Booking Direct?

[Chrissey Babe]

Booking Direct with a hotel abroad - anyone got any comments on it?

Good or Bad Idea?

Also can anyone answer me a question, do you not have to pay supplements when you go in a hotel? are you only charged supplements when you go self catering?

Thanks if anyone can assist or recommend something.

[Mal 54]

Hi Chrissey,

I would definately recommend booking direct, it's got to be cheaper.

We have been booking direct to Cyprus for the past 10 out of 12 years.

Out of interest I have just done a price check with Aspro for our holiday the price for one wk in June came to �681.20. Our holiday cost/will cost �1,1192.00.. �562 for flights which we booked back in November 05... �630 accommodation for 3 wks in June...if my maths are correct we have saved �801.60..going DIY.

We stay in a one bedroomed apartment with sea view, and pay no supplement, even though this apartment caters for 4 people.

I don't know about Hotels, we certainly didnt pay a supplement when we stayed in Lanzarote in January and our room had two double beds....lovely...

Good Luck

[HW Jan.C]

Hi Chrissey.
there are advantages and disadvantages to booking direct. You will usually get a better deal if you book with the hotel direct BUT you must be aware that even if you pay by your credit card you are NOT covered by any insurance, If they make a mistake and you get there to find they have overbooked ,your on your own, There has been lots of press lately with more and more people booking DIY,as you must tell your travel insurance company that you booked a DIY not a package deal, anything goes wrong with flights you book or accom you booked you have NO comeback with any travel company.If your happy with taking the risk for a cheaper holiday all well and good. I personally like someone to fall back on if something goes wrong.
Jan

[CarolG]

There are no supplements by booking direct for apartments, which can be a huge saving if only 2 persons in an apartment. Even if booking direct for 2 adults and 2 children there can be a huge saving in the height of the season as package deals charge supplements for children that have reduced adult price.

As Jan says you do take a risk when booking direct with accommodation owners, however you can still book direct through reputable companies dealing with hotels and apartments direct, who will manage the reservations and if something does happen to go wrong then they will make sure that you have equivalent alternative accommodation in the resort of your choice. You will still be making the direct booking and saving at the same time!

[Mal 54]

Having renewed our annual travel insurance today with Boots, I put the query to them re: DIY, they informed me that we are totally covered for everything, flight, hotel etc.

[Chrissey Babe]

Thank you all so much for your hints and tips much appreciated.

[Aslemma]

If you actually know the hotel you want it often works out cheaper to book direct by email. I do it in Tunisia with no problems and the staff seem to treat you better and give you a more personal service. I also send another e-mail the day before I go, just to re-confirm. There are times however when a package can work out cheaper as flights can sometimes be expensive.

[Luckime]

Hi Chrissey,
I am in the same boat as you I guess as have been wondering myself if it's a good idea.

I've decided that this trip will be the last one I book through the travel agents as a package.

I'm gonna try booking direct and am sure I will safe straight away.

A good tip is if you go somewhere you like and want to go back, make friends with the owners and get there details so you can book direct with them for next time. At least you will know if they seem decent people too! :thumleft:

[Shazzal69]

We've been saving a fortune for a few years now by sorting out hotels ourselves in Gumbet, Turkey.

Usually manage to get �10 pp half board and if you book flights early enough, you save loads on brochure price.

Have even resorted to taking a last minute cut price deal with any accommodation then looking round resort when we get there, negotiating a price then moving.

Feels strange going with a tour company after a while! You soon forget what its like to be hassled by reps trying to flog trips and excursions.

[Mal 54]

We have been going to the same Hotel in Cyprus for the past 12 years, so yes we do book direct, the hotel is family run and they treat us like one of the family.

We normally find a flight around December time for the following June/July. My husband phones the owner of the Hotel and books our room. A few weeks before we are due to fly out to Cyprus my husband phones the owner again to arrange for a taxi to collect us from the airport.

Flights can be expensive especially to Cyprus, we paid �562 that includes everything also the inflight meal. Our friends paid even less becaue they had a night flight theirs cost them �190. Big difference I know but I don't like night flights.

It pays to shop around and not be too fussy which airport you fly from or the time you fly. I am so it bumps our flight price up.

Our taxi cost us �25 each way. If you book with a rep they charge �68/�70. so theres a big saving.

We don't get hassled with reps to book excursions either.

Shazzal, what you do seems like a good idea. Makes sense especially if you have never been to a place before. If you don't like it you can just move. Youve give me an idea there.

Our holiday in Cyprus was for 21 nights, when I did a costing with a travel company it came to over �2,000 including supplements etc. DIY �1,1158. what a difference.

We do use travel agents for our winter hols, but must admit have thought about finding a hotel and flight and even doing that DIY.