By Natalie Bochenski

The internet has opened up the world for travellers, as well as for destinations that in former decades struggled to get international exposure. The result is a plethora of websites offering cheap flights, tours, hotels, car rentals, even a sofa on which to crash – all of which you can arrange and book yourself. But the sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, meaning the days of the travel agent are not quite over.

So how do you know if you’re ready to book your entire holiday online?

Firstly, answer the following question – are you a stress bunny? Do you think you’ll be comfortable using the web every day for weeks, scrolling through pages of terms and conditions and checking and double checking dates, times, and credit card details without getting too frustrated?

Secondly, how complex is your journey? If you’re heading from Sydney to Perth for a week, booking a flight via Jetstar or Virgin Blue, then a hotel on www.wotif.com is almost as easy as sneezing. Even a basic international flight can be done easily online (have a look at www.emirates.com).

But if you’re going to several destinations, heading to smaller cities, or out of the way locations, then a travel agent may save you a lot of time. They’ll be able to find and link flights together for you, check visa requirements, book accommodation and on the ground extras such as tours or car rental – and deal with all terms and conditions.

Answering these two questions should give you a reasonable idea of which path to take.

The role of the agent as middleman is still relevant, but Trish Greene from Skelton Travel admits travel patterns and preferences have changed a lot over the past ten years. “People would always book six months in advance for their annual holiday, but now you’re lucky if you get a month’s notice.” She says these days most of her clients want to be off in two weeks.

While costing international flights online is easy thanks to comparative sites like www.webjet.com.au, it doesn’t guarantee you the cheapest fare. Trish Greene says the bulk buying power travel agencies (and their parent companies) still hold gives them access to more deals than you might think.

And it’s the personal touch of an agent that can really make your holiday as hassle free as possible. Trish says a good agent will work with any bookings you’ve already made.