What's the difference between a travel agency and a tour operator, and who is liable if your hotel booking in Phu Quoc doesn't match what was promised?

Legally, a travel agency is only responsible for giving you accurate information about the trip — not for actually delivering the hotel stay.

The tour operator is the one legally responsible for the whole package (flight + accommodation). There's an official registry of licensed tour operators in Russia where you can check a company before booking.

Licensed tour operators must carry mandatory financial insurance that covers compensation if the trip isn't delivered as promised.

If you want real guarantees on your accommodation, look for protection under the dedicated Tourism Activities Law, which applies to tour operators — not just general consumer law, which is what covers simple booking agencies.

There are two types of agencies: some just book your hotel through an aggregator (essentially middlemen with no real guarantees), while others are larger companies with direct contracts with hotels, which gives more reliability that you'll actually get the room you paid for.

Simple online travel agency aggregators can only refund your money if there's a problem — they don't guarantee you'll actually be checked into the hotel you booked.