Advice for October travel

db7even

Hi all,

My family and I often go away in October half term for a quieter and cheaper holiday to the Greek Islands or Saddinia. We usually piece this together ourselves through Kayak, Air BnB, hire a car sort Travel Insurance and pay for it on the credit card.

Does anyone have advice this year with the current situation in Iran? We want to book it shortly, but are concerned that if things escalate/continue there may be issues with the flights, being able to hire a car etc. and being refunded if things do go away. Would credit card bookings or Travel.Insurance protect us?

Any advice would be hugely appreciated.

T, Dhat's

db7even

That should say "Thanks" 😂

Woodstok2000

Credit card will only protect you if a supplier doesn't deliver the service as required. Travel insurance will cover you as long as your policy covers consequential losses and doesn't have war/terrorism exclusions.

If you are concerned, Youd be better booking a package so everything is protected.

maman

As @Woodstok2000 suggested, if you want to cover yourself 'just in case' because of the current situation then go for a package holiday this time.

I had a super package holiday one October half term on the Pelopponese. We had SC accommodation, public transport was excellent, we booked a day excursion to Epidauras and Mycenae and got to spend a day in Athens before flying home.

zagfles

Or just wait till nearer the time, see what the situation is. Packages in the school holidays tend to be expensive, but if you live in northern England consider flying from Glasgow, the Scottish don't have the same half terms as their school years starts earlier. We booked some incredibly cheap packages in the October half term from Glasgow and even with the cost of driving up there, airport hotels and parking it saved hundreds over going from Manchester. Quite a nice 3 hour drive along mostly empty motorway

Worried_fool

You might consider booking your flights now but postponing accommodation until nearer the time of travel.

If (for any reason) your flights could not operate and no alternative was available you would get a full refund, but would still have to pay for any booked accommodation. Insurance might exclude it if the problem was war.

I have generally found that booking accommodation a week or less in advance gave me decent options and good prices, while last-minute flights tend to be expensive.

NoodleDoodleMan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82026514#Comment_82026514

Scottish schools have holidays in October - you need to ensure you avoid these dates - and they are not all off on exactly the same week/fortnight.

zagfles

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82027764#Comment_82027764

As I remember they were always earlier than the English half term, but it's easy enough to check just google "Glasgow school term dates" or similar

NoodleDoodleMan

Not just Glasgow - the whole of central Scotland.

zagfles

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82027865#Comment_82027865

Although you don't really need to know - just check the prices of packages that week and see if they are significantly cheaper.

silvercar

Not really sure why you would be at risk on a Greek holiday, it’s not like you are flying via Doha or Dubai.

Maybe avoid Cyprus, if you are being really cautious.