How do you book your Holiday

[leisurelad]

Hi Guys,

With all these internet based Travel Agents i was wondering how most people book their holiday.

- Book via the internet, if so, are you happy with the information provided at the time of booking or do you take pot luck and hope all is correct and confirmed.

- With your local agent

- By telephone


With so many people using the net to search for holidays and many with missleading prices dont you find it sooo anoying to find out the actual cost is like �40 more per person than what the advert says.

Share your views and let me know how you prefer to book.

Cheers

[Helspeth]

I booked by telephone last year (for this year). But it cost me �50.00 more than if I had done it online. It was a �10.00 telphone booking fee per person. I think that the booking fee should be per whole booking, not per person.

I daren't book on line in case I missed something, as I am not very confident when booking holidays.

In the past I used high street travel agents. But this time the very same holiday was �160 more to book in the shop, so I booked direct (with First Choice).

[Honey Bunny]

I generally use the web mainly First Choice's web site.
If you went to the travel agent they would give you a more expensive price most the time, unless you went in with a print out of the web price then they would normally match it.
We even got First Choice to do a price match in with Direct Holidays once because we had a print out of the price and details.
Sometimes though they will only generally match their own web sites prices.

[HW Bex]

My question would be why do you want to know?

Bex

[ilovehols]

I always use the web now.!!!

[MYCATTHAI]

Web weather its package or seprate flights and hotel i find this cheaper option.

[Jackie B]

i always book at the travel agents then i can pay a bit off every time i get paid

[leisurelad]

Thanks for all your replies.

I have been in travel for many years and over the last year have seen an increase of people come back to the shop to see what we have as everything they see on websites never appears to be quite what it is. The main offenders are teletext based companies as they do not include transfers, luggage etc within the price they advertise on the site as it is classed as an optional extra ( a good marketing technique to show the lowest possible price to gain interest). It's not until you call up that you find what looked a good deal is actually alot more by the time all the added extras are on to make up a standard package although sometimes they can work out slightly cheaper depending on where and when your going.

Personally, i still believe in the good old package, everything is with one company and if something goes wrong in resort, you have a rep that is there to try and help without endless calls to the uk to sort.

Was just interested to see how people are booking these days and whether they prefer to actually see and speak with someone face to face or just book what they see on the net.

Cheers

[Honey Bunny]

Yes I still think Packages are best especially for families with young kids, as long as the price is right though. We have always done packages , we even tried pricing up a diy once and it turned out to be more expensive than the late package deal on offer to the same place.

[Mal 54]

Our winter hols are usually package, we find the holiday online then book via the telephone.

Summer holiday which is Cyprus - I book the flight with Cyprus Airways on line, usually before xmas for the following summer. Cyprus Airways is definitely the cheapest way to fly to Cyprus. On board food, drinks, snacks and ear phones are free. We phone the Hotel to book the accommodation.

Infant flight bookings have to be done via the telephone.

I have not been into a travel agents for years.

Mal:)