Blog
Notes on selling travel online.
Distribution, connectivity and commercial strategy — written for the people running travel businesses.
11 September 2026 · 10 min read
Best tour operator software in 2026: FareHarbor vs Bókun vs Xola vs Ezus vs Checkfront vs Fare Tours
Six tour operator platforms compared by what each is genuinely best for — booking fees, OTA distribution, marketing attribution, itinerary quoting, rentals and multi-product white label selling.
11 September 2026 · 9 min read
FareHarbor alternatives: 7 tour booking platforms that don't add booking fees to your customers
FareHarbor's software is free because the traveller pays a booking fee. Here are seven alternatives on subscription or commission models, and how to work out which is cheaper for your volume.
11 September 2026 · 8 min read
Bókun alternatives for tour operators who want their own branded booking website
Bókun is built for OTA distribution. If your goal is direct bookings on your own domain with no commission on markup, these are the alternatives worth trialling.
11 September 2026 · 8 min read
Xola vs FareHarbor vs Fare Tours: which tour booking software fits your business?
A three-way comparison of pricing model, checkout ownership, marketing attribution and product scope — and a straight answer on which operator each one suits.
11 September 2026 · 8 min read
Checkfront alternatives in 2026: tour and rental booking software compared
Checkfront handles tours, rentals and accommodation on tiered subscriptions with booking limits. Here are the alternatives when you outgrow the tier, the rentals, or the widget.
11 September 2026 · 9 min read
Best software for multi-day tours and custom itineraries: Ezus, Tourwriter and Fare Tours compared
Day-tour ticketing software cannot quote a fourteen-day itinerary. Here is how dedicated itinerary platforms compare, and when you need one that also books the components.
11 September 2026 · 9 min read
Tour operator software pricing 2026: what FareHarbor, Bókun, Xola and Checkfront actually cost
The four pricing models used in tour booking software, what each one costs at 100, 500 and 2,000 bookings a year, and how to compare them honestly.
11 September 2026 · 8 min read
Best tour booking software for small tour operators and independent guides (2026)
What actually matters when you are a team of one to five: no setup fee, a real website, mobile check-in, and a cost that does not scale with your success.
11 September 2026 · 8 min read
Tour operator software vs white label travel portal: what's the difference and which do you need?
One category books your own tours. The other books everything a traveller needs under your brand. Here is the line between them and how to tell which side you belong on.
11 September 2026 · 9 min read
How DMCs and tour operators sell tours, hotels and transfers in one cart (and why it raises order value)
Dynamic packaging turns a single tour booking into a trip. Here is how one cart works technically, what it does to average order value, and what to check before you switch it on.
8 September 2026 · 8 min read
What is a white label travel portal? Plain-English guide with examples (2026)
A white label travel portal is a ready-built booking website and back office sold under your own brand. Here is what it includes, what it costs, and when it beats a custom build.
5 September 2026 · 12 min read
How to start an online travel agency in 2026: step-by-step setup, licences and real costs
The full launch sequence — legal structure, licences and bonding, supplier access, portal setup, payments and first marketing — with realistic 2026 numbers for each stage.
1 September 2026 · 11 min read
7 best white label travel booking software platforms compared (2026 pricing, suppliers, setup time)
A side-by-side comparison of Fare Tours, TravelCarma, Trawex, Travelopro, Provab, Juniper and TBO — pricing models, supplier connectivity, product coverage and how quickly each gets you live.
28 August 2026 · 9 min read
B2B vs B2C travel portal: which does your agency need (and can you run both)?
The operational, pricing and technical differences between selling to travellers and selling to agents — and how a multi-tenant portal lets you run both from one system.
22 August 2026 · 10 min read
How do online travel agencies make money? Markup, commission and service fee models explained
The five revenue models behind every online travel agency — supplier commission, markup, service fees, ancillaries and net-rate packaging — with realistic margin ranges for each product.
20 July 2026 · 9 min read
Best travel agency portal 2026: how to choose the right platform
A buyer's guide to travel agency portals in 2026 — the ten modules that matter, white label depth, supplier connectivity, pricing models and the questions to ask before you sign.
18 June 2026 · 7 min read
What a white label travel portal actually costs in 2026
Licence fees, supplier deposits, payment charges and the hidden cost of custom development — a realistic budget for agencies going online.
2 May 2026 · 6 min read
NDC vs GDS: what agencies should connect first
NDC promises richer content and better margins, but GDS still wins on coverage. Here is how to sequence your connectivity.
21 March 2026 · 5 min read
The DMC playbook for launching a B2B partner portal
Credit limits, rate loading and settlement statements — the operational details that decide whether partners actually use your portal.