First family holiday, where to start

diystarter7

Check the weather and the reviews for the place you are staying at and the surrounding areas. Check with children what they.
 think.

Check who you are going to tell when you go away.

Check if you have security light plugs etc that switch on off lights even if you have cctv cam security and an alarm etc.

If you are leaving your car/s behind at home, on the road take all of the keys, driver's licences, cc, debit cars etc.

Have a nice holiday.

TELLIT01

alidai said:

Can’t believe so many people are recommending a travel agent yet also not exchanging money.

the world has moved on, get a fee free card as people have said, revolut etc, and book yourself online - there is absolutely no need or benefit to a travel agent for a simple Spain holiday.  

I haven't used a travel agent for years, but the OP is going abroad for the first time with their family so a bit of 'hand holding' by somebody with experience is no bad thing.  If anything does go wrong you will have a single point of contact to get them resolved.  If they have Hayes local to them, they have a very good reputation.

zagfles

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Using a direct website like TUI or Jet2 to buy a package "off the shelf" is not my definition of DIY.

That process would be cobbling together separate accommodation, flights and transfers from different sources.

In my experience a reputable travel agent will price match TUI/Jet2 packages.

Whenever I've tried to compare High Street packages v DIY there has been little in the way of savings.

As IO above says - when things go wrong, especially when you are abroad, you have an immediate "go to" contact to get assistance.

If you go to bog standard European holiday destinations like Spain, Greece etc, especially off-peak, packages are usually good value, often cheaper than "DIY". Long haul packages are generally vastly overpriced, you can do it much cheaper yourself. Also package prices tend to reflect the UK peak rather than the foreign peak, so even packages to places like Spain and Greece can be overpriced eg in late August when it's off-peak in most of Europe but peak in the UK.

I've had loads of things "go wrong" on holidays, I can't say it's ever been any easier to sort when it's been a package. On packages the reps only seem to be interested in selling overpriced trips which you can buy down the road from the hotel at half the price.

NoodleDoodleMan

The nature of things "go wrong" on holiday can cover a wide range of problems - some way above rep level to sort out.

zagfles

NoodleDoodleMan said:

The nature of things "go wrong" on holiday can cover a wide range of problems - some way above rep level to sort out.

Do TA's really help? I used to book holidays through TAs in the old days and never once did it occur to me to contact them if anything went wrong. It'd be the tour operator. The TA was just the seller of the holiday. Do they now provide a 24/7 contact number and get involved when things go wrong? Any examples?

NoodleDoodleMan

I was in a Hayes branch quite recently and the manager was actively involved in sorting out a significant difficulty for a customer in distress with the tour operator.

Wouldn't be 24/7 though - unless Hayes has a constantly monitored emergency number.

IvanOpinion

zagfles said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

The nature of things "go wrong" on holiday can cover a wide range of problems - some way above rep level to sort out.

Do TA's really help? I used to book holidays through TAs in the old days and never once did it occur to me to contact them if anything went wrong. It'd be the tour operator. The TA was just the seller of the holiday. Do they now provide a 24/7 contact number and get involved when things go wrong? Any examples?

I can't say it is the same for every TA, but the one we use is very good.
For example, we are going on holiday in 10 days. I emailed the TA over a year ago with requirements, she has booked the holiday and sent me reminders about payments. Next week she will drop a pack off to me which will include boarding passes, hotel vouchers (if required) and documents about weather, things to see and do, local requirements etc. She will also have completed all our API and booked seats for us (she knows our preferences) - and with any luck been in contact with the hotel to get us the best possible room.

When the COVID outbreak hit we were actually on holiday. Our flight home got cancelled, as did transfer flights.  I made one phone call to my TA and she said to leave it with her. She phoned me back a couple of hours later with new details and times. I watched others going into virtual meltdown trying to sort themselves out.

As mentioned the cost of this great service is usually minimal. Where there has been a significant cost difference she lets us know and suggests we just book it ourselves - and, even then, she still tells us to contact her if there is any problem.

zagfles

IvanOpinion said:

zagfles said:

NoodleDoodleMan said:

The nature of things "go wrong" on holiday can cover a wide range of problems - some way above rep level to sort out.

