Google Flights vs CHECK24 vs TUI: Which travel tool is better in Germany?

Google Flights is great for finding cheap flights, CHECK24 helps you compare holiday packages, and TUI is a good choice when you'd rather have someone organise the whole trip. All three are popular in Germany, but they work differently. Let's look at what each service does, where it falls short, and what people in Germany think about it.

Google Flights: Best for finding cheap flights

Google Flights is a free tool that helps you find and compare flights from different airlines and booking websites. You can search for return tickets, one-way flights or trips with several stops. Once you've found a flight, Google sends you to the airline, another booking website or online travel agency to buy your ticket.

Tips for travellers:

• Best time to book flights from Germany for lower prices.
• Here is how to find cheap flights from Germany.

Why is Google Flights good?

Google Flights lets you compare ticket prices across different dates, track fares and find cheaper routes from nearby airports. You can also explore destinations based on your budget, even if you haven't decided where to go yet.

• Find cheaper dates. The price calendar and flexible date search show how much tickets cost on different days. Sometimes moving your trip by just a day or two makes a big difference.

"Watching the market for a while and comparing offers is generally the best approach." – Tiana Schönbohm, Legal Expert at Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen, 2025.

• Get price alerts. Turn on price tracking, and Google will email you when fares change.
• Explore destinations. Enter your departure airport and budget to see where you could fly.
• Compare nearby airports. If you live in Cologne, for example, you can check flights from both Cologne Bonn and Düsseldorf.
• Spot the catches. Google can show cheaper flights with long layovers, separate tickets or self-transfers, so you can decide whether the savings are worth the trouble.

You can read more about the features in Google's flight search guide.

Why might Google Flights not be the best choice?

Google Flights doesn't show every available flight, and some fares may cost more once you add baggage or other extras. The platform also doesn't let you book a complete holiday, so you'll need to arrange your hotel and airport transfers separately. There are a few other things to watch out for:

• Not every airline or available flight shows up in the results.
• The price may change when you open the airline's booking page.
• A baggage fee and seat selection may cost extra.
• Some cheap routes involve separate tickets. If your first flight is delayed and you miss the next one, sorting things out can be difficult.

When you find a good fare, check the airline's own website to see up-to-date prices, rules and cancellation policy.

What do travellers in Germany say about Google Flights?

Travellers on German Reddit particularly like Google Flights' price calendar, although some complain about missing flights. In one discussion on r/Ratschlag, a user particularly liked its calendar:

"Sieht nicht so fancy aus wie bspw Skyscanner, aber die Kalender Matrix ist einfach unschlagbar." ("It doesn't look as fancy as Skyscanner, but the calendar is simply unbeatable.") – bieserkopf on Reddit.

However, Google Flights doesn't always show every available option. In another Reddit discussion, one traveller complained about missing flights. The user eventually found a ticket directly with the airline that Google had only shown through a third-party booking website.

So, while people like Google Flights for finding good dates and comparing routes, travellers also suggest checking other websites before booking. You might find a better deal elsewhere.

CHECK24 Reisen: Best for comparing holiday deals

CHECK24 Reisen is a German comparison website where you can find package holidays, flights, hotels, rental cars and holiday apartments.

CHECK24 is mainly a booking intermediary (Reisevermittler) and acts as an online travel agency aggregator. The company organising your holiday could be TUI, DERTOUR or another provider. You'll see the organiser's name in the booking details.

Why is CHECK24 good?

The biggest advantage is having lots of holiday options in one place.

• Compare different travel companies. You don't have to visit each organiser's website separately.
• Choose what you want. Filter by price, hotel rating, location, meals, departure airport and more.
• Find complete packages. Flights and hotels come together, and some offers include transfers too. You can also find all-inclusive package deals with meals.

"Package holidays are a safe choice. You have a direct and reliable contact before, during and after your trip." – Bernd Eschlbeck, Head of ADAC Travel Agency Stuttgart, 2022.

• Check hotel reviews. You can see what other travellers thought before choosing a place.
• Look beyond package holidays. CHECK24 also lets you compare flights, hotels and rental cars separately.

 The flexible date search on CHECK24 lets you browse across different departure dates to find the lowest prices. It's a good starting point if you know you want a beach holiday but haven't chosen dates, destination, hotel or travel company.

Why might CHECK24 not be the best choice?

The main drawback is that the company you book through isn't necessarily the company organising your holiday.

