroad.
Pros
- Representatives are specialised depending on continent
- Has offices in Cork City, Bantry, and Clonakilty
- Certified by ITAA, Worldchoice, and ACE
- Has good rates for airport lounge services
Cons
- Plans are expensive compared to other agencies
Customer Reviews
Never any issues with contacting
“Been dealing with shandon Travel and with Jane for the past 7 years, never any issues with contacting her or any questions being answered. Always very present and professional to deal with and had no problem while having to change or cancel holidays during the pandemic. Always happy to book with her.”. – Amanda Keating, Google Reviews
Helpful and insightful staff
“Helpful and insightful staff who were focused on ensuring that they provided the best possible holiday experience.”- Mark Keane, Google Reviews
6. InstaTours
| Customer experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Straightforwardness of service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Representative friendliness | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Responsiveness to inquiries | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Website design | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| User interface | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Fees | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Variety of destinations | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
We’ve got a little something different for you with this one on our list. We’ve got an agency that offers photography tours!
InstaTours lets you discover the most Instagrammable spots with the help of your local guide.
Their tours don’t only let you visit and discover new places, but you get to learn photography while you’re at it.
Their guides aren’t just anyone. Each guide is actually a low level Instagram influencer who will teach you Instagram tips as well.
We like that you can visit hidden gems in Ireland and the UK, and not just the usual popular attractions.
Of course it’s not only going to be about photography. You’ll also get to learn about the history and other facts about the places you go to.
We think the experience is wonderful overall and we highly recommend them!
Pros
- Photography tours
- Local guides are low level Instagram influencers
- Learn photography and Instagram tips while travelling
Cons
- Destinations limited to Ireland and the UK
Customer Reviews
“The tour was incredible as we went all around the city to the main areas. The spots we were shown were very beautiful and picturesque and took ample pictures which captured the essence of Galway city. The tour guide was very cheery and informative and so was our tour group. Definitely worth my time!“— Naomi D. Souza
“I had a great time on my tour of Bristol, are guide took us on a scenic route starting in Clifton village and ending at Christmas steps. I had the opportunity to take great photos and videos and will definitely consider going on another tour of a city using these tour guides”
“It was absolutely amazing! Our tour guide Jillian was very informative and we took as much photos as we liked of all the landmarks we visited. I would recommend this to everyone who visits or who enjoys photography and exploring hidden parts of the beautiful city of Galway !☺️” — Kunal Mehta
FAQs about Travel Agencies in Cork
In case you want to travel within Ireland, we recommend checking the following lists: