Best time to book a package?

waynehayes

Now Christmas is over my thoughts have turned to summer holidays. In the past few years we have always booked DIY and really enjoyed it, however I'm open to the idea of a package this year as it may be more economical to go HB. So, when is the best time to book? Now or wait till later in the spring? There would be 2 adults, 1 child and 1 infant, going sometime in June.
I've looked at the usual sites and noticed that some packages are over double what they were last year. I've also noticed that many prices have shot up since before Christmas. Any advice appreciated.

stephb34

As you want to go in june you would be best to book within the next 6 weeks as the discounts and offers being thrown at you by the travel agents are just silly. Its a case of using your common sense ie if you want a thomas cook package go to a thomas cook agency, if you want a thomsons holiday go to a thomsons shop as they can give more off their own products. Look out for special offers that week ie next week is canaries week, the week after greece etc (only examples as i cant remember which week is which). When you've found something, then look on the agencies website get the print out of the price and take it to the shop and see how it compares, if its cheaper they will probably match it or you maybe getting a better deal in the shop anyway. If you are thinking hb also check out AI it may not be much more and is so much better value with kids.

Alan_Bowen

June is going to be a disaster for tour operators and there will be lots of bargains around. There is something called the World Cup which starts in June and histroically cripples the travel business as people will not travel whilst England is still in the comptition. June is not peak season anyway with families with older children not willing to miss end of term exams so for once I would say wait, there will be deals much later on

premiertravel

We have had a lot of bookings for Juen some just want to be in the sun sitting in bars watching the football and some just want to get away from the football. Sctland are on holiday in JUne so depending where you travel from the prices can be a lot different.

We find people travelling from Scotland will travel down to Manchester to go on holiday as it will be cheaper.

This year last minute holiday deals where not around people expected to get them cheap and they were just not there.

We as a company package holidays and they normally work out cheaper than selling out of a brochure and they are covered by our ABTA/ATOL we also heavily discount all holidays ie one particular co offer 5% discount on their website offer 10%

Don't forget Libra/AGro/Globespan have gone bust over the last couple of weeks taking another hugh chunk out of the market.

We have some fantatic deals to Turkey and Egypt as they are out of the eurozone and are proving very very popular

Diamond78

When I use to work for Thomas Cook, we use to have the best deals in january. It's like stephb34 said, you need to go to the actual travel agency branch. They offer money off your holidays, but also ask what other deals are with other tour firms. For example a thomas cook holiday booked through thomas cook, you are more likely to get a bigger discount but then the same holiday may be cheaper through another tour operator and then you get another bit of discount off.
Try and go to a few different ones, like Thomson and First Choice. Not sure if First Choice still have their shops.

Also you can secure your holiday by paying the deposit, usually the full balance has to be paid approxiamtly 6-8 weeks before departure.

waynehayes

Thanks all. Seems like I need to go into the branches to get the best deals.