Holiday provider/travel agent?

inflames

inflames

inflames

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OK, well we are about to book a family holiday. Been looking for about a week or so now and comparing prices and the usual stuff. But my question is which travel agent do you prefer to use, Thomson or Thomas Cook or do you book it all your self?

Only asking as we have a mixed bag of experience , with have 3 good holidays using thomas cook and had a below standard hotel with Thomson. So what are everyone else experiences have you all had?
 
I have always booked everything myself separately. much prefer the flexibility that offers me. I can't think of anything worse than those packaged holidays where you've smarmy reps annoying your happiness when everything is fine and nowhere to be seen if anything goes wrong (I may be over generalising here!!)
 
Thekwango said:
I have always booked everything myself separately. much prefer the flexibility that offers me. I can't think of anything worse than those packaged holidays where you've smarmy reps annoying your happiness when everything is fine and nowhere to be seen if anything goes wrong (I may be over generalising here!!)
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To be honest if it was just me and the wife i think i would do the same. But wife two kids it just makes life a little easier having a package holiday.
 
Always been happy with Thomson. Booking a package is just easier sometimes when that's all you need (flight-transfer-hotel).
Look at the reviews and info of the hotels.
 
Our last holiday was booked through Kuoni.... but that was the honeymoon so not your normal package holiday.

They were very good but obviously you pay through your teeth.
 
Thekwango said:
I have always booked everything myself separately. much prefer the flexibility that offers me. I can't think of anything worse than those packaged holidays where you've smarmy reps annoying your happiness when everything is fine and nowhere to be seen if anything goes wrong (I may be over generalising here!!)
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You can book through a travel agent or get a package holiday without any reps. They just do all the bookings, sort out transfers etc etc without actually having anyone out at the destination with you.
 
Dunks said:
You can book through a travel agent or get a package holiday without any reps. They just do all the bookings, sort out transfers etc etc without actually having anyone out at the destination with you.
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Yea I get that, hence my saying 'I may be over generalising'
I've just always preferred not to be lumped into a hotel full of other 'UKers' on their hols. Guess I just like being more off the beaten track, so to speak.
 
Thomson if I'm going to Orlando. Rest of the time Jet2 Holidays on their website.
Never once had a problem with them.
Been going to Rhodes with them for the past three years, great mixture of Self catering and Ai hotels. Good flight times, comfortable aircraft. And more Manchester specific, but they have their own security area in T1 and it's complete bliss.
 
When booking package holidays ive been stumping up for private transfers aswell. Been on some coaches that have had about 10 stops before getting to our hotel. Easier with private taxi, straight in the car, no waiting for other guests to get on the coach, no stops at other hotels, just straight to our hotel, get there before to coach so a quick check in then we can unpack and get by the pool
 
It's a horses for courses thing I think, if you're happy using travel agents, then go that way.
I think that the last time I went into a High Street travel agent, I'd just bought some flares from the shop next door, in 1970.
You're always going to be able to get a flight, unless the day you're scheduled to leave there's a strike.
If you can't get one from London to Malaga, you'll get one from London-Madrid-Malaga, or if London-Miami is sold out, there's always London-Charlotte-Miami.
I go to Vacation Rentals, click on the area I want, then find a pool home at a reasonable price, check availability, and book it.
Then I look for flights, filtering them for sensible departure and arrival times and routing, the least amount of time in the air, the better.
Once the house and flights are locked in, I sort the car, Dollar or Alamo I find are the most reasonable, plus they almost always allow extra driver(s) at no extra cost.
That's it, just make sure my Nicole's ESTA is valid, I have a multiple entry U.S. visa, and then pray that the dollar slumps against the pound.
 
Did mine through The Flight Center and they were awesome. They used a 3rd arty for the details but did all the management of the clients themselves

- GP
 
I can't think of anything worse than a cheap package holiday to some grotty resort with 90 minute coach transfers and all that shizzle. I'd need a holiday just to get over it all.
 
I haven't been on holiday for at least four years, and then a similar time before that. But when I used to go on some fantastic holidays in the 2000's I booked everything myself. It gives a lot more flexibility and in the modern internet age it should be very easy. The only disadvantage is that you have slightly more protection with a package deal.

LeeUK said:
I can't think of anything worse than a cheap package holiday to some grotty resort with 90 minute coach transfers and all that shizzle. I'd need a holiday just to get over it all.
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Yep, this is why I've not been away for years. I'd rather wait until I can go on a good holiday.
 
I was thinking about this a few months ago whether it is better to go to a Travel Agent or do it yourself. In my research I saw an article from the Moneysaving guy who said that package deals are generally cheaper for shorter stays (article I mentioned is not actually by Martin Lewis but he advocates it/links in another one I can't find http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-holiday-haggling-guide). It mentions a way to get the price down is to sit with one and get the details and then go to other providers and get them to beat price. We did this for Orlando next year and it was a great decision as we got a really good price. I do reckon you may be able to still get it cheaper DIY but this just makes it really really easy (I don't know how much it takes DIY as have never done it that way myself).

EDITED to make it a little clearer
 
Really dont know why anyone would use a travel agent in this day and age. At least unless you're planning a complicated multi destination, multi transfer holiday.
 
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