Arranging your own holiday

[pokerjoke]

Hi all
Looking for some experiences of arranging your own holiday.

We have always gone through the agents Thompson and always all inclusive,however for next year we are looking to arrange our own.

Looking for feedback on how you did yours and pro's and cons and how easy it is.

What saving i would get on a holiday that would cost 3k through an agent,ta

We are looking at Greece and Portugal and a family holiday

 

[3offTheTee]

We go abroad very often, usually Spain but also Portugal. Some things will be obvious but difficult to say what savings as no idea of dates, how many in family and ages.

Obviously school holidays are most expensive and we usually go B and B.

Skyscanner is a great site to look for flights. Easyjet have a date when they release flights, at present possibly upto sept 18. Not necessary to go there and back with same airline. Flexibility of flight times is great and does not have to be what TUI/ Thomas Cook want.

Good site for Hotels is Booking.com. Most sites are usually cheaper if you pay upfront with no cancellation. Downside is Cannot be cancelled!.

Look on Trip Advisor re Hotels also but with Booking you can tailor to your needs. Usually I then go direct to Hotel to see if they can better the price.

Consider Travel Insurance and perhaps annual if you go more than once. Usually cheaper if you search on line.

Still covered if flights are cancelled eg Monarch. More work involved but tailored to what you want.

The cheapest flights are invariably earlier.

Good luck

 

[upsidedown]

Have never used travel agent to book them . Before internet would use brochures from agents to book ourselves for UK holidays as couldn't afford foreign ones in those days, time and money. Once internet came along was very easy to book anything we wanted and even did iur honeymoon to NZ all of "tup net"

Always pay using credit card for protection and then pay off at next statement , take travel insurance and research to the endth degree before booking, in fact about to book parking for skiing in Jan

Go for it Tony , you'll be right.

 

[Old Skier]

Arrange our own to Greece quite often. Never had a problem but that would be because I usually go to areas that I know reasonably well and only have to worry about me and HID.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

We have used airbnb for our last two holidays abroad, both in Croatia. Booked flights using Jet2 and then accommodation separately. Flights tend to be the starting point, look at your local airport, where do they fly to, who are the airline. Once you have your destination then check out the accommodation. Happy with both? Book the flight first and then the accommodation. Flights are always the tricky one whereas you can always find another apt, villa etc.

We haven't booked using a travel agent for about 15 yrs now. Do your homework about the location and accommodation, they are rarely just on one site so you can see reviews from a variety of places, and if it doesn't feel right then leave it alone.

 

[drdel]

Be aware that if your flight is cancelled you may not get hotel costs replayed. Each 'contract ' is separate.

 

[IanM]

Another vote for the "book the flights asap" mantra..... Easyjet released "post school holidays" flights for Sept 18 a few weeks ago.. I jump on that email as soon as it arrives...Bristol to Faro for £40 ew... (plus luggage) That flight is now £105 ew... (but some midweek and daft times still available for £45)

SO try and avoid flying on a Saturday!

I still cant get the packaged golf times cheaper than Lotus Supertravel though!

 

[Marshy77]

If it was just and the wife then we'd look at booking seperately but for our family holiday I'd book with an agent. We've looked many times and after buying the flights, hotel, transfers and insurance it has worked out virtually the same as booking it all seperate.

Is it a family of 3 or 4? We've been looking for us as a family of 4 and you aren't looking at much change from £3k, although depends on age and free child places etc.

 

[lex!]

We've always booked our own hols since the internet arrived. Cheap flights from Jet2.com to Murcia, then owners-direct in La Manga or nearby. Taxi from the airport. Or EasyJet then hotel on bookings.com. Only proviso is to avoid Ryan Hell. We are organizing our own trip down under next year, massive savings on the guided tours.

 

[IanM]

We've always booked our own hols since the internet arrived. Cheap flights from Jet2.com to Murcia, then owners-direct in La Manga or nearby. Taxi from the airport. Or EasyJet then hotel on bookings.com. Only proviso is to avoid Ryan Hell. We are organizing our own trip down under next year, massive savings on the guided tours.

We did our own thing to Auz last year , it was excellent.... one mistake was picking up the car a Sydney Airport and fighting the morning traffic... the train stops right by the harbour!

 

[Tashyboy]

Have a look at a company called secret escapes. Dont know how they manage it for the price. Excellent accomodation.

 

[Hobbit]

We've done it independently and via an agent, but increasingly independent. Booked far enough in advance and, if you can, outside of school holidays can save you a fortune. The last lot of flights I booked cost £38 going out, and £4.99 coming back. And the 4* hotel we booked was £45 a night bed, breakfast and evening meal. Car hire or transfer can add a chunk to the costs but, again, if you shop around there are deals to be had.

Don't forget to add your holiday insurance.