Hi guys just a quick question really, There are so many websites around I just want to know which is the best for searching cheap holidays, any advice would be great
I am also trying to research a late deal. The tips I can come with at the moment are make sure the site is ATOL and ABTA bonded. Also look at the Terms and conditions as some of the sites state that they will endeavour to get you the price advertised but the price may change, This is the cause of most complaints on Trip Advisor and Money saving expert
"travel zoo" and "voyage prive" are good for late booking, but dont look at entire market. Holidayhypermarket and travelsupermarket are pretty good but both tend to cover only associated groups of provisers. For example, I think holidayhypermarket covers the Tui group.
I am tempted to walk into Thomas Cook in Ricky 3 or 4 days before I can travel and see what I can get. I have a 3 week window due to annual leave and shift work so will go from there to Rickmansworth Travel across the road or into Watford and try and play them off against each other.
Last July we walked into a local travel agent on the Monday and said we wanted a holiday that coming weekend, we walked out with tickets for a two week Baltic cruise in a balcony cabin, which also included all meals & snacks that were available virtually 24 hours a day, all for only £899.00 each, instead of the brochure price which was over £2200.00 each. We had a brilliant holiday.
Went to Mallorca with Sunmaster a couple of years ago, they were brilliant. That's only one experience of course, others might say different.
A few years ago I would have agreed and I would rigidly stick to that method. Not now though. An example... http://www.travelzoo.com/uk/holidays/egypt/ 5 star resort in Egypt, all inclusive for £269, inc flights and transfers. Very few flights available independently, and they start at about £400 in the summer on Skyscanner. Also not full protection when booked independently.
Alan Cook's (on Shenley Rd, B'wood, station end) is renowned for wanting to do a deal. The best I've heard of was a fortnight in July at a Turkish all-inclusive resort for £254 pp leaving the following day.
Don't get sucked in by the "5 Star resorts" on the budget websites, it's not something that's regulated or checked.
British Airways hotel + flight option on their website can get extremely cheap if you are prepared to risk booking 1-3 days before going.
If this was aimed at my example then, of course, 5 Star in Egypt is not the same as 5 star in London, but they are still pretty good by most standards. I've been to 3 such hotels (although not this example), and they are fine. Also, if have been with Travel Zoo 8 times and have never been less than delighted with them. Neither Travel Zoo or Voyage Prive are "budget" websites in the bad sense of the word - they are brilliant. Don't get "sucked" in by the old adage, "if it sounds too good to be true, it must be" as in the travel industry, it is not necessarily the case. Flight and hotel operators prefer to fill space at greatly reduced rates, but just don't like advertising the fact and sell through niche websites.
Nope, not aimed at you in particular. Just general advice, you wouldn't believe the amount of people who see a 5* hotel advertised in places like Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco, and are surprised to see what they find.
Yes, but that is a feature of the local hotel grading system, not the website advertising it. I had a last minute booking through TravelZoo to Sharm just a few weeks ago. I paid £398 x 2 for all inclusive 7 nights in Club Magic Life Sharm El Sheikh Imperial (rated 5T's by Thompson. People had paid almost £300 more through Thompson Platinum for exactly the same holiday.
