Asia - multi-flight family holiday

[5potTurbo]

Good morning all,

I wonder if someone may be able to help me with flight bookings for a multi centre family holiday. I've looked at Star Alliance (frequent flyer with Lufthansa/Swiss) and Expedia, but the myriad of options is rather confusing. It may simply be that I'm useless at using Expedia! Is it worth engaging the help of a long-haul travel "specialist" like Trailfinders?

It's a special trip for us - my wife's and daughters' first trip to Asia (Ive been may 6 times for business over the years and 1 holiday) and also just before a milestone birthday for my wife. Given that we live in Luxembourg we need to do a short hop usually to a major airport hub for long haul connections. Expedia, for example, gives a mix-match flight selection which doesn't always give the best options, e.g. a 24 1/2 hour return journey when other, cheaper, shorter flight options are available. I'm confused to say the least.

My initial thoughts on the itinerary were:

03/04/14
LUX to HKG
via....
Frankfurt
Munich
Zurich
Istanbul

08/04/14
HKG to Ha Noi

2-3 days in Ha Noi & Halong Bay
then a short flight down to Da Nang to visit Hoi An

15/04/14
Da Nang-Ha Noi-Singapore


18/04/14
Singapore to Luxembourg
via....
Frankfurt
Munich
Zurich
Istanbul

Aside from the internal flights to/from Da Nang, the others are coming to £880-£1,100 per person, but it's considered a peak holiday period in the region so not really a surprise there.

I'd appreciate a few pointers, please, dear PHers.

Thanks in advance!

Russell

[Puggit]

Yes, ring the airline direct or use a travel agent (which will cost a little more).

Anything more than point to point return is difficult online.

[Old Merc]

We have used Trailfinders for multi flights etc a number of times,never a problem,everything went like clockwork.Just give their expert a brief and you will get a perfect itinerary.Just sit back and enjoy your trip and they will remove all the stress,its worth the extra.

[5potTurbo]

Many thanks, both.
I'll be in Canary Wharf on Monday so will pay Trailfinders a visit for a chat and see what they can come up with.

[XJSJohn]

would look at individual regional airlines / LCC's for the in asia stuff and whoever gives you the best deal on LUX - HGK and SG - LUX

can get very good domestic prices for Vietnam and Thailand on the likes of viet jet, lion, bangkok airways, nok air etc, plus regional flag carriers like Thai, Silk, Cathay etc or budgets like air asia, tigerair, jet star for other legs.

[5potTurbo]

Thanks John.
A Singaporean colleague of mine, who happened to be in Lux last week, commented similarly for the budget/regional carriers.
Much appreciated.

[Lozw86]

Nothing useful to say about the flights I'm afraid.. But when you're in Da Nang be sure to visit Hoi An if you had not already planned to do so already. Lovely little town on the coast with UNESCO world heritage status

[5potTurbo]

Yep, Hoi An's definitely to visit .... there's bugger all in Da Nang city worth seeing!