Do TA's really help? I used to book holidays through TAs in the old days and never once did it occur to me to contact them if anything went wrong. It'd be the tour operator. The TA was just the seller of the holiday. Do they now provide a 24/7 contact number and get involved when things go wrong? Any examples?

I can't say it is the same for every TA, but the one we use is very good.
For example, we are going on holiday in 10 days. I emailed the TA over a year ago with requirements, she has booked the holiday and sent me reminders about payments. Next week she will drop a pack off to me which will include boarding passes, hotel vouchers (if required) and documents about weather, things to see and do, local requirements etc. She will also have completed all our API and booked seats for us (she knows our preferences) - and with any luck been in contact with the hotel to get us the best possible room.

When the COVID outbreak hit we were actually on holiday. Our flight home got cancelled, as did transfer flights.  I made one phone call to my TA and she said to leave it with her. She phoned me back a couple of hours later with new details and times. I watched others going into virtual meltdown trying to sort themselves out.

As mentioned the cost of this great service is usually minimal. Where there has been a significant cost difference she lets us know and suggests we just book it ourselves - and, even then, she still tells us to contact her if there is any problem.

Interesting - I suppose with it being trivally easy to bypass TAs these days and get all you need from the www they need to provide some value add. Personally I've had a few problems abroad but nothing that I couldn't sort myself, mind you I'm probably more experience than most TAs, I've been travelling abroad usually several times a year since I was a fetus

quoia

As and when you have made a holiday decision (or almost / 99%) of what sort, where to, when it is, duration, how you are getting there, which company/airline/accommodation etc. and who you might use

DON'T FORGET to go here Beat My Quote! Travel Agents Thread before you part with any dosh

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/509598/beat-my-quote-travel-agents-thread

Whilst it is not always possible there might be addition savings available here (or even benefits or options you are not aware of)

I've just booked again using a TA here - think that's the 4th time out of 7 enquiries I've had a better offer and done this - on each occasion saving at least £40 or £50, sometimes quite a bit more, on what "appeared to be" a rock bottom price

My latest very recent Jet2holidays enquiry (leaving this Sunday to Cyprus) was a similar success despite already being "cheap" and got a BONUS of a very different sort.

On their website the holiday had already been reduced by Jet2 to £910 from about £1000, they had an online "voucher" for £100 that could be used which made it £810

Whilst the preferred departure airport was East Midlands this was not available for the dates selected (even though I knew that flights on those days existed - but presumably full) so Birmingham was the best choice. 

Posted the full details on the Beat My Quote thread and got a response - EXACTLY SAME HOLIDAY still booked with Jet2 with a good saving.
Spoke to the TA with a view to booking it and mentioned preference of East Midlands airport over Birmingham but not available and TA said leave it with him he would see what he could do.

Called back within an hour and voilá - seats on the Jet2 flights from & to EMA as desired -  apparently/potentially only available online via a TA

So (bonus) airport of choice and for just £748 in the end


AND (IF as previously posted regarding things going wrong and getting your Travel Agent to sort out the issues and not having to do it yourself for doing it "DIY" or booking "direct") then I have the same protection and cover.
I have TA's direct phone number and email address, the same business details,
ATOL AND ABTA certification, and as it happens a reputable company to boot since he works at the Co-Op

smudge56

Deleted_User said:

I want to start thinking about our first family holiday but I haven’t been away since my kids were born (oldest is almost 16 ☺️) and I need a tick list on what I need to do to make it all happen.

I’m hoping for a cheap short break abroad, possibly Spain as a first family trip?

So far I’ve got:

1. Check passports are in date and valid for travel 
2. Check we all have valid covid passes 

3. Check EHIC cards are valid
4. Book holiday 
5. Book insurance 
6. Exchange currency 
7. Arrange transport to airport. 

I really need help with booking the actual holiday. Where do I start? I assume a package holiday is the easiest option so that I don’t need to book everything separately, but which websites are the most reliable/safest/cheapest to look at? Where do I look and what do I need to look for? Any advice?

Also, am I missing anything on my tick list?

any help appreciated thanks 

Glad to see that the first thing on you list is your passport :-)   

Portugal is a bit cheaper and lovely.  I usually book with Love holidays and have had no problems with them ( I usually stick the dates and the airports in then press search and see what comes up.  Never book until I've researched the accommodation.)