Planning a trip? Total Noob Qs within

D5T · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:09

OK I have never planned a holiday or a trip outside of the U.K.

If it was to be a trip to a well known event (Disney) I'd manage it but it's looking like I will be going to Canada at some point in the New Year.

I could really do with some help on how you guys plan your holidays/trips?

Details I know are: I live in Surrey/London so outbound presumably from Heathrow or Gatwick. End destination (eventually is Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. I don't know if that's a major airport or not.

Anyone care to help me out? I'd be really grateful for any tips/advice.
As always, thanks

mjt · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:22

moncton has an airport, so you can easily fly there via toronto or montreal
however, it could work out cheaper to fly to halifax or something.

faff about with www.expedia.co.uk and see what comes up

also, if you're planning on going in the next few weeks, be prepared to pay out of your ****. the earlier you book, the better

D5T · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:31

Thanks very much - a shove in the right direction from yourself has already proven the question was worth asking.

Yes I know -TOTAL NOOB with this so appreciate the shove

mjt · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:33

it's probably easier for you to book everything in a package, or use 3rd party sites to book flights and hotels.

you can also book directly from airline and hotel websites if they have special deals, but usually expedia will give you the best available rates

RDM · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:35

Do you have a passport? If not make that next on the list to get sorted quickly. Expedia are a good start for a self planned holiday, sure you can do it cheaper but only if you know what you are looking for. (We did 5 weeks in NZ and Sydney booking everything via the net which worked out fine, we also did 3 weeks in Canada by booking flights and the first and last nights hotels and getting the rest while we are there).

jp_bl_68 · 30 Dec 2009 at 22:39

A few sites you might want to look at:

priceline.co.uk & priceline.com - Use their 'Name Your Own Price' option to try to get discounted rooms. In the past I've paid up to 75% of what I should've paid for a room in a decent hotel.

hostelworld.com - Great site for booking accommodation in hostels. Their rating system is very reliable in my experience.

tripadvisor.com - Each country/city has it's own forum, usually there will be locals there to give advice.

skyscanner.com - I've not used this site very much but they can be helpful, especially if you're trying to find flights to unusual/unpopular locations.

edit- I'm not a big Expedia fan. In my experience the accommodation they recommend is over priced and of poor quality.

ralv585 · 30 Dec 2009 at 23:40

Never gone wrong with lastminute.com, booked holidays to Prague, Barcelona and Dubai with them this year.

Where do you plan to stay?

Hotels, family members, hostels?

kip02 · 30 Dec 2009 at 23:51

Good tip is to play around with dates as well if you have a bit of flexability if you don't have to go on certain days.

For example a flight from Heathrow to JFK is more expensive on a monday than it is on a sunday or tuesday (very loose example and don't quote me).

Plus don't forget quidco for your cashback on flights and hotels.

Macca · 31 Dec 2009 at 01:07

Flights within Canada use AirCanada or Westjet, really the only two available, was a small market. You could get bus or train which would be easy to do, but a long journey, I've went through Moncton on the bus to Halifax. Family there or something? Wasn't the greatest place

.

droyden · 31 Dec 2009 at 14:17

Check out http://www.besttimetogo.com/ also - good to know the weather etc!

Skull · 31 Dec 2009 at 14:37

Get travel insurance.

You may never make a claim, but then again you may wake up in your hotel room one day and find that your camera, wallet and phone have disappeared, along with your favourite shorts, and that you also have intestinal parasites and a piece of glass lodged in your foot.

apeZ · 31 Dec 2009 at 15:29

Skull said:
Get travel insurance.

You may never make a claim, but then again you may wake up in your hotel room one day and find that your camera, wallet and phone have disappeared, along with your favourite shorts, and that you also have intestinal parasites and a piece of glass lodged in your foot.

Personal experience?

As others have said, use a website like Expedia, and play around with dates - see what sort of prices you end up with.

Destination · 31 Dec 2009 at 15:53

Oh yes, don't carry anything that doesn't belong to you, for anyone else. Especially 4Kgs of heroin..... Althought this might seem obvious to you, you'd be amazed at the number of peopel who'll jump to your defence as if it wasn't obvious after you get caught with it.