Package holidays-is that still a thing?

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I remember going on three package holidays in the 80's. I think it was easier for my parents to get holiday in that way. But after that I haven't been in a single one. With internet it's easy to book flights and hotels so no need for that. Anyway I have seen companies like tui and jet2 selling packages but is anyone actually buying them?

There are pros and cons of both options, but definitely still a thing, not sure why you think they aren't?

Yes, especially now, if you book separately and for example the flight is cancelled or the airline goes bust you’ll be stuck with hotels, transfers etc.

Absolutely still a thing! Jet2 and easyJet holidays are very successful, as are TUI and lots and lots of smaller operators (including the one I work for).

They've actually picked up since the pandemic as those with 2020 trips booked as a package generally had a much easier time of obtaining refunds or rescheduling than those who'd booked everything independently. For example my company just cancelled all our packages abroad and refunded everyone for everything automatically, and we then went and argued non-refundable hotel bookings etc back afterwards.

I obviously work in travel, perfectly capable of booking everything myself, but I've booked packages for our 2 trips this year as it's so much easier to sort if restrictions change and things go wrong.

We just came from holiday where we booked everything independently. Hotel didn't take any reservation fee so no stay no pay. Transfer was with local bus so no beforehand booking. Flights you could change to other dates easily too. That was useful if we had gotten covid.

I love a package holiday! Total lack of any responsibility needed beyond packing and turning up to the airport on time ❤️❤️❤️

@ImInStealthMode I'm looking for a smaller operator can you say or give me a clue on which company you work for.
I like the security of booking a package holiday.

I guess that's easy then but I enjoy looking out how to get from airport to the hotel using public transport.

I once got lost in Chinese city and only way I thought I could get back to hotel was to show my hotel key card with hotels name on it. It luckily worked.

@Yoohoo778611 Mine is niche to one destination so unless it's that one we wouldn't be much help I'm afraid.

Of course people buy them. I much prefer a package holiday, it's less work for me to do.

We’re going on a package holiday this year for the first time in ages- first time I’ve ever done a summer one in fact though I have done skiing packages
point being last time we went broad our return flight was cancelled and it cost a small fortune to sort out and basically spoiled the whole holiday

if a flight gets cancelled this time I want someone else to sort it all out.

with jet 2 it’s mega flexible, for many destinations you can leave and come back any day. Other operators including TUI tend to stick to 7 and 14 night options

I've only ever been on package holidays

Of course they exist, not sure why you think holiday operators like tui etc exist and advertise package holidays if no-one is booking them...

Yes, many people only buy packages. There's actually a lot more protection with a package too. They are a lot more flexible these days too. We went on one late last year and it was cheaper than booking separately, I'm pretty savvy at independent booking, no way could we have had the holiday we did independently booked

We are going on a package holiday, because going by scheduled flights takes about 8 hours, with a stopover in the capital city, compared to a direct charter flight of 4 hours!

I also work in travel and generally book a package. A package holiday isn't just AI in Benidorm, its any holiday where the elements are booked together with the same agent / operator under their ATOL number. It gives you much better protection than booking individual elements and despite what people like to think, doesn't always cost more.
Like a PP, I've travelled independently and work in the industry so perfectly capable of DIY and know how to get the best deals- about 80% of the time that's with a package.

@Frazzled2207 Makes a good point. If your independently booked flight was cancelled while you're away OP, the airline are only really obliged to refund you. Any additional cost of booking a new flight or staying longer is yours to cover.

A package operator is obliged to get you home at their expense, along with covering any expenses incurred in a longer stay.

Yes still a thing…we’re leaving today from a TUI holiday. We used them at Christmas for skiing as well. Main reasons were easy refund or reschedule if covid had an impact which is a thing for our destinations. However for ‘travelling’ which we see as going between cities, backpacks out etc we often book independently. It was a nice change using a package and having everything sorted rather than our usual backpacking type holiday.

Are you for real? Do you really not know the answer? Of course loads of people book them. Millions. It's often cheaper. I've booked everything myself. I've also booked through on the beach, jet2 etc.

I do a mix of both.
This year, I've booked a package to Greece for a week - it was much cheaper than booking the hotel and flight separately when I researched it. I guess the saving was on the charter flight - I could have booked Easyjet and a more budget hotel for less money, but I wanted 5 star spa hotel on the beach, and this was pretty pricey on booking.com etc.
I have also booked a five day trip to London, this worked out much cheaper to book the flight and a Premier Inn on their own.
A city break, or a holiday where you travel around a lot will be either be cheaper or easier to book exactly what you want, with everything booked separately. But you can great deals on a package beach holiday, if thats what you want.
Specialist holidays like safaris can often be cheaper to book as a package too.

Would really love to know your tips on getting the best deal with a package?

Is it to leave it to the last minute or book early ? Seems in the old days it was Last Minute dot com - but with budget airlines it seems the earlier you book the better?

Also is there ever any way of getting a good package deal in Europe in August - not booked yet and don’t want to waste days going down rabbit holes if it’s a waste of time.

Another who works in travel and after 20 years of booking independently I returned to booking packages and have done so for a few years now. I find it amusing that so many people think independent booking is the cheapest way as though it’s a new thing and tell me I’m wrong. However packages are very flexible now, are usually cheaper and the protection is superior. I spend much of my working day helping people sort out problems when they have booked all elements separately without really understanding the terms and conditions of each element. The minute something changes (which can happen a lot with covid - someone gets ill, the entry rules change, a flight changes etc) then you are very vulnerable. Also if you want to fly from anywhere other than London there is little competition and the prices
of flights are automatically higher. I have priced elements separately every time I have booked a package and the package had been cheaper every time for my plans.

@DFOD I know you didn’t specifically ask me the question but in my opinion packages in school holidays are cheapest booked early. Many companies allow you to book over a year ahead and this isn’t always cheaper either. I find the sweet spot about 11 or 12 months before for summer holidays. Don’t assume a free child place is just that, the price can be added on somewhere else. I have got a free child place this year for the first time and it didn’t really save my anything. Travel is booming this year, I would not expect many last minute bargains in school holidays.

After years of independent booking we are going back to a package this year. We had huge trouble with our 2020 hotel reservation and it too ages to sort out.

We never do transfer, we normally book a rental car anyway. I just don't want any stress with cancellation, delays, emailing about refunds etc. ATOL helps if a provider goes bust.

I think money wise it may be roughly the same unless you are one of those booking easyjet the second they are released.

Also package is not necessarily just AI in Spain, we had a package quote for a multi city/multi flight trip to the US this year. We don't go but that's for different reasons. It was a lot easier going to a specialist travel agent to sort things out than spending days on the internet. I had a friend who went on organised study tours all over the world and we went on a guided tour through Thailand, showing us things we wouldn't have thought doing on our own.

Package holidays are huge - TUI and Jet2 alone are licensed for 9 million passengers this year! That's obviously your traditional flight + transfer + hotel holiday, but package travel regulations include any flight + ground element booked together.

I also work in the industry and same as @ImInStealthMode when Covid hit, we cancelled all holidays and worked behind the scenes to a) process refunds within 14 days as it was manual and b) contact hotels to get prepayments back and any charges waivered.

I've booked several family holidays as full packages through other companies, and only book separately when I'm taking advantage of significant agency discounts.

Emirates holidays offer amazing holiday prices. Consolidation. I still book with them definitely it saved me 6000gbp!