Travel Agents v Self-booked

jeffk

Looking at going to the christmas market in birmingham, found a coach place wanting €600 to go on coach ferry etc, but they bring you the trafford centre. After going to liverpool game on a similar deal i said no thanks to the ferry.

Went into travel agents in navan and blanchardstown, three nights hotel and flights from €430 to around €500, so that's a winner.

Went onto trivago and booking.com etc and then ryanair and tried booking it myself, the best i could save was €30 with most of the time being dearer than travel agents

Am i doing something wrong? Or do they get deals with hotels etc?

mahamageehad

So you just want flights and a hotel? For one person or a couple? Are you flexible with dates? How long do you want to stay for? There's not enough info given to make a call. Sometimes travel agents have preferred hotel partners where you get special rates, but then you also have to consider that they're taking a cut of your money too. There are a few situations where a travel agent is cheaper, think those chartered summer hols, but in general booking yourself is cheaper. People like travel agents though because it's less work and usually you can pay away at it.

jeffk

mahamageehad wrote:

So you just want flights and a hotel? For one person or a couple? Are you flexible with dates? How long do you want to stay for? There's not enough info given to make a call. Sometimes travel agents have preferred hotel partners where you get special rates, but then you also have to consider that they're taking a cut of your money too. There are a few situations where a travel agent is cheaper, think those chartered summer hols, but in general booking yourself is cheaper. People like travel agents though because it's less work and usually you can pay away at it.

Yes just flights and hotel, know the parking setup here, sure can figure out getting from airport to hotel over there

Couple

Think dates set(November 24 to 27), herself in retail so December out and that's the nearest we can get to Christmas

Thinking three days, as not much more than two and still cheaper than coach

If serious savings to be had ill book, but so far hotel alone 3/4 of prices quoted

Yamanoto

Of all the destinations offering a Christmas market experience in Europe, how on earth did Birmingham make its way to the top of the list?

jeffk

Yamanoto wrote:

Of all the destinations offering a Christmas market experience in Europe, how on earth did Birmingham make its way to the top of the list?

I haven't a clue, somewhere along a Google search, then various people recommended it.

Suppose short flight, English language

Yamanoto

jeffk wrote: »

I haven't a clue, somewhere along a Google search, then various people recommended it.

Suppose short flight, English language

You should definitely have a read of the Xmas market megathread

If you can get decently priced flights to Germany, Poland, Prague or Budapest, you'll likely find great hotels at very reasonable rates & you'll meet countless locals with excellent English, unlike Birmingham :pac:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=52152061

jeffk

Yamanoto wrote:

You should definitely have a read of the Xmas market mega thread

If you can get decently priced flights to Germany, Poland, Prague or Budapest, you'll likely find great hotels at very reasonable rates & you'll meet countless locals with excellent English, unlike Birmingham

I'll give that a read and maybe see any recommendations so thanks, seen Edinburgh last year.

I was thinking Germany myself. I'll say nothing about the "locals" in Birmingham

Mr rebel

You're definitely better off going to Germany or Austria for Christmas markets. They usually have better weather too, crisp and cold but dry.....like proper xmassy weather.

mahamageehad

I can give a big +1 for Germany for the markets (I'm based here at the mo!)
English won't be a problem. I'd have to have a google if they're even open then though. You might be a weekend too early!

mahamageehad

Scratch Germany anyways, Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich all start on 27th.
Prague is even later. There are some already open though- Budapest, Vienna and Stockholm for a start. The xmas market thread linked earlier is defo your best bet for advice though.

Use skyscanner as a start when searching for flights if you want to self book.

lawred2

Yamanoto wrote: »

Of all the destinations offering a Christmas market experience in Europe, how on earth did Birmingham make its way to the top of the list?

The first thing that sprang to my mind..

I think you'd find better Christmas markets at home here in Dublin to be honest.