Chicken bald back

[Cinnamon]

Weird one this..............

I am looking to booking a holiday for next year, & we want to do independent flights & accommodation this time.

What I have discovered is that with a certain leading holiday operator, it is actually a fair bit cheaper to buy a package in the cheapest accommodation than it is to by flights to the same resort

You also get a larger baggage allowance& pay less to pre book your seats.

 

So, if I buy a package purely to use the flights,am I obliged to stay in the booked accommodation that comes with the package,or can I stay elsewhere?

[mollyripkim]

Don't think you have to stay in the accommodation as I know someone who did a cheap package and then stayed with friends. The downside might be that flights might be charter, which tend to have less leg room, baggage allowance and add lots of extra charges. I won't name the company but one charges £50 per person for the privilege of making sure you all sit together. If you book a flight for example through travel bag the it would be a scheduled flight, ie BA, emerites etc.

I am actually in Bali at the moment, stopped in Singapore for 4 days and it was cheaper booking it that way, you still get transfers etc.

I know it's a bit sad that I am in Bali and on omlet - in my defence it's an Eco hotel in the rain forest, no tv, need a torch at night but bizarrely free wifi

[Patricia W]

Perhaps we should have a thread - what's the most unusual/ furthest away place you've ever been on the Forum from?

[LolaLayla]

I have just recently heard from a friend, of some 'fifty something' friends of hers, booking an 18-30 package holiday as apparently the flights were cheaper than they could have got anywhere else. They are not going to use the accommodation! I believe they were waiting to be denied the package when their dates of birth were revealed but it seems to be going ahead It is all a bit second hand information but it sounds an interesting idea.

[KimmyCustard]

My travel agent always checks to see if flights and accommodation is cheaper than just booking a flight, she has found that it has been the case. You are not obliged to stay in any accommodation that is booked, as long as its paid for, what difference would it make?

 

Travel Bag have been cheaper recently, dont know how they manage it but they do

[Cinnamon]

You are not obliged to stay in any accommodation that is booked, as long as its paid for, what difference would it make?

 

 

 

My thought was the extra profits the accommodation would make from us staying there - meals, drinks, air con hire, drinks........

 

Thanks for that though. I get a great discount with Thomson, so will be looking on their site

[Patricia W]

Googling on the net it seems that as long as you tell the rep that it's ok. They won't then be hanging round for you, and the hotel can then sell your room to someone else - getting twice the money it would otherwise get!

[kissinuk]

I recently found out with Virgin Holidays its cheaper to take the hire car than it is to make your own way from the airport. We're off to Disney World and will be using the free coach put on by Disney, but declining Virgins car would have cost £50 extra!

 

I've booked the car but won't be collecting it

[Cinnamon]

Indeed - we are just back from Zakynthos, where our resort is a 10 minute drive from the airport (but lovely nonetheless!).

Thomson wanted £40 for transfers & it took over an hour as our place was the last drop-off, so it made sense to hire a car for the week & make our own way there & back,plus see much of the gorgeous island at our own pace too