Which is the most effective and efficient travel tool that can leave you satisfied and save you more money: online booking, via travel agencies and/or friend referrals?

Online booking travel tool can save more and satisfied or even more effective and efficient:. 

There are online bookings which are more expensive, but they offer travel insurance as well if you are thinking of the word "secured" and its effective rather than choosing friend's referral.. online bookings give more details to their itineraries as well as those places and souvenir shops, it is better to select arranged tours than having your own trips unless you are not first timer anymore, and familiar to the place offered in the online booking.

Thanks for the answers. We've tried mixed with online booking & from travel agencies with some friends' referral as well.

i agree, only online booking can save your money especially famous websites as booking.com where you can organise all your trip , you can rent a car and book diffrent hotels with the best price.