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Original poster

Travel savvy help needed please ?

39 replies

Graphista · 25/04/2023 20:58

Finally getting a long overdue holiday. Seemingly have forgotten how it all works.

Flights to European city by probably either Ryanair or easyjet perhaps one outbound and the other for return if that works out cheapest for me.

Cheap as possible, happy to give dates and from/to in pm rather than here if possible.

Will also need insurance and best value Euros.

Hoping you wonderful savvy travellers can help?

OP posts:
littleripper · 25/04/2023 20:59

who is going?

Original poster
Graphista · 26/04/2023 21:25

Just me. As I say it's been a very long time since I've had a holiday.

Looking forward to it but the flights booking is giving me headaches!

OP posts:
NorthFaceofthelaundrypile · 26/04/2023 21:27

Go on to sky scanner and you can search by dates and any destination. Will list in price order

greyhairnomore · 26/04/2023 21:28

When do you want to go?

jenandberrys · 26/04/2023 21:28

I am unclear why you need savvy travellers. You just need to do the most basic research

greyhairnomore · 26/04/2023 21:35

jenandberrys · 26/04/2023 21:28

I am unclear why you need savvy travellers. You just need to do the most basic research

Not everyone has the knowledge to do that.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 26/04/2023 22:45

Have you decided on a destination or are you asking for suggestions?

CharlotteStreetW1 · 26/04/2023 23:54

We have travel insurance with our bank account. Worldwide and covers us both. It'salways there so we never need to worry about it. Might be worth a look? (Also roadside assistance and mobile phone insurance)

We live near Gatwick so I go on the LGW website for flights. Or Easyjet Holidays are quite good.

Original poster
Graphista · 27/04/2023 04:03

I find skyscanner very fiddly to use and rather deceptive but that's not necessarily skyscanner to blame. