Nowadays, everyone has access to book online 24/7. If you are an Internet savvy that knows where to check for deals and where to get legit reviews, you might be able to to nail exactly what you want. In all fairness, even if you are not so knowledgeable when it comes to perusing the Web, you might still be able to land the deal you are after. However, every holiday varies from one another. Booking a flight to your friend's wedding is nothing compared to booking a three-week trek through seven countries in Africa. Both booking online and using travel agents have advantages and disadvantages. What suits you better really comes down to you and your travel needs.

Agents for Advice

When you use a good agent, you have someone to turn to with all of your questions on what to pack or how much things cost. A travel agent has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to tours, hotels, documentation, places to eat and transportation. From sightseeing to visas and vaccines, a travel agent can help you advise on you everything you might need to visit an unknown destination. Unless you are an expert, you might need an agent to help you plan cultural trips, such as safaris or guided visits to ruins.

Agents for Deals

Travel agents are sometimes able to get you special deals or upgrades or cruises or hotels, among others. Although some agents work on commission and they might charge you extra fees to make a booking, sometimes the companies such as the airlines, cruise lines or tour operators pay the agent just to get recognition, costing you nothing. Agents might enable you get a discount they get directly from cruise lines. Agents who belong to trade groups get other bonuses they can pass on, such as free airfare. In foreign hotels, some agents can get you certain upgrades such as free breakfast or drinks.

Agents for Solutions

If you are embarking on a complicated trip, you'll be particularly thankful for your travel agent who can point out potential hazards and arrange your tours in advance so you don't hit a dead end or wait in ticket lines. When your destination is packed, your travel agent has a better chance than you to book a room. Some agents can even find frequent-flyer flights during the hard-to-book times.

Although most people are comfortable with booking flights and accommodation online, there are plenty of products that are difficult or impossible to book online. Furthermore, there are still plenty of travellers who prefer to have the advice and back-up of a travel agent, or they just don't feel confident enough to make their own booking online.

A recent study by British operator responsibletravel.com found that while 98 per cent of those tested could book a flight online, only a third could complete a rail booking online.

The study showed another issue with internet bookings and it's the time the traveller spends on the process. Those who did manage to complete a train booking spent an average of 12 minutes making the booking, much longer than a typical phone booking. Not to mention the time the traveller might spend online just research tours, accommodation and transport in the place of destination. This is how an agent saves time, since they are already experts and once they listen to your needs, they are able to tell you straight away what suits you best based on their knowledge.

With all the choices there are in the market, planning your first cruise adventure might be a major overwhelming task. From party boats to luxury yachts, there is a large assortment of cruises out there that cater to every whim and every taste. That is why it is good to get investigate its details and discover which is best for what so you don't drown in a sea choices.

First of all, you need to do some soul searching and find out which type of traveller you are and which type of vacation you want. Are you a solo traveller or you are perhaps travelling with friends or family? Are you looking for relaxation or adventure? Would you prefer to party or delight yourself with the surroundings? Is your primary focus fine dining, a party scene, adrenaline-pumping activities, nonstop socializing or just a chance to sleep all day? Don't forget to factor into the equation practicalities such as budget, the length of the trip and where are you are travelling from. Once you've completed this task, you need to figure out which Cruise line goes along better with what you are looking for. Here are the best cruise ships for each type of traveller.

Best Value for Money: Carnival Cruise Line

You might wonder why this cruise ship is so popular and the answer is simple: it offers a crazy-fun escape for people on a budget. With Carnival's sizable feet, its popular destinations - Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico - and dedication to accessible 3-to-7-night itineraries translates to low prices and frequent deals. If you book on the right season and ahead of time, you could save a great amount of money: it might even cost you less than if you'd stayed at home - say $30 to $50 per person, per night. Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line with headquarters in Doral, Florida.

Best All-Around Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

From Alaska to the most exotic African place, Princess' itineraries cover the globe. This cruise ship is a crowd pleaser offering a mix of tradition and innovation. While the cruise line offers all the classic amenities such as spa, multiple dining venues and varied entertainment, it is never afraid to innovate and was the first to introduce poolside jumbo movie screens, spa-like deck spaces and dining-shopping-entertainment-people-watching hub in its atriums, called the Piazza. Princess Cruises is a cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation & plc. The company is incorporated in Bermuda and its headquarters are in Santa Clarita, California. It was previously a subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises, and is part of Holland America Group, which controls princess cruises brand.

Best for Luxury-Seekers: Regent Seven Seas Cruises

If money is not factor that affects which cruise ship you choose and you are actually looking for luxury, seek no more, Regent Seven Seas is the cruise ship for you. With most of its all-suite accommodations boasting balconies, meals in main and specialty dining venues, pre- and post-cruise tours and hotel stays, gratuities, shore excursions and beverages from liquor to sodas, this cruise ship is arguably the most inclusive of the biggest luxury brands. From a butler in your penthouse suite to a meal prepared by Le Cordon Bleu chefs, you'll find luxury all over the cruise ship. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a luxury cruise line, formerly known as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, headquartered in Miami, Florida. The company offers cruises which visit over 300 ports worldwide. Regent Seven Seas specializes in ships with a small passenger capacity.

Family holidays are not what they used to be in Australia. They are better. Now it's the time of the whole family sharing together a new experience abroad. Parents take their kids with them when they go on holidays instead of leaving them at the kids' club or with their grandparents.

Intrepid Travel family product manager Tim Winkworth has seen a 60% increase in family trips taken by Australians each year. “Instead of going away and sticking them (the children) in the kids club, they're getting together and having shared experiences as a family,” he says.

“For us, it's all about marvelling at the natural wonders of the world,” says travel blogger Caroline Makepeace from Y Travel Blog. “And we don't want to experience it through a quick ‘I was here' snap. We like to spend time absorbing it.”

So you don't miss out on any experience, here are a list of must-do experiences for you and your family:

California: Yellowstone and Sequoia National Parks

With its sky-scraping trees and easy access, Sequoia is one of the favourite American National Parks for families. A trip to Yellowstone - the best place to camp in the US - is a delight for both toddlers and adults, with its 300 enchanting geysers. The most famous geyser - Old Faithful (in photo) - is as reliable as its name states since it erupts 17 times a day, so you won't miss it. Join the Junior Ranger programme - with guides for children aged over 4 - is a great way to navigate the park together.

A cultural odyssey: India

With its interesting culture, wildlife and culinary richness, India is the perfect destination for families. If you need some guidance when it comes to touring the country, Experience Travel Group specialises in tailor-made holidays to Asia. This UK-based travel consultants are well-informed about the areas they cover as they have lived or travelled extensively throughout the country, so you will get the best advice on which destinations are best for your family, crafting an Indian holiday with opportunities to engage with local people.

Action-packed holidays in sunny Dubai

One of the perks of Dubai is that the sun is guaranteed. With that weather, the whole family will be able to enjoy the multiple theme parks - specially water parks - scattered around. Besides, these parks will blow thrill-seeking children away as well as their action-loving parents: Legoland's water park features a half-million-gallon wave pool, and Legoland's Dragon roller coaster is designed to reach speeds of 60km per hour. After an exhausting of roller coasters and slides, you can chill out by the pool and sunbathe the next day.

A jungle safari: Costa Rica

With a rich variety of wildlife adventures all crammed into a small geographically space, Costa Rica offers an exciting and interesting holiday package for the whole family. This beautiful Latin American country caters for the children and parents alike. While adults might crane into the canopy for sloths, monkeys and macaws, children will be exploring at ground level for poison-arrow frogs and other bizarre mini beasts. If you are looking for more excitement, you can also go zip-lining and river-rafting. However, you can also relax and steam in the natural hot springs of the volcano slopes.

Spending money on travel club memberships can save you money elsewhere but is it really worth it? Although sometimes you can land those deals on your own, what a travel club offers you is guidance is you are kind of lost when it comes to landing a bargain.

For instance, let's look at American Automobile Association. The deal is that you pay $38 for an annual AAA membership that gets you free roadside towing and lock-out services, discounts of 5 to 15 percent at thousands of hotels, and offers up to $30 off weekly rentals at Hertz - this offer tops Hertz's own membership deals. However, what you pay is for the service since you might get similar deals without being a member.

Another example is Spirit Airlines $9 Fare Club. An annual fee of $40 allows members to exclusive fares, sometimes for as low as a penny. This membership is worth it only if you are going to take more than one flight a year, which might be a challenge for many travellers. Deals are usually last-minute, off-peak, and they are only to 40 cities, particularly to the East Coast of the USA, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

Another example is Tablet Hotels, a booking engine for boutique and luxury hotels which each week offers its members discounts of up to 70 percent at certain properties. They also include extra bonuses such as spa vouchers, upgrades, complimentary airport transfers and late checkout.

Even though the bonuses are exceptional, the annual fee is $195, which is very high. Another downside to this membership is that Plus members' “exclusive” deals are exclusive for only 24 hours.

Although sometimes travel clubs' perks are not as obvious once you check its downside, ultimately travel clubs take the planning out of holidays. If you have the money but you don't have time to plan or you'd rather have someone guide you through because you don't know where to start, travel clubs might be the answer. There are also travel clubs aimed at specific groups to attend to your needs.

For instance, 50+ Travel Club is directed at seniors or just everyone over 50. The company organises all from tours, to cruises and events. The company offers a 50+ Travel Club Advantage that offers exclusive savings, invitations to special events, complimentary return private Home-To-Airport transfers, complimentary overnight accommodation before or after you tour, on selected tours, priority on pre-release tours and cruises, discounts on travel insurance, 24-hour and 7-day assistance while you are away, discounted business airfare options, invitations to ship inspections, whey they become available, referral discounts - refer a new client and you will be rewarded -, a personalised itinerary with included luggage labels, ticket wallet and touring information, individualised travel programs (so they agency asks you questions and makes a customised plan, offering suggestions to best cater to your travel needs), and fortnightly to monthly e-newsletters.