Booking Strategy

Travel Agents' Favorite Airlines, Hotels, Cruise Lines


Tim Winship
Tim Winship

    Travel agents aren't like the rest of us. We occasionally consume travel; they sell it every day. We're amateurs; they're pros.

    When it comes to opinions about travel services and suppliers, we have our own, based on our limited experience; they have their opinions, based on their experience, plus feedback from thousands of customers.



    Related: Wallet Watch: Airport Parking Costs How Much?



    Travel Weekly, a trade publication for travel agents, has just published results of its

    2017 Readers Choice Awards

    , with the top vote-getters in 77 categories, including best airline, best hotel, best cruise line, best travel insurance, and so forth.

    Here are some of the more consumer-relevant picks:


    • Best domestic airline: Delta
    • Best international airline: Virgin Atlantic
    • Best first/business class: Emirates
    • Best global network: United
    • Best airline overall: Delta
    • Best car rental: Hertz (both domestic and international)
    • Best domestic hotel chain: Marriott
    • Best luxury chain: Ritz-Carlton
    • Best upscale chain: Hilton
    • Best mid-priced chain: Hampton Inn
    • Best boutique chain: W Hotels
    • Best hotel chain overall: Marriott
    • Best domestic cruise line: Carnival
    • Best Caribbean line: Royal Caribbean
    • Best Europe line: Celebrity
    • Best luxury line: Crystal
    • Best cruise cuisine: Oceania
    • Best cruise line overall: Royal Caribbean



      No doubt you have opinions on some of the above "best of" categories, as do I. Always room for a second opinion, right?



      Reader Reality Check



      Any strong

      disagreements

      with the travel agents' opinions?
  • More from SmarterTravel:

  • After 20 years working in the travel industry, and 15 years writing about it, Tim Winship knows a thing or two about travel. Follow him on Twitter@twinship.