Travel newbie - help!

A_New_Start

I’m hoping you can give a travel “newbie” some help and advice.

I am thinking of taking my daughter (8yo) and mum and dad (pensioners) abroad next summer. Initial thoughts are Mallorca as I went there as a child, or Menorca however destination is not priority to decide at the moment.

I haven’t been out of the UK since 2005 and I’m a bit rusty on what to organise. Last time I went we went to a travel agent and said destination and they worked out flights, hotel, and transfers and we also managed to haggle some off the price. Everything went smoothly and had a good memories of the trip. Can you still go to a travel agent (I know they exist) to work out a package or do they just read back what is on the websites?

Just been looking online and bewildered with all the extras, having to pay for hold luggage, special or standard seats, choice of board (always been self catering).

Then trying to convince die hard UK holidaying parents to actually come with us. Its not like they are paying. I’m covering the holiday and ask their contribution to sort mine and their passports, insurance and their spends – roughly what it costs for what we paid for a week of UK accommodation in past years. Budgeting for about £750 pp for 4 for a week self catering or half board.

EHIC – I’ve just applied for a card as they are free and it took a few minutes. I read that up until the end of next year there an no plans to change how EHIC works in the EU. What are your thoughts?

Brexit – As above, I’m not sure what affects. It wont stop anyone travelling but just need to know what to consider.

Passports – If we are to go, my passport expired a few years ago. Mum and Dads expired probably over 20 years ago. I think we may need to sort these before we book anything?

I need to quote on travel insurance due to parents ages (both around 70).

hollydays

Your parents need to get the quotes themselves

twopenny

That's a lot of stuff in one go!

Majorca and Menorca are a good idea. You'll feel more confident and it's full of Brits so English spoken and some familiar foods for your mum and dad.

First Travel Insurance. You might need to look around. Do some test runs on the net forms but also ring and check that everything is covered. All health issues with each of you. Don't leave it too late or the price goes up because they know you haven't got time to look elsewhere. I had a shock and worry when I realised I was 'old' for insurance but it was ok. I went through Age Uk which are straightforward and find the right company. They will probably insure you all as the companies don't just deal in us aged!
And I've used the company that insures my house for travel insurance. Tend to stick to the big names.

Also do it as soon as you've booked. You need to think if you want covering for the trip to the airport or before the trip too. So work out the days v the price.
You need the passports sorting out. It's peak holiday season at the moment so busy so as soon as you are sure you are all going.
Travel agents can book you a package with flights, transfers and hotel. Look at their websites. They are a bit cheaper than the shop but if you book on the net and something goes wrong you are phoning and emailing for weeks. Tui, I expect the others, will take the internet price + £30 or so but will sort out problems, print tickets etc and check everything. I think it's worth paying afer hearing from those who thought they were saving and had to deal with internet customer service.

Usually each person gets a baggage allowance included if you book with a travel agent. If you want to do DIY flights see if you can pack your daughters and your clothes in one case to save a bit.
Check cabin bags according to who you book with and the flight company, see what you're getting, make sure they are the right size.
You probably want to splash out on booking seats together if it's a first time. Though if you go with Thompsons, EasyJet etc you're never going to be far away. But 2 together definitely.

EHIC is a good idea, it's free so you're not loosing anything and maybe gaining some. Remember it needs repeatedly renewing so you don't just have it for good.
I'd start with a travel agent or two. See what they have to offer. Check the hotels on the TripAdvisor reviews. Look at the Average ones where you get the plus and minuses so you know what they are like. Don't just go by the blob rating at the top. You can also ask questions on their forums for the country you are going to if you want to know about the location re shops and cafes. Can all be done in a couple of hours when you have a selection of places. Surprising what you find out.
Don't use TripAdvisor or any platform where companies just pay to use them. The reliable companies we all know are easiest to deal with if you are a novice.
Hope you have a good trip. I've used all sorts of ways to book travel and provided you research what you are offered it should be a good one.

hollydays

I don’t believe you get a better service with travel agents.
You also have to shop around , they may be charging a lot extra than £39

Katiehound

Personally, if you haven't travelled for years I would try one,two or three well known high street travel agents and go and ask their advice.See how helpful they are and go from there. In this instance it might be worth paying a little bit more for peace of mind./ You can always ask if they give discount (or maybe Co-op dividend)
See if anyone you know can recommend an agent.

Do choose a local agent 'though so that you can walk in and collect tickets etc.
Next time you will have more experience and will be able to sort it all out, yourself!!

zagfles

A_New_Start wrote: »

I’m hoping you can give a travel “newbie” some help and advice.

I am thinking of taking my daughter (8yo) and mum and dad (pensioners) abroad next summer. Initial thoughts are Mallorca as I went there as a child, or Menorca however destination is not priority to decide at the moment.

I haven’t been out of the UK since 2005 and I’m a bit rusty on what to organise. Last time I went we went to a travel agent and said destination and they worked out flights, hotel, and transfers and we also managed to haggle some off the price. Everything went smoothly and had a good memories of the trip. Can you still go to a travel agent (I know they exist) to work out a package or do they just read back what is on the websites?

