TOP RATED INDEPENDENT TRAVEL AGENTS IN SCOTLAND
Due to restrictions over the past couple of years, many people felt the loss of life’s simple pleasures during the height of the pandemic. One of the losses was the ability to go to on holiday as international travel grinded to a halt.
Now that restrictions have eased it feels like a lot of people are making up for lost time and rescheduling trips they had planned two years ago as well as those who are looking for ta well deserved break abroad.
However booking a holiday can be a stressful experience to go through with all the details that have to be worked out.
That is why it’s more important now than ever to find the right travel agent who can provide the best deal and take all the stress out of the process.
This week we highlight some top independent travel agents in Scotland.
BURNSIDE TRAVEL (GLASGOW)
Based in the Southside of Glasgow offers impartial advice, good value service and knowledge to clients across Northern Scotland and parts of Southern England. Specialising in tailor-made holidays they can quote and book a holiday to suit the customer, giving them more flexibility without adding to the cost for this. They’ll check both traditional tour operators and also separate flight, accommodation and transfer providers to ensure they get exactly the right mix, and price.
They are part of Hays Travel Independence Group, the UK’s largest independently owned travel agency, and members of ABTA (ABTA No. L3457) which means customers have the benefit of ABTA’s assistance and Code of Conduct. All the package and Flight-Plus holidays they sell are covered by a scheme protecting the customer’s money if the supplier fails.
KINNAIRD TRAVEL (FRASERBURGH)
Based in the North East of Scotland Kinnaird has been specialising in every aspect of travel since 1984. This ensures that customers will be dealing with a dedicated and well expierenced team.
They operate business travel accounts and have a dedicated team to ensure your business trips go as required. They also deal with all major Airline and Holiday companies providing flights and package holidays as well as car hire, holiday insurance and other travel essentials.
THORNE TRAVEL (KILWINNING)
With over 45 years’ experience, Thorne brings together the world’s most fascinating destinations, finest hotels and imaginative itineraries. With first-hand knowledge of the destinations they sell, travel is our passion.
They’re proud to have a high number of loyal customers who book with them time and time again. They estimate that 98% of their customers consider the service to be excellent and would use them again.
They constantly negotiate exceptional hotel deals and exclusive discounts for their customers from over 600 suppliers.
They have won numerous awards including being named UK & Irelands Number One Travel Agency, Top Scotland Travel Agency – Travel Trade and High Street Store of the Year by Travel Trade Gazette in 2018.
GLEN TRAVEL (BLANTYRE)
Established in 1973, Glen has remained an independent, family run Travel Company allowing them the freedom to offer completely impartial advice and a vast selection of holiday options.
Their team all have an incredible passion for travel and are dedicated to ensuring that every trip their customers book, whether it is a weekend in York, a fortnight in the Mediterranean or a Round the World Cruise, is a truly memorable experience. With a combined total of 445 years in the industry, their Travel Specialists pride themselves in their first-hand knowledge & experience, allowing them to provide insider tips and guidance to ensure the customers holiday is as special as they want it to be.
Their years in the industry have allowed them to forge strategic worldwide partnerships enabling them to offer incredible deals on flights, cruises, hotels, city breaks, villa rentals, car hire, and attraction tickets.
HARRIS TRAVEL (BELLSHILL)
Harris owners Nicola and Kirsty have been in the travel industry since 2010, while their partners have been working in the industry since the late 1990s. Between them they have over 50 years industry experience.
Being completely independent to them means that they are unbiased and they work with hundreds of tour operators to find the right holiday that matches the customer’s exact requirements
They have an amazing team that have worked with some of the largest tour operators ie TUI, Thomas Cook, Barrhead Travel and their travel experience stretches to most corners of the world.
They are proud to be able to offer their customers firsthand knowledge and experience on a vast number of destinations. They don’t just offer holidays with the best service guaranteed, but also offer holiday extras from car hire to airport parking, a relaxing pre holiday stay in one of the airport hotels, or a vip lounge prior to departure.
THE TRAVEL COMPANY EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH)
The Travel Company Edinburgh is Scotland’s most dynamic and diverse Travel Booking Organisation. Under our several brands we complete the roles of; TMC (Travel Management Company), DMC (Destination Management Company), MICE organiser (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events), Travel Agent, Tour Operator and Vacation Planner.
Operating in both the outbound and inbound markets they aim to provide offers that no one else is offering such a comprehensively combined and professional service.
Their team of qualified agents and operators are professionally trained to use both the latest technology and human intervention to maximise the benefits their clients require and obtain in cost savings and quality of service. Innovative solutions to any travel problem are a major part of what they do and are why they have been successful for over 30 years.
Ken McNab the Managing Director bought The Travel Company Edinburgh in 1992 and has developed it in to one of the leading independent travel management companies in the UK. Ken’s passion for travel and quality service helped them to win Honeymoon Planner of the Year at the 2014 and 2020 Scottish Wedding Awards
In 2021 they were named among the top 3 travel agents in Scotland.
RAMSAY WORLD TRAVEL (ABERDEEN)
Famously known as massive discounters Ramsay offers fantastic holiday deals that are virtually never beaten. They always encourage customers the importance of never booking a holiday without getting a quote first.
They are also well known for their cruise options which have proved highly popular and saw them winning World’s Best Shore Excursions at the Gold Travvy Awards 2020. They provide cruises to a number of locations such as the Caribbean, North & South America and the Middle East.
MURRAY TRAVEL (ELGIN)
Established in 2014 by a couple passionate about travel, and passionate about their customers, Inverness Travel has grown into a well-known and respected business, trusted by thousands of passengers every year
They work tirelessly to design every aspect of their customer’s perfect holiday to ensure that everything is covered and nothing is left to chance. Accommodating budgets from private jets and fine dining to the ultimate family holiday or a mini city break, they can help customers tick off any item on their travel bucket list.
They aren’t just a booking service as they manage our customers’ bookings from start to finish taking care of flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions, tickets to attractions, and every detail in between, whatever the customer requirements may be.
They have access to an extensive network of trusted providers which means they can organise absolutely everything while customers sit back and relax in the knowledge that they are being looked after.
CONNOISSEUR TRAVEL SERVICES (EDINBURGH)
With over 30 years experience Connoisseur specialises in Ocean, River, Coastal and Expedition Cruising as well as worldwide tailor made holidays. They also offer escorted & independent tours, flights, safari, city breaks & package holidays.
They offer unique insight and expertise to help customers maximise their budget and save money.
LAH TRAVEL (WEST KILBRIDE)
LAH Travel was established in 2004 by Linda Hill Miller and is proud to be independent, offering their clients an unrivalled service and the widest choice of holidays but, most importantly, at the right price. All the package holidays sold are covered by a scheme protecting customer’s money, if the supplier fails.
They are part of Hays Travel Independence Group, the UK’s largest independently owned travel agency, and members of ABTA.
Each of the Travel Agents featured were listed in no particular order. The purpose was to highlight not rank