Say you book a TUI package on CHECK24. Your booking was made through CHECK24, but TUI is responsible for the travel services included in the package. If your hotel room isn't what you booked, you'll need to know which company to contact.

You also have to check several important things before paying:

• Flight times. A late arrival and early departure could leave you with less time at your destination.
• Baggage fee. Check whether you get a checked suitcase or just hand luggage.
• Airport transfers. Some packages include them, while others don't.
• Cancellation policy. A cheaper booking might cost more to cancel.
• Travel organiser. Make sure you know which company is responsible for your trip.

What do travellers in Germany say about CHECK24?

Travellers on German Reddit like CHECK24 for comparing holiday deals, and some say they've been using it for years. In one r/Ratschlag discussion, a user wrote:

"Ich bin, wenn wir pauschal buchen, mit Check24 immer gut gefahren." ("Whenever we've booked package holidays, CHECK24 has worked well for us".) – Snake_Pilsken on Reddit.

However, not everyone has had a smooth experience. In another Reddit thread, a traveller worried about booking through CHECK24 after reading poor reviews of the actual travel organiser. One commenter warned that when something goes wrong, different companies may send you back and forth instead of solving the problem.

TUI Deutschland: Best for holidays with less planning

TUI Deutschland is one of Germany's major travel companies known for package holidays, including beach trips, family holidays, all-inclusive package resorts and hotel stays. With a TUI-organised package, you can book your flights and hotel together, often with airport transfers and meals included.

Unlike CHECK24, TUI also acts as a travel organiser – it's responsible for delivering the services included in the package when TUI is named as the organiser.

Why is TUI good?

TUI is a good option if you want to choose a holiday, pay for it and have most of the planning taken care of.

• Book everything together. Flights, hotels and, depending on the package, meals and transfers are included.
• Keep your travel details in one place. The myTUI app gives you access to booking documents and other holiday information.
• Get help during your trip. TUI offers customer support and, for some holidays, local representatives.
• Visit a travel agency. If you'd rather speak to someone in person, you can book through a TUI travel agency.
• Choose more flexible booking conditions. Some holidays offer a paid Flex Tarif, which lets you change or cancel your booking under certain conditions.

You can find the details of TUI's flexible booking option on its Flex Tarif information page. Check the conditions carefully, since the option isn't available for every trip.

Why might TUI not be the best choice?

You might find the same holiday for less on CHECK24, or get a better price by booking flights and accommodation separately – TUI can save you time, but it won't always save you money.

A few things are worth keeping in mind:

• Less freedom to explore. Planning to visit three cities in one trip? TUI packages are often built around staying in one hotel.
• Changing plans can be expensive. If you need to cancel or move your holiday, you could lose part of what you've paid.
• Not everything is included. A package might cover flights and a hotel, but leave you paying extra for checked baggage, airport transfers or meals. A booking fee may also apply, depending on how you pay.
• Support isn't always fast. Even with TUI organising your trip, things can still go wrong, and getting help might take time.

What do travellers in Germany say about TUI?

Travellers on German Reddit often praise TUI for making holidays easier to organise, especially its app. In an r/reisende discussion, one user wrote:

"+1 für TUI. Hatten bisher nie Probleme…" ("Another vote for TUI. We've never had problems so far.") – miniiimee on Reddit.

They also liked how the app keeps travel documents in one place and even shows which bus to take from the airport to the hotel.

However, experiences with customer service are mixed. In the same discussion, another traveller complained about long waiting times when trying to get help. Others said they'd had equally good holidays with Alltours, Schauinsland and other providers, so they didn't see much reason to choose TUI over the competition.

Overall, people seem to like TUI for its easy booking process and handy app, but it's worth comparing other organisers too.

Google Flights vs CHECK24 vs TUI: Which should you choose?

Choose Google Flights if you're booking flights yourself, CHECK24 if you want to compare package holidays, or TUI if you'd prefer a trip organised by one travel company.

And what if you're an expat in Germany, but it's your family back home who's planning a holiday? You can help them cover flights, hotels or other travel costs by sending money with Profee. You can transfer money to over 90 countries, and more than 95% of transfers arrive within minutes, although timing depends on the payment and receiving methods. You’ll see the exchange rate and fees before sending, so your family knows how much they'll have for their trip.

Check the EUR exchange rate and current offers on profee.com or in our app.

FAQ: Booking holidays in Germany