Advice on family package holidays

willis123_2

Sorry If this question has been asked previously.

I have not been abroad for a few years (since having children) and was wondering if anyone has any advice to offer in regard booking a family holiday abroad.

Pre children i would book late deals . but then would sometimes "slum it" sometimes get lucky - something I cant afford to risk with children.

I have been looking at the late deal offers but cant seem to find any with free child places.

A number of sites currently have 2006 sales on with free child places.(but not for two )

We dont mind waiting if thats the best option.

Would it be best to book now for 2006 , or will the price drop nearer this years end of season or toward christmas ?

In your experience is there a best time to place a booking to recieve the most cost effective holiday.
Any advice from more experienced moneysavers on this matter ?

We are hoping to travel to Cyprus. pathos

also which sites would people recommend I keep an eye on for bargains ?
Have looked at portland direct and my travel / going places.
Thanks in advance.

Dumyat

you would be very lucky to get a late booking free place I think. We once went a late booking and there wasnt any reduction for the childs price at all. Although I have to say it was still a bargain

budgetflyer

There isn't really such a thing as a "Free" child place.Its added onto the adult price as under occ.supplements.Add them up and if you save a tenner a head, hang the flags out.
You may get a discount of £20 on child flights with certain charter airlines.
If you "self package" you will save a packet. Far more than any "early booking" discount.
Heres an example based on my own requirements for next Easter.
Sharm El Sheik-2 Adults 4* AI for 1 week.
First choice brochure price £765 + supplements= £1530 +
less their early booking discount(10%) (£155)= £1375

MY SELF PACKAGING PRICE
2x flights from Manchester with https://www.xl.com = £600
4* AI room with https://www.medhotels.com = £278
Total= £878
Thats over a 30% saving on their already discounted price.

telly-addict

Regardless of free child place availability, I would try and book early just to ensure you get a holiday if you are fixed to school holidays, especially if you want to go to Florida.

We booked with Virgin Holidays at the beginning of March this year for April 2006. We couldn't get the dates we wanted for our flight (LGW to Orlando) and had to change from 1 April to 28 March, the closest date to what we wanted, when there was only 9 seats left. The alternative was to go on 6 April when the Easter prices kicked in! There are two flights a day from Gatwick to Orlando.

We couldn't get the hotel we wanted with Virgin as all their allocation had been booked and had to book it through Going Places instead. For our second week we wanted a different hotel and had the last allocation Virgin had for that week.

So basically if you are set on a certain destination and hotel, I would get the travel agents to look at availability now, as it might be less than you think!

We tried to get a free child place for Florida for Feb 2004 when we booked a year in advance in 2003, needless to say, they had already gone! Virgin don't really stitch you up with occupancy supplements like a lot of the charter holiday companies - I found them cheaper for Florida and I did a lot of comparison shopping!