Book a package but just use the flights...

gho

Looking at flights to Dalaman for my sister's wedding at the end of May. Ideally we'd like to fly at the weekend, but flights are almost double the price. Plus, it's half term so they're more expensive than usual anyway.

We don't need accommodation as we're staying in a villa, however, if I booked a package holiday it would work out cheaper than the flights alone.

Really tempted to just book the pacakge and let the rep know at the airport that I wont be going to the hotel (to get the best deal I'd be booking a cheap hotel about an hour away from where we'd actually be staying so i wouldn't want to actually go there to check in).

Has anyone done this before? My only worry would be that there's some kind of small print stating that if you dont stay in the hotel / turn up to check-in then your return flight wouldn't be valid or something like that.

I woudn't be too worried about the hotel itself - if I told the rep I'd no longer be staying then they could resell the room and make twice the money, or at the very least wouldnt have to pay for cleaning, hot water, air con, etc.

Any thoughts welcome.

lea2012

I used to be and rep and was based in the Dalaman area, this happened all the time. I still work in travel and it's quite common to do this. If you are using the flight but not the hotel it's not a problem, you will just go as a no show at the hotel and will be able to return on the flight home.
It's unlikely that anyone ever does it the other way round but if you were to book a package and then not turn up for the flight your return flight would then be cancelled normally.

Westin

That shouldn't be a problem. Not that you have to but as a courtesy just let the rep at the airport know so that they don't wait for you at the airport and delay others on the transfer coach.