Package or cobble it together?

kunekune

It's very early days but we are 'planning' our 2010 summer holiday. We're limited as to when we can go - ie, it HAS to be the first two weeks of the English school hols - so I want to get it organised early. Especially as we have to book holiday clubs for the other weeks sooner rather than later.

So ... we are thinking Turkey (yeah, perhaps we're reeling still from holidaying in Scotland this year). We want a villa, with a pool, three bedrooms, no car required (and yes, the fact that it's possible is one reason why Turkey is currently number one in the list of possibilities).

And so, getting to the point (sorry!), should we be looking at putting it together ourselves, or doing a package? Money-wise, that is. My preliminary search suggested the price difference between packages and owner-advertised villas was massive, possibly the packages were charging twice the rate for accommodation. Despite the slight risk as there's no ABTA, I have a natural tendency towards self-organised trips. We want to fly from Leeds-Bradford, Manchester at a pinch. But we can't get any travel prices at this stage in the year. So that's another risk, as we can't really be sure what it'll cost (mind, the ABTA people can put your fare up anyway, can't they?).

Any thoughts? Sorry it's such a ramble.

Pee

If you can find a villa for half the price of the package cost, then that almost answers your question. You can get a taxi for a transfer. You seem to have a concern about the owner advertised villas... are you concerned they are dodgy or will just go bust before you get there? If they are very cheap, check the location is suitable and make sure you are happy with the funding arrangement i.e. a deposit and final payment on arrival.

terryya

DIY everytime for me. We went to Spain in the middle of August last year in a very nice two bed apartment with massive shared pool and playground for the block and direct accedd to the beech.

The cost of flights, parking at airport, car hire, accomodation, insurance and petrol was around £850 for two adults and 2 kids. No way could we have got anything like that as a package.

tired_mum

DIY for me we booked for turkey aug 2010 flights booked and paid for in march private transfers and 2 bed apt in Icmeler for 2 weeks all done at this years prices and 20kg of luggage this all came to less than 1 week on norfolk broads boat this year and warmer 1st choice want over twice as much for same accom and coach transfers although they have better flight times make sure you use trip advisor to check out what others think

kunekune

Thanks. I should add we've used holidaylettings and similar sites several times, so I'm no stranger to DIY, but sometimes when I look at the cheaper accom I think, "are these people still going to be around come August?". Pee, good point, but I haven't yet ever found anyone who will take payment on arrival. And if I did, and it went wrong, what then? We're a family, not singles, so it's not a risk I dare take. I've relied on instinct so far, the tone of emails, etc, and the fact that the first holidaymakers of the year are home before we have to pay. But I think we will do DIY, and just cross our fingers a little as in other years, avoid "companies", look for obviously personal and informed replies.

tired_mum

Hiya the co i used you can either pay for accommadation up front or partly or pay at the office the day after arrival we had to pay for the flights up front but we used credit card we are also a family taking 2 of our 3 children with us the co i booked through run a forum if you PM me i will give you the web site I am in no way associated with them