Just been looking online and bewildered with all the extras, having to pay for hold luggage, special or standard seats, choice of board (always been self catering).

Sometimes transfers, baggage etc are extras even with a "package", but we've been on 4 packages in the last 2 years and all has been included as standard. Try TUI, they usually include everything, except airline seat bookings, which we've never bothered with but always ended up together.

I wouldn't bother going to a high street TA, just use a website of a major TA or tour operator. Watch out for some of the smaller ones, google them on this board cos some have a bad reputation.

Then trying to convince die hard UK holidaying parents to actually come with us. Its not like they are paying. I’m covering the holiday and ask their contribution to sort mine and their passports, insurance and their spends – roughly what it costs for what we paid for a week of UK accommodation in past years. Budgeting for about £750 pp for 4 for a week self catering or half board.

You could get a good all inclusive for that sort of budget! We've been on a couple in the Easter school hols for around £400pp, they were very good. Google the hotel and look at tripadvisor reviews.

EHIC – I’ve just applied for a card as they are free and it took a few minutes. I read that up until the end of next year there an no plans to change how EHIC works in the EU. What are your thoughts?

Only if the deal which Theresa May negotiated with the EU, which was rejected 3 times by parliament, eventually gets through! If there's no deal, EHIC is dead! If there is a new deal, it'll depend on what's in the deal. See https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44850972

Brexit – As above, I’m not sure what affects. It wont stop anyone travelling but just need to know what to consider.

Could be anything, we might need VISAs, probably not, but who knows?

Passports – If we are to go, my passport expired a few years ago. Mum and Dads expired probably over 20 years ago. I think we may need to sort these before we book anything?

I need to quote on travel insurance due to parents ages (both around 70).

If you're not going till next summer I wouldn't bother even looking till the end of the year, hopefully after all this Brexit nonsense is sorted and we know where we stand!

LilElvis

As your daughter is school age you will be tied to the school holidays. As you're planning on going for a week I would go in the May half term rather than the summer - much, much cheaper and plenty warm enough in the Med. As an example we are paying 70% more to rent an apartment in Spain in August than we paid for exactly the same one in May half term.

Menorca peak summer is stinking hot - not pleasant for your parents. Make sure that the apartment/ villa has air conditioning if you do go July/ August.

hollydays

Katiehound wrote: »

Personally, if you haven't travelled for years I would try one,two or three well known high street travel agents and go and ask their advice.See how helpful they are and go from there. In this instance it might be worth paying a little bit more for peace of mind./ You can always ask if they give discount (or maybe Co-op dividend)
See if anyone you know can recommend an agent.

Do choose a local agent 'though so that you can walk in and collect tickets etc.
Next time you will have more experience and will be able to sort it all out, yourself!!

Do not agree to any holiday until you have thoroughly checkout out the accommodation reviews on tripdviser.

Pollycat

zagfles wrote: »

Sometimes transfers, baggage etc are extras even with a "package", but we've been on 4 packages in the last 2 years and all has been included as standard. Try TUI, they usually include everything, except airline seat bookings, which we've never bothered with but always ended up together.

I agree with this - TUI is a good place to start.
We'd never booked a package with them but were looking for something last minute and they had reasonable choice (looking at Greece) including hold luggage (some options were 15kg each but you could pay a small amount to upgrade to 20kg, some were 20kg), 10kg hand luggage and transfers.
Options to pay for seat selection and meals clearly offered during the booking process.
You can shortlist up to 10 options.


TUI website is easy to use.
You just print your confirmation off to take to the airport.

A_New_Start wrote: »

Just been looking online and bewildered with all the extras, having to pay for hold luggage, special or standard seats, choice of board (always been self catering).

Choice of board is personal choice.
We don't do all-inclusive as we like the freedom to choose where we eat when it suits us.
And I don't think we'd get the local dishes (moussaka, pastitsio, papoutsakia etc) in an AI hotel.
And we like the ambience of sitting in a small taverna.

My sister loves AI.

Whatever you decide to book, read the Tripadvisor hotel reviews before you book.

A_New_Start wrote: »

Then trying to convince die hard UK holidaying parents to actually come with us. Its not like they are paying. I’m covering the holiday and ask their contribution to sort mine and their passports, insurance and their spends – roughly what it costs for what we paid for a week of UK accommodation in past years. Budgeting for about £750 pp for 4 for a week self catering or half board.

Are you sure trying to convince people who like to holiday in the UK to go abroad is a good idea?
Even if you usually holiday together, it might be time to say 'you do your thing and we'll do ours'.
If they've not been abroad for over 20 years, they'll find the airport experience somewhat different (since 9/11) and much busier.

Grumpelstiltskin

Seeing as you live in Yorkshire look at Jet2 website.

IMO they beat Tui hands down.

Bigger luggage allowance, more comfortable planes for starters.

cubegame

I'd stay clear of agents at all costs. It's not 1980.

Simpler and cheaper to arrange everything yourself.