Should I book now?

Ells220

Hi

I've been looking online for an All Inclusive holiday to Cambrils in Salou for end of May/start of June 2013 for a family of 4 and so far on Thomas Cook online I'm getting a price of around £2200 (14 nights).

I want to book early as it means we have more time to pay up for it however I am wondering if now is the best time to do it or if Thomas Cook or any other agents have a sale before xmas which would save enough to make it worthwhile waiting?

Booking a DIY holiday isn't really an option as I can't afford to book flights in one go as they're costing quite a lot so it seems a travel agents is the best way so I can pay in installments.

jimmybog

When you see the price quoted on Thomas Cook website, it should tell you the discount amount compared to their brochure price. If it looks like a good discount then its worth booking now IMHO.

Otherwise it's quite possible that the price could start increasing in the next few weeks/months. Now that the summer holidays are over you can gaurantee that a lot of people will be looking at booking for next year.

I know Thomas cook in the past used to do a big sale early in January. However the best discounts always seemed to be for the least desirable hotels or resorts

Also check to see if your holiday package is available via DirectHolidays.co.uk which is a TC subsidary. Sometimes they offer the same package at a better price than TC though I personally have rarely seen this even though many others (on forums) have.

sunshine

jimmybog wrote: »

Also check to see if your holiday package is available via DirectHolidays.co.uk which is a TC subsidary. Sometimes they offer the same package at a better price than TC though I personally have rarely seen this even though many others (on forums) have.

I was going to suggest that as well. We found our holiday for next May/June on Thomas Cook Website, had a look on directholidays who were coming out cheaper, and they already include in-flight meals, resort transfers and 20 kg luggage each. Then we went to Thomas Cook shop locally and they price matched.:j

richardw

Is that price for a holiday in school half term?

socks_uk

My only advice is... once you have booked the holiday, don't go back and keep looking at the price!

trailingspouse

Or look for a cheaper holiday? Why are you going all inclusive? Why are you going for two weeks? Is it really worth getting into debt (which is effectively what paying in installments is, especially if they charge interest) just for a holiday? It's much cheaper to go self-catering and buy food in the local shops/markets. It's much cheaper to go somewhere closer to home. It's much cheaper to go for a shorter period. If £2200 is how much it costs, and you can't really afford it, then you should look for something you can afford.

Sorry to be so harsh, but this site is all about saving money.

stephb34

Until close of business thursday the TC shops are giving a gift to the nation of £75 per booking off, this is because we did well at the olympics. They do have january sales but usually its cheaper to book earlier than then as the prices go up in december because quite often a new edition comes out of the brochures. If your happy with the internet price take it to a TC shop and they will match it. Also in TC shops they do what we call a 3 for 2 bundle which is 20kg luggage, inflight meals and seats together and you get the seats free this is exclusive to TC shops. The TC shops also do low deposits and you can pay weekly or monthly if it helps you out. Be warned if you book on the net and you need to change anything or discuss anything you could be hanging on the phone for hours at 10p a minute instead of asking free in your local shop.

jimmybog

If you book a holiday on line with Thomas Cook or Direct Holidays, then once you have a booking reference, surely you can go into any TC branch and amend/discuss any details of that holiday? I'm sure that booking on line doesn't mean that you have to make amendments etc on line

Lincoln_Imp

Just a point to note ,Cambrils isnt in Salou
Cambrils is Cambrils and Salou is Salou
Where is the hotel ? because if its in the middle of the 2 then its 30 mins walk either way to Cambrils or Salou
We stopped in a Thomson one a few years ago and found that out

stephb34

jimmybog wrote: »

If you book a holiday on line with Thomas Cook or Direct Holidays, then once you have a booking reference, surely you can go into any TC branch and amend/discuss any details of that holiday? I'm sure that booking on line doesn't mean that you have to make amendments etc on line

The only thing you can do in the shop if you book online or over the phone is pay for your holiday, anything else you have to do direct.
The idea is you book on the net cause its "cheaper" so therefore if you have a problem you deal with it yourself, you didn't want to pay the travel agent for booking your holiday in the first place, why should they then deal with your problem for free. Although the brand is Thomas cook each arm is a separate business ie Thomas cook the tour operator, Thomas cook airlines, thomas cook shops. The shops only have the database of their own sales and can view other shops sales but the internet and the phone is completely separate. As for Direct holidays that is a completely different company to Thomas cook, although they own it.
Its a bit like buying a box of Thorntons chocolates from Tesco if you had a problem you'd take them back to Tesco not a different supplier of the same item.

Incapuppy

trailingspouse wrote: »

Or look for a cheaper holiday? Why are you going all inclusive? Why are you going for two weeks? Is it really worth getting into debt (which is effectively what paying in installments is, especially if they charge interest) just for a holiday?

How cheeky! The OP hasn't said that they can't afford it, just that they are wondering if prices may come down if they wait a bit!

Not sure of any holiday companies that charge interest if you wish to pay in instalments? OP, whenever you book I suggest you pay the deposit and then save up the rest in your own account to pay off only when the balance is due - better in your pocket than theirs!