Some self booking advice please.

kaizersoze

We went abroad for the first time in years (Teneriffe) last year and all was booked through our local travel agent. It was a tour operator package deal booked at short notice costing ~€1800. for 7 nights 2 adults & 1 child.

This year we're planning ahead and trying to book something now. We're getting quoted €1600 - €2000 but can get flights & accomodation online in various places for €700 -€800. Other than airport to hotel transfers, are we missing something?

We're looking at Lanzarotte, Teneriffe & Gran Canaria atm.

mikedragon32

What you don't get when you book stuff independently is the services of a tour rep (by which I mean a welcome meeting to try sell you stuff) and his/her availability on-site to provide assistance (or more likely to try sell you stuff).

Seriously though, what a package holiday provides is a bit of a safety net if something goes wrong, cancellations due to snow/ash clouds/whatever or looking after you in case of bad delays, but not so much to warrant the difference in price you're seeing.

I have to say I winced when I saw what you paid for your holiday last year. We booked a trip independently ourselves with about 3 or 4 weeks notice last year and paid less than €1,300 for a fortnight, staying in a pretty nice place too.

kaizersoze

Thanks Mike. I thought as much.
We saw the rep twice during our stay, once on the bus on arrival and once on the bus heading home. The orientation meeting they organised never happened and nothing was ever posted on their noticeboard. I don't think we're missing anything in that regard.

We could book the same place as last year independently for €420 for 3 persons for 7 nights and return flights @~€;100 each. Big difference.

mikedragon32

It's incredible alright. When we booked last year, the same trip as a package would have cost €1900. To make matters worse, they were charging for the transfer, however a taxi to/from the airport cost €11 each way, which was less than the transfer cost.

kaizersoze

Did you do it all online or ring the accomodation?
My biggest fear is that we'd arrive at the reception desk to hear "Sorry sir. We have no booking under that name".:D

Fratton Fred

Book online and you get a receipt to show at reception.

Daisy M

First family holiday we booked was 3200e I booked the exact same holiday 2 years later for half the price. Now like you I am a bit of a worrier so I rang the hotel a couple of weeks and again a couple of days before our arrival to make sure everything was ok.

I booked online with thompson for the accomodation you have to pay upfront in full with thompson but they were the only site offering the particular family/interconnecting rooms in our chosen hotel. Flights I booked through ryanair and I arranged our own travel insurance. It does take time and a lot of research but its worth it. Lots of booking sites only ask for a deposit and you pay the hotel on arrival or check out.

You will need to make sure you have access to extra money in case of flight delays ect. You also arrange your own airport transfers. You can just grab a taxi or bus at the airport or arrange a local operator to collect ye.

mikedragon32

kaizersoze wrote: »

Did you do it all online or ring the accomodation?
My biggest fear is that we'd arrive at the reception desk to hear "Sorry sir. We have no booking under that name".:D

I used booking.com for the hotel reservation. They take card details but don't take anything up front, you pay on arrival so you have the option to charge it to your card or pay another way.

Reesy

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Book online and you get a receipt to show at reception.

In the past I've booked online & then a few days later rung the hotel to ask about something e.g. wifi & asked them if they can see our booking, for a bit of peace of mind.