Booking our own holiday - maybe.

[flobadob]

I was thinking of booking a holiday without going through a travel agent just to see how it turns out. I'm thinking if I book the flights and a hotel on the internet and then maybe try to book a taxi online also then it might all work out okay.

Has anyone else done this and is it a good idea or would I be better just using a travel agent?

Are there any good sites which can be used to book things yourself rather than a travel agent?

[sara3]

I've booked a villa, flights and hire car separately a few times.. no problems at all (bar a flat tyre!).

[jb190281]

I do that often flobadob. Booking flights with someone like easyjet, booking hotels direct, and using resorthoppa.com for the transfers

[lardhelmet]

Just check with TripAdvisor or one of those sites where you can check the accommodation you like before you book it. Could you save you a lot of heartache later flob

[Garmard]

Me and the missus do this all the time flobadob, book your flights via Ryanair then book hotel in the vicinity you wish to go to, get travel insurance and "Bob's your uncle!"

[237SJ]

Cheapest way to book a holiday is to do it yourself. The only problem would be if there is a problem such as the airline going out of business or another major problem as it`s easy to get compensated by the travel agent. Otherwise, I think it`s a good way to go

[joggerjayne]

Surely normal people don't use travel agents any more !

[Garmard]

I'd bet you'd jog it all the way JJ?

[Dris]

We do it all the time.Make sure you pay by either debit/credit visa card.If anything goes wrong youre covered although you still need insurance for illness loss etc.

[Eve]

I've never booked through a travel agents, just book direct through the airline for flights and either direct for the hotel or via sites like Expedia or Lastminute.com.

Over the past few years I've done it without problem for Prague, Amsterdam, Budapest, Ireland, New York and Canada.

I usually just get an airport hotel transfer at the airport or take a train or taxi. We had a car booked in Canada but only because I was with a load of family who aren't well travelled and wanted things all pre-arranged.

[jno]

I've done it often. The drawback is that if, say, your flight is grounded by volcanic ash (though the problem seems to have receded), you might get your air fare back but you won't get your hotel payments back - it's not the hotel's fault you haven't turned up - and you'll have to hope your travel insurance covers it, which it probably won't. If you book a package, you're more likely to find the operator covers it.

[VHG]

>.Make sure you pay by either debit/credit visa card

You will be covered if you pay by credit card.

I am not sure you are if you pay by debit card.

[Dris]

Yeah you are.My daughter lost her holiday and got a Ryanair refund and went into Lloyds and they said to try through the company who booked the room for her but failing that to come back to them and they would refund.So long as your card has Visa on it youre covered.

[Count-A-Strong]

I haven't booked a package holiday for 10 years now and never had a single hitch.

[Hymie]

Book the flights first, then the accommodation (if not booked in a single transaction).

Otherwise you might find that the bargain seats you were looking at, were the last available - unless of course there is only one hotel at your destination resort.

[flobadob]

Thanks for that guys, might give it a whirl. Never thought about insurance.

[lidlicker]

We always book ourselves. We never used an agent. This year we are going to New Zealand. We booked flights with Air New Zealand, booked car hire, all the motels (about 12 I think) even the ferry crossing from north to south island. We have even pre-booked tourist attractions.and stop overs too ! With the internet and e-mail everything is possible,.
Go for it !

[askyourgran]

You are all very brave to me, I'd be afraid of slipping up somehow and being left out in the desert somewhere. I'd rather have it done all in one go by a travel agent, Usually Thomsons so that the transfers etc are taken care of.

[flobadob]

What I've noticed is that the price you are quoted at the beginning is way off the eventual price, both for flights and accommodation, sometimes £150 difference, which is quite irritating.