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package holiday vs do it yourself

  • 06-06-2009 12:42AM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 798 ✭✭✭


    hi

    just wondering did anyone do better by booking flights,transfers and accomadation themselves online than going with a package holiday

    i just returned from a week in the algarve with the wife and three kids stayed in a 4* hotel booked it online through a travel agent cost €1600. but as soon as we got back i met a guy in work who was going to the exact same place a week later and he booked it all individually online and got the whole thing for €830 for 2adults and 3 children. can this be done or is this a case of "thats nothing you should have seen the size of the fish i caught last week" syndrome.


    cheers:D


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,154 ✭✭✭orchidsrpretty


    DIY holidays can be alot cheaper than package holiday, but it can be the other way round depending on your destination. When I go away, I usually check both options out, and the only time I have booked a package holiday was when I went to Egypt. I got 2 weeks accomadation(even though I only wanted acc in that particular place for 2 days) and it worked out hundreds of euros cheaper than had I booked my own flights. For places in Europe, and those that have direct flights, it can be considerably cheaper doing it yourself, if you have enough time to trawl the net finding the best flight, hotels etc. And also don't forget the added security you would have by going through a travel agent, and if anything goes wrong on the holiday, you have a rep that you can go to.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 536 ✭✭✭enzo7


    lucky-colm wrote: »
    hi

    just wondering did anyone do better by booking flights,transfers and accomadation themselves online than going with a package holiday

    i just returned from a week in the algarve with the wife and three kids stayed in a 4* hotel booked it online through a travel agent cost €1600. but as soon as we got back i met a guy in work who was going to the exact same place a week later and he booked it all individually online and got the whole thing for €830 for 2adults and 3 children. can this be done or is this a case of "thats nothing you should have seen the size of the fish i caught last week" syndrome.


    cheers:D

    i think in this case it maybe the size of my fish syndrome, i looked at diy for the algarve back in jan time i couldnt find a 4star hotel for 2ad+2kids for less than 1,000 flight would hav been close to 700euro. i price up both ways and see, in the end we booked salou with falcon payed 1,600 for 1wk h/b 4star hotel in august we got a free child place in that. since i had my kids i prefer going with fal*on becaues i like the security of having a rep incase one of them got sick ect.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭TaxiManMartin


    Usually book mine myself. Always works out a lot cheaper. If you are doing anything in the USA you can pay in dollars. Makes a massive difference.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭consultech


    The way I see it:

    Package holidays/High Street Travel agents exist for the un-informed, un-savvy cretenous masses who don't have the cop-on or wherewithall to properly research a destination and understand the whole process. All you need is a computer, tripadvisor.com, a credit card with a quasi-respectable limit, and a touch of cop-on and interest in where you're going and you'll get a better experience every time.

    All that said thank God for high-street travel agents who will continue to send the great unwashed to Majorca, and keep them away from the unspoiled destinations I make a point of researching and booking independantly.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 536 ✭✭✭enzo7


    consultech wrote: »
    The way I see it:

    Package holidays/High Street Travel agents exist for the un-informed, un-savvy cretenous masses who don't have the cop-on or wherewithall to properly research a destination and understand the whole process. All you need is a computer, tripadvisor.com, a credit card with a quasi-respectable limit, and a touch of cop-on and interest in where you're going and you'll get a better experience every time.

    All that said thank God for high-street travel agents who will continue to send the great unwashed to Majorca, and keep them away from the unspoiled destinations I make a point of researching and booking independantly.

    i think thats a little unfair to be honest, i for one hav never booked a hoilday with a travel agent i hav booked our family "sun hoildays" with falc*n online after doing all the reseach myself i found them cheaper than diy because of on-line discount (360 euro dis yr) plus a free child place, also they hav kidsclubs ect aswell, we go away 3/4 times a year which i always book hotels/flights myself, and b4 we had the kids i wouldnt be found dead in one of the tacky resorts but all my kids care about is pool/beach/kids club so for 1 wk of the year we go for them because they dont really care about all the amasing art/history in rome our how stunning lake como is but they get taken there also and eventually they will love it as much as i do i hope:D


