Booking Flight and Hotel seperately

HMorton

Hi,

Just wondering is there anyway to safeguard against a problem with flights. Booking a holiday at the minute and if I do via a package deal it would cost approx £200 more than if I book the flight and hotel seperately, plus I believe I can get a better room doing it directly.

I know if I book with the package and something happens I'm totally covered. If I do it individually and the something happens the flights I am covered but not for the hotel. Is there anything I can do to give me a little more cover.

I have annual travel insurance but not sure if this comes into it.

Any advice appreciated.

stephb34

Check if your insurance covers separate components or if you can purchase an add on to cover this.

littlereddevil

If you book with hotel directly you can usually cancel for no charge

mynameistallulah

littlereddevil wrote: »

If you book with hotel directly you can usually cancel for no charge

Talk about a sweeping statement! It really depends on the hotel, whether it is part of chain, what type of rate is booked, even which country - but I certainly would not call it "usual".

hanwellmike

I regularly book separate flights and hotel as it's the cheapest by far for a single traveller, so I would not hesitate. With a package you usually get transfers from airport to hotel (and back) included so you if you make separate bookings you will have to organise this part of the trip yourself.

claire16c

Travel insurance, and book it on your credit card.

Depending on the hotel booking they may not charge you until you arrive anyway.

zagfles

mynameistallulah wrote: »

Talk about a sweeping statement! It really depends on the hotel, whether it is part of chain, what type of rate is booked, even which country - but I certainly would not call it "usual".

It is "usual" in my experience. You can get cheaper rate which are "no change, no cancel", but the usual policy is you can cancel up till the date of the booking or sometimes a few days before for no charge at all.

I've just booked several hotel in Europe on that basis, as I did last year.

Mr_Wang

zagfles wrote: »

It is "usual" in my experience. You can get cheaper rate which are "no change, no cancel", but the usual policy is you can cancel up till the date of the booking or sometimes a few days before for no charge at all.

I've just booked several hotel in Europe on that basis, as I did last year.

It's also true for most low end hotels on the planet and practically ever hotel in Asia not part of a chain.

Within Europe most hotels need some sort of guarantee. A way around this is using a prepaid card.

hcb42

all hotels will offer a flexible rate which can be cancelled up until say 12 Noon, 4pm or even 6pm with some international chains.

These are of course the most expensive rates.

If you book a deal, package or an advance purchase rate, and you are delayed, you will lose that element. Although arguably that leaves you no worse off than a package holiday that is delayed.

i would book flexi rate with hotel personally.

davidlizard

Have done this sort of thing for many years. I recommend doing 2 things:

1. Get decent travel insurance that provides suitable cover for "independent travel", and read the small print to ensure the level of cover is suitable.

2. Arrange the holiday in such a way to minimise risk of things going wrong (e.g. ensure you arrive at the airport in plenty of time, have a plan B for things that could go wrong such as a public transport strike) and/or reduce exposure to such losses so you will not be hugely out of pocket (for example, pay just the deposit, use hotels where you can cancel, that sort of thing).