Am I being unrealistic?

Tearingmyhairout_2

Guys I am looking for your advice as to wether I am being unrealistic in looking for a holiday at what I consider to be a reasonable price.
As my new user name shows I have been going round in circles for the past few days trying to find a holiday.
My problem, maybe I'm too picky.

What I am looking for is.

A holiday last week in September 2011 maybe going into the first week in October.
Flight from East Midlands not taking off or landing in the middle of the night ( That would add an extra £60+ in return taxi fare)
Preferred areas Malta or Costa del Sol
Decent 4star hotel, half board, must have balcony and sea view
and lastly my biggest problem - a single room, or single occupancy of a double room.

Now trying tour operaters and putting the holiday together myself ( no problem with that) nothing is coming up less than £700+

I looked at a holiday with Thomson at a hotel I have stayed in before as a single person and through them, although booked with the now defunct Portland brand.
If I enter 2 adults in the room no problem, change it to 1 adult and I get 'this holiday is no longer available'
Have Thomson now decided they are not interested in single people?
As I said I have no problem sorting the flight, hotel seperately but occasionly it's nice to have everything arranged for you when the cost to me appears so high for the time of year.

Any thought on my problem?

ponymad_3

Was trying to book similar myself and in desperation I went into a Travel agent, by chance it was Thomson. I could find no single rooms anywhere. We are travelling mid Sept. The only real deal the girl came up with was for Cyprus, where the single room was available and it was a 4 star hotel within your budget.

I have no booked myself, as I usually do , as that was a manchester night flight and not really where we wanted to go...

I did find some availability on the Jet2 holiday site so that may be worth a try. I wanted to fly from Leeds myself but i think they do EMA too.

I personally think you will do better usung booking.com for your room and choose some flights.. with skyscanner.net you can do a search easily for your EMA - Malaga seat and I expect you will find flights for around 170 inc baggage . You will then be able to get the accom within your budget.

Happy to help further if you need it

Tearingmyhairout_2

Hi I went with Jet2 to Majorca from EMA earlier this year, but they aren't flying to Malaga until next year. They do fly to Costa Blanca and I almost booked with them until I checked the hotel's own website and the single rooms had no sea view or balcony, for £700 I wasn't prepared to be looking out over the hotel's back entrance to other high rise buildings.

mick_vandick

How about...
Direct Holidays
2 October x 7 nights
East Mids dep 07:15 arrive 12:10, coming home 12:50 arrive 14:50
7 nights half board at the Sol don Pablo
£563 inc transfers
Great hotel and being part of the Sol 'Don' complex, you can use the facilites at the Sol don Marco and the Sol don Pedro.
Only thing is a sea view would be on request.

mick_vandick

Or same company, 7 nights Benalmadena Palace on All inclusive for £606 or £540 for Half Board.
Same again with sea view though. The Benny Palace kind of faces to the side of the sea so you could request a side sea view. I have stayed here and it is a nice hotel. You would have kitchen facilities in your room so if you went HB then you could also cook yourself some dinner!
There would be more kids here though, not sure if would suit?

Tearingmyhairout_2

Thanks Mick I've stayed in the Sol Don complex before, I did that one myself and it was OK.

I have to admit to not being a fan of Belalmadena, I don't mind it for a day visit but I'd rather not stay there.

Told you I was picky:rotfl:

ponymad_3

I have just about done Nerja in the Parador for your price but its on BB... if you do CDS which would your preferred option be... My friends did Hotel Balcon in Nerja about the price you re looking for - sea view are available their... IS EMA your only airport option

Incapuppy

Try Mercury Direct, they feature quite a few properties in Malta and advertise no single supplement on selected dates.

Tearingmyhairout_2

ponymad wrote: »

I have just about done Nerja in the Parador for your price but its on BB... if you do CDS which would your preferred option be... My friends did Hotel Balcon in Nerja about the price you re looking for - sea view are available their... IS EMA your only airport option

Thanks my next nearest airport is Doncaster, mainly charter flights from there and again seem to take off and land at night and taxi just as expensive.
I have looked everywhere I can think of although when I have a few minutes later on I will look again. I have got to the point where I can't remember what I found where there are so many combinations of flights and different prices for the hotels.
I must be organised and write everything down.

Tearingmyhairout_2

Incapuppy wrote: »

Try Mercury Direct, they feature quite a few properties in Malta and advertise no single supplement on selected dates.

Thanks I can't remember wether I looked at Mercury, like I said to Ponymad I have looked at so many websites over the past few days they all tend to blur together.

ponymad_3

Give me the resorts you prefer for CDS - happy to have a quick look for you - still think best option is research flights decide on them and I feel sure you will package up ok with 2 rooms.

BTW did you start off on package sites with a search for just 1 single room... this is sometimes easier then you know who has this.

Mercury are always emailing me deals on Malta but not ever booked with them.