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭consultech


    enzo7 wrote: »
    i think thats a little unfair to be honest, i for one hav never booked a hoilday with a travel agent i hav booked our family "sun hoildays" with falc*n online after doing all the reseach myself i found them cheaper than diy because of on-line discount (360 euro dis yr) plus a free child place, also they hav kidsclubs ect aswell, we go away 3/4 times a year which i always book hotels/flights myself, and b4 we had the kids i wouldnt be found dead in one of the tacky resorts but all my kids care about is pool/beach/kids club so for 1 wk of the year we go for them because they dont really care about all the amasing art/history in rome our how stunning lake como is but they get taken there also and eventually they will love it as much as i do i hope:D

    Well I suppose kids/family change your perspective a bit on things. My diatribe was, of course, general in nature, which I still feel applies for the most part to the usual crowd that avail of high street business. Distinct from the family point however, it's probably more often a case of the limitations of the dole/the fact said clientelle cant get a credit card and hocked their computer for gambling/beer money.

    Additional provisos to my original statement do however also include situations where u can get discounts on flights etc where all-in flight+all-inclusive deals actually come in less than u can get booking a commercial airline directly, although this happens very rarely, if ever anymore.

    Contacting resorts/hotels directly and speaking to managers with a bit of sales about u can also get u cheaper accomm a lot of the time also, especially in the current climate.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 77 ✭✭Origipolo


    I've always booked holidays without agent assistance. Always worked out cheaper, sometimes more than others, especially now that were in a pre boom......


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,009 ✭✭✭Wisesmurf


    There might not be huge savings to be had in resorts in the med but you can definately cut 100's off trips to America/Carribbean.

    I wouldn't book through an agent again. There is alot to be said for doing things on your own terms like chosing flight times/hotels etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Horses for courses tbh. It depends on where you are going and what you are looking for, I have just booked a week in Menorca in a villa and saved about €400 doing it myself, but the villa is a €20 taxi from the airport. Sometimes the hassle involved in booking it all seperately to save yourself €100 just isn't worth it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭consultech


    Horses for courses tbh. It depends on where you are going and what you are looking for, I have just booked a week in Menorca in a villa and saved about €400 doing it myself, but the villa is a €20 taxi from the airport. Sometimes the hassle involved in booking it all seperately to save yourself €100 just isn't worth it.

    lol, oh no!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 570 ✭✭✭Salome


    If you're a well travelled person, with enough experience of booking things online and know what you want - then by all means, DIY it.

    If you're not really sure what you want and if you don't use the interweb-thingy, then a travel agent will do all the work for you.

    Remember, the Package Holiday and Travel Trade Act won't cover you if you book all components of your holiday seperately i.e. flights with an airline, hotel on a different website through a accommodation broker, car hire through a rentacar place, transfers - local taxi for example, insurance etc - you've no protection if things go wrong.

    A package gives you protection under consumer law.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 310 ✭✭TaxiManMartin


    Salome wrote: »
    If you're a well travelled person, with enough experience of booking things online and know what you want - then by all means, DIY it.

    If you're not really sure what you want and if you don't use the interweb-thingy, then a travel agent will do all the work for you.

    Remember, the Package Holiday and Travel Trade Act won't cover you if you book all components of your holiday seperately i.e. flights with an airline, hotel on a different website through a accommodation broker, car hire through a rentacar place, transfers - local taxi for example, insurance etc - you've no protection if things go wrong.

    A package gives you protection under consumer law.


    You can still buy separate insurance for cheaper than booking in the travel agents. You can cancel your hotel too and not pay a penny. Try doing that in a travel agents :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭consultech


    You can still buy separate insurance for cheaper than booking in the travel agents. You can cancel your hotel too and not pay a penny. Try doing that in a travel agents :D

    +1

    A year's worldwide/winter sports inclusive insurance is about €80-100 - and travel agents are a joke to deal with regarding refunds/cancellations. Once you hand over your money, that is the last time you'll ever see it, period.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 570 ✭✭✭Salome


    You can still buy separate insurance for cheaper than booking in the travel agents. You can cancel your hotel too and not pay a penny. Try doing that in a travel agents :D

    As I said before, if you know what you're doing, you will save money and have a bit more flexibility. However, on your DIY holiday, when your hotel decides that they've lost/cancelled your booking or your car from the cheap car hire company is a clapped out old banger, you won't have the back up of a rep to get you sorted or a refund if you didn't get what you paid for.

    Personally, I always DIY but I know what I'm doing and only book with certain reputable companies - I also know the pitfalls of self-packaging and how to avoid them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,658 ✭✭✭old boy


    we went to barcalona end of april this year, having booked into a 4 star hotel for 33 euro b&b each per night, thanks to the tinternet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,608 ✭✭✭breadmonkey


    consultech wrote: »
    The way I see it:

    Package holidays/High Street Travel agents exist for the un-informed, un-savvy cretenous masses who don't have the cop-on or wherewithall to properly research a destination and understand the whole process. All you need is a computer, tripadvisor.com, a credit card with a quasi-respectable limit, and a touch of cop-on and interest in where you're going and you'll get a better experience every time.

    All that said thank God for high-street travel agents who will continue to send the great unwashed to Majorca, and keep them away from the unspoiled destinations I make a point of researching and booking independantly.

    Harsh but true; great post imo!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    consultech wrote: »
    lol, oh no!

    sorry, did I not make that clear enough? I saved myself €400, helped by the fact that the villa is only a €20 taxi ride from the airport. Other times I have looked to book independantly and you might save yourself €100 or so, but there are other factors to consider, such as getting a taxi, hiring a car etc so it is a lot less hassle booking a package.

    sorry if that is funny


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,939 ✭✭✭mikedragon32


    I have to say Fred, I think I took the same interpretation as Consultech. Thanks for clarifying it...
    :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭consultech


    lol - My understanding was that he "saved €400, but the taxi was €20" - somehow making it a big drawback!

    Thanks for clearing it up though Fred.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    €40 worth of taxi fares as opposed the €150 for a car is very handy!! Also, I find that when you hire a car you feel obliged to use it whereas I would rather catch local buses etc, no need to worry about the bottle of vino with lunch then!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 342 ✭✭Munster Gal


    Huge savings are there to be made if you DIY but you have to invest a bit of time and effort into it. You can be lucky with flight sales and car hire offers etc. I managed to book a 2 week holiday in July in France for 2 adults and 4 children for €1,750. This includes flights, car hire, accommodation for 1 week in a 4 bed house with pool & the 2nd week in a 4 bed house 200m from the beach. I had a budget of €1500 so I went a bit over!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Gus Ivey


    Package holidays in general work out dearer. Convenience is the costly factor

    But yea there are plenty of exceptions

    they both have there pros and cons


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,070 ✭✭✭ScouseMouse


    Sitting here at midnight in Tenerife with 22 degrees temperatures, I think I can answer this.

    I booked two adults and a child Dub - Tenerife for 770 euros.

    I booked an apartment for 10 days starting June 27th for 400 euros. This is the third year here.

    http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/los-cristianos/14334

    Its a luxury apartment with washing machine, 32 inch tv, home cinema, fully equipped kitchen, the works in a very nice development graded 1st on Tripadvisor.com.

    Its 23 euros single from the airport by cab and close to the centre of LOS CRISTIANOS. Budget travel were offering me the CARIBE apartments for 1500 euros, and after staying there one year, would not be in a rush back.

    Its so easy, just use common sense and you are laughing. The owner is from Rathfarnham and he has recently moved out here. Anything I need I just pick up the phone.

    Why go to a travel agent?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,031 ✭✭✭kingshankly


    I did the same myself a few weeks ago. Flights to Tenerife 380 private apartment through houseletting in paraue santiago3 for 300 for myself herself and the baby as opposed to 1380 through a travel agent. Now this is all well in good but you have to book in advance to benefit say you want to go away next week you good get a cheap package but you won't get cheap flights so late on


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,762 ✭✭✭✭Winters


    I find that researching and booking your holiday itself is all part and parcel of the excitement of going away.

    I wouldnt give that up in a million years, it's half the holiday itself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,790 ✭✭✭✭Dodge


    Love the way some people are saying that holiday makeers should look into their options and try do it themselves, and then tell people not to even bother looking at all options

    As ever, for some holidays, travel agents and package holidays work out for people. For others (most I'd imagine) DIYing it works out. If you're planning a trip, why wouldn't you at least look at what agents have to offer?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 244 ✭✭SuperStarHoney


    I do both, normally depending on the type of holiday and some basic research on which method appears cheaper.

    A lot of times DIY is not cheaper if you're going to a European sun destination in high season particularly if you want to stay in a decent hotel as opposed to an apartment.

    We did DIY last year to Sardinia and had a great time, going to Montenegro and Dubrovnik this year and doing package and I have to say the one thing I am looking forward to is not having to repack our suitcases on the floor of the airport to squeeze under the Ryanair limit. :pac:


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