What's best - Book holiday to Lanzarote via travel agent or do it myself?

ferf1223

Doshwaster wrote: »

Is help in that unlikely event worth paying an extra £400 for?

I haven't booked a package in over 10 years. Going DIY just gives you so much more flexibility - I don't like staying in the same place for too long so I can easily book a trip that includes hotels in different resorts. Try doing that with a package.

Agree...and other than being abroad when an ash cloud hit, in which case, perhaps there would be some benefit of a package (though as I recall, many travellers who booked DIY got through and rebooked on alternate flights faster than those who were dealing with 3rd parties instead of direct with the airlines)...I still don't see how booking with a TA gives more protection...if I am booked to fly out - and the ash cloud hits and flights don't go...what's my loss? If I can cancel the hotel/hire car, etc. and have flight refunded? Maybe it would take a bit longer to get back anything that was due to me...bit if I was that short of funds that a delay in refunds would have that big of an impact I probably wouldn't have booked to go away anyway.

I suppose the alternate holiday scenario - like mum2one had with her Sri Lanka and Maldives trip...maybe, but when we book a holiday, we want to go to that place...if we can't go, we'd rather take a refund and book another time to go where we want.

In any event, it's certainly not worth such a significant amount more for this additional 'protection' to us...perhaps we will consider all the savings over the years as self-insurance in the event that anything ever happens that leaves us dramatically out of pocket?

richardw

ferf1223 wrote: »

...... perhaps there would be some benefit of a package.....

This is detailed in the package travel regulations http://www.holidaytravelwatch.com/action/package-travel-regulations/your-consumer-rights-in-the-package-travel-regulations

Some may want them, some not. If some do and they use the MSE package holiday haggle guide and get a great deal on a true package holiday that could be a win win for some.

zagfles

richardw wrote: »

If there was an Ash cloud type situation or similar, are you prepared to sort things out yourself with a 2 year old?

If the airline can't fly you then it's their responsibility to provide you with alternate transport, and/or accomodation/meals while you're waiting. See this case, where the airline tried to wriggle out of it but failed: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-2139419/Airline-pays-10-000-barrister-Philip-Marshall-compensation-ash-cloud-delay--picking-fight-wrong-traveller.html

ferf1223

richardw wrote: »

This is detailed in the package travel regulations http://www.holidaytravelwatch.com/action/package-travel-regulations/your-consumer-rights-in-the-package-travel-regulations

Some may want them, some not. If some do and they use the MSE package holiday haggle guide and get a great deal on a true package holiday that could be a win win for some.

I understand what the regulations are - I just don't generally feel that their benefit is value for money for us...and we prefer to have our relationships with the suppliers directly and not through a 3rd party. I agree that if the OP can get the holiday they want for the price they can get on their own then that might be the best of both worlds for them.