We're looking to go away next year during the school holidays on a family holiday (kids will be 7 and 5). Looking at somewhere like Balearic Islands. Just had a browse on Thomas Cook and packages are around £1500. Having not been abroad for a few years due to cost, I'm unsure what tour operators offer value for money - anyone recommend some decent operators that offer good deals? Thanks.
Try booking independently with Travel Republic or On the Beach, usually cheaper than a package holiday.
Foreign holidays are scarily expensive nowadays especially during school holidays. The headline price you see will probably not include transfers, baggage or meals on the plan - these can easily add well over £100 for a family of four.
Another irritation is that anyone over 11 seems to be classed as an adult.
I looked for ages before booking a week in Crete - cost me £2,700 for two adults, a 15yo and a 5yo.
The global recession just seems to have pushed costs up - I naively thought that there would be bargains to be had 😐
Cut out the middle man and do it yourself.
Flights on Easy Jet.
Local trains.
Book on national web sites for accommodation.
And Bob's your aunties live in lover.
I'd agree with doing it yourself, get yourself a flight and accommodation separately, although i have had some good deals with lowcostholidays.com in the last few years
The big tour operators don't usually hide any cost in their headline price but the brokers certainly do.
If you want to go anywhere in particular, it's usually best to book as early as you can - last minute deals have been in short supply this year.
They make a good wedge on things like transfers so do some research before taking their transfer
Eg Thomson/First Choice charge £50 pp for transfers from Areciffe airport to Puerto del Carmen- a taxi is only €15-17 for up to 4
I tend to go away 4 or 5 times a year using cheap flights and local transport
Independent is good if you're happy to do the legwork and accept that if something like the flight gets changed on you, the hotel probably won't be too flexible.
Easyjet Summer 2013 flights aren't out yet for most airports, when they are there's usually a few bargains to be had, same with Ryanair etc
A flight to somewhere like Malaga and then hop on the nice new train from just outside the arrivals hall and you can get to most of the resorts on the Costa del Sol for around €3 each.
You need to book the flights first then insurance straight away (if you're taking it) then find a hotel, usually the likes of booking.com are a better price than booking direct
Trivago.com are a good search engine