package holiday V book-it-all-myself??

mummyyummy_2

having never been abroad before, i am looking into booking a hol to spain somewhere for early next year, prob april time (so its not quite as hot as mid season). Am i better to go for a package deal where it is all orgainised in one booking, or is it cheaper to book flights direct, hotels direct etc...are there any advantages/disadvantages of package hols?? i.e. reps on site or whatever...one last question, is it better to wait until last minute to see if there are any bargains to be had? To be honest, we wont be too bothered where we go, as long as its one of the usual majorca, canary, those sort of places as ive never been anywhere like that i want to see what all the fuss is about..thanx for your help x my x

burnsguitarman

To be honest it depends how confident you are and who you are travelling with! On our first few trips we always went as a package as everything is taken care of. As we got used to what we were doing and what to expect we began to book independently. If you're not going in school holidays and you are flexible with dates and not bothered where you go I would be tempted to wait until a few weeks before. Hope this helps. I'm sure someone else will be along soon with their views.

davetrousers

I have already booked next summer's holiday and I did consider a 'DIY' holiday, after weighing up flights and the hotel I wanted the saving was pretty irrelevant, and when I factored in the transfer from/to the airport, the package was cheaper.

Also with a package you do get a rep. (and if you're lucky the might be good looking, lol, our rep this year ver very nice ) So if you have problems they can often help you out

Not saying which option is best but you need to check out both options. I would have done it myself if it worked out cheaper but it didn't!

Infidel

I normally do things independently (more fun and excitement). But of course this depends on your circumstances, i.e. - if you have kids etc. then you would probably want to have everything sorted (on a package) before you travel.
Doing things independently generally means you find out more off your own back (hence meaning that you should become more knowledgeable about the place you go to- hopefully). Just remember to do your research before you go (checking public transport etc.). Going independently doesn't always mean things are more expensive and gives you greater flexibility in many ways. For example, when i went to Lanzarote several months ago i was quoted around 45-60 Euros for return airport transfer, yet i managed to get the bus which costed just 2 Euros (4 in total) - So yeah quite a BIG SAVING. I was basically the only person on the plane who didn't get on a transfer coach after landing, yet managed to get to my apartment, shower and be ready to go to the beach just as a few people who'd been on the same plane were arriving with their luggage.
Similarly on the way back, the "package coaches" were picking people up around 4-5 hours before their flights were due to leave, as an independent traveller i got an extra few hours 'last minute sun-tanning' down at the beach and then cruised into the airport about 10 minutes before check-in closed.

One thing i will say, if you do go on a package, don't book trips with your rep before you have checked around, as you can generally find the same trips (or very similar) at a much lower cost elsewhere (this is why the rep normally collars you very early the morning after arrival, or same afternoon).

TuftyMatt

For a first trip I would go as a package.

I book myself now but would not want to straight away.

Once you pick a hotel you like the look of have a good read up on it via www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk
My advice would be to hire a car if you end up on a Spanish island and have a good look around. For us this is the best way to find new resorts and good hotels which you can then self book for the following year.

I have self booked for next June and saved over £600 from the portland holiday price.

ManAtHome

I normally book 3 to 4 weeks before going (on occasions 3 to 4 days before) and have always managed to find a good package. I have DIYed a few times when I wanted to go to specific places - quite a saving over booking several months in advance, but not substantially cheaper than a "late".

Depends how flexible you can be on where your'e going, where you fly from, and when you go. Fortunately, I don't need to arrange time off work that far in advance - obviously more restrictive if you have to go (eg) saturday to saturday.

As others have said, the reps are really there to flog you stuff, so wouldn't worry about that one. Worth costing car hire as well as public transport and/or taxi against transfers. And apply for your Nationwide Flexaccount and credit card now...

withabix

Things seem to have changed this year, since the hoo-ha about child places, booking kids as adults, under occupancy supplements and DIY-is-cheaper-than-package.

Thomsons for example:

For the last few years, it has invariably been cheaper to assemble your holiday on their website, choosing accommodation, then adding flight and then sorting out your own transfer, be it taxi, hire car or airport transfer company.

From earlier this summer, things seem to have changed. The package is now often cheaper than the accommodation+flight, certainly when booking for 2 adults. I'm ignoring what the brochure price says, as you never seem to pay that these days.

As an example, 1 week in a 5T H/B in Maspalomas, Gran Canaria, 10th Nov 07, was booked 2 weeks ago for £818 as a package for 2 adults. Flight + accommodation came in at approx £1150 :eek: