Need a cheap family break

[DeanR32]

Afternoon all.

Me and the missis need a break but because we've left it so short notice, we have a tight budget.

We only want a week in the Balearics or canaries. How do you book your holidays? Flights and accommodation separate or as a package? Any companies to use? My boy starts infant school in September and getting away in term time will be nigh on impossible but the break times are much dearer! My youngest is under two so don't seem such a problem

Any tips on how to book something and get the biggest bang for my little buck?

Cheers

[Cupramax]

Always book separate flights, Ryanair are stupid cheap, I've just booked flights to Palma for 5th Sept £85 return from Bournemouth. Alpha rooms and Travel Republic for the hotels... Just mix and match plus try a midweek flight as they will be a lot less than a weekend.

[H_Kan]

Cupramax said:

Always book separate flights, Ryanair are stupid cheap, I've just booked flights to Palma for 5th Sept £85 return from Bournemouth. Alpha rooms and Travel Republic for the hotels... Just mix and match plus try a midweek flight as they will be a lot less than a weekend.

Though tellingly, you fly out just after most of the schools have gone back, so prices tumble drastically.

OP, have you considered Sharm? Jokes aside, I love the place, but wouldn't risk it at the moment.

Have a look on Icelolly.com for cheap packages. They list deals on behalf of various operators and almost always the initial price has 'sold out' and needs baggage etc added. However, if you spend a bit of time on the phone to a few of the travel agents who list then you should be able to find something reasonably priced on there.

If you aren't set on the travel dates then also try last minute deals from travel supermarket and lastminute.com.

[Jaguar steve]

Never, ever use a travel agent.

Put the whole deal together yourself using search engines from Holiday Rentals, Holiday lettings and Owners Direct for self catering and Travel Republic for hotels. Play one company off against the other by finding the deal and asking someone else to better it. If you find somewhere you like and want to go back cut out the middleman and deal direct with the owner.

Fly Ryanair or Easyjet and be flexible about dates and times. Understand and obey restrictions on luggage. Use a taxi firm to get you to the airport on time.

Book hire cars in advance using Google. Always pick up from the airport and never have one delivered to where you are staying.

Pay for everything on a credit card and take out annual travel insurance.

Cheap holiday - sorted

[H_Kan]

I've had holidays where the cost of an Easyjet flight was 75% the cost of going all inclusive on a package deal at a decent hotel, so not wise to always discount these, especially at peak school holiday times.

[russ_a]

Travel Republic is a site I use all the time.

[bga]

3 weeks ago I got a last minute break to Menorca (Sant Tomas, 2 adults, 1 child) for £1200. It was through Thompson and a fair bit cheaper than we could put together ourselves.

I usually book everything separately but couldn't get near to that price at the time.

[ClaphamGT3]

As a general rule, I find that diy holidays are only cheap if you do them several months in advance or you're not flying. If it involves flying you're probably at the point where you'll be better off picking up a package a tour operator is trying to off-load. Have you thought about driving to somewhere in France?

[ClaphamGT3]

We're currently in the Dordogne and booked our gite about 3 weeks ago. We got it for £1100 per week, reduced from £2k and paid £190 for the tunnel, including european breakdown cover.

If you do want to fly somewhere in early Sept, normal airlines are just as likely to be cheaper than budgets by now, so if you're going to the Balearics, look at BA/Iberia

[DeanR32]

Cheers for all the advice people, much appreciated.

We've pretty much settled on a week in Majorca but don't know much about the place and its resorts

I'll start something else solely on Majorca

Thanks again guys

[dumfriesdave]

Always book DIY - partner is expert bargain hunter.
She looks for cheapest flights (normally Ryanair or Easyjet) then after booking them looks at various sites to make a shortlist of hotels.
Then emails hotels directly with dates and requests best prices.
Saves a fortune compared with travel agent prices.

2 years ago end up in Tenerife in middle of July. Hotel a bit basic but couldn't complain for the price.
Got 3 adults and 1 child all-inclusive in 2 bedroom suite for 10 nights for £950 including flights which I thought was pretty cheap.