About Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Travel Agents Award
Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Travel Agents Award reveals the travel agency that delivers the best consumer satisfaction to its customers.
We ask Kiwi travellers to rate their satisfaction with their choice of travel agency by Overall Satisfaction, as well as important criteria such as Communication & Advice, Level of Knowledge, Friendliness of Agent and Price of Trip.
Numbers crunched by Canstar's researchers:
- 676 Customers Surveyed
- 10 Brands Assessed
- 4 Brands Shortlisted
- 1 Award Winner
The best travel agents in NZ
The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
1. House of Travel
House of Travel is no stranger to Canstar's Travel Agents Award. This year marks three wins from four for the travel agency, which also won our award in 2020 and 2023. (Note the award was suspended during the pandemic, in 2021 and '22.)
And, once again, House of Travel takes home our award on the back of an amazing set of ratings: top 5-Star ratings across all our award categories. It's a stellar performance, made even more exceptional when you take into consideration the other top travel agencies in our award only have one 5-Star ratings between them.
House of Travel is one of the country's most recognisable travel agency brands. It combines a comprehensive online presence with over 60 owner-operated offices and hundreds of specialist consultants across the country.
House of Travel offers travel services from cheap flights through to package deals and cruises. It also offers a free video service, Face2Face, allowing you to talk to a travel consultant and plan your next holiday via a video call, from the comfort of your home.
2. Flight Centre
Flight Centre is an Australian travel agency that has grown into a global brand. In New Zealand it operates over 25 stores nationwide. Through its website and high-street locations, Flight Centre sells a complete range of holiday products, including cheap flights and hotel deals, package holidays, tours and cruises.
3. Helloworld Travel
Helloworld Travel is an Australian-based travel company that operates over 30 stores across New Zealand. Helloworld Travel offers flights, hotels and accommodation, as well as cruises and holiday packages. Its expert travel professionals are available either online or instore to help you organise and book your travel and holiday plans.
4. Webjet
Webjet's NZ site is designed specifically for New Zealand travellers, and although Webjet doesn't operate bricks-and-mortar stores, it has a 24/7 helpline manned by experienced travel professionals to help with any problems and to answer queries.
Other travel agencies not rated by Canstar
Not all travel agencies in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn't mean they're not worth considering. Here are some more travel agencies to check out before booking a trip.
- Eco Travels
- MANN Travel
- Orbit World Travel
- X Travel
- Travel Associates
- You Travel & Cruise
Eco Travels
Eco Travel has been providing New Zealanders with great overseas experiences for over 15 years, and offers a seamless and convenient platform to book flights, hotels and other travel services.
Eco Travels allows customers to personalise their travel plans, by allowing them to book hotels, cabs and flights individually.
MANN Travel
MANN Travel is an Auckland-based travel agency that offers deals on flights, hotels and accommodation domestically and internationally. MANN Travel focuses on delivering great customer service and provides 24/7 support for travellers.
Orbit World Travel
Kiwi-owned Orbit Travel markets itself as a travel company for businesses, and is best suited to those making group bookings. Orbit Travel is an All-of-Government (AoG) travel management supplier. The brand has a strong commitment to sustainability, and it works in partnership with its AoG clients to achieve economic, social and environmental sustainability.
Orbit Travel features an online booking platform, Orbit Online, which is designed to simplify business travel. Orbit Online is also available as an app.
XTravel
Based in Central Otago, XTravel has been operating since 2016. XTravel provides travel services for both business and pleasure, with an emphasis on snow and cruise options. For extra peace of mind, the travel agency offers a full 24-hour support service.
Travel Associates
Travel Associates has six boutique agencies across the country. It provides bespoke travel plans, tailoring trips to customers' needs.
YOU Travel & Cruise
YOU Travel & Cruise is part of the First Travel Group, and one of the country's oldest retail travel brands.
It has over 20 Kiwi owned and operated stores across the country and specialises in premium travel packages and luxury cruises.
Choosing the right travel agency for you
A holiday is often a trip into the unknown. Indeed, two-thirds of travellers in our survey (66%) say they always prefer to explore a new holiday destination.
But even if you know where you're going, there should be no unknowns about your flight and accommodation details.
That's why great communication and advice from a travel expert is the most important aspect of booking any trip, whether to a domestic destination or abroad.
In this year's award ratings, over a third of travellers (38%) cite Communication & Advice as the biggest factor influencing their satisfaction with the travel agency they used. This places well above Price of Trip, which was the biggest factor for around a quarter of respondents (26%).
Here's how the Kiwi travellers in our research rate the different factors affecting their choice of travel agents:
- Communication & Advice: 38%
- Price of Trip: 26%
- Friendliness of Agent: 21%
- Level of Knowledge: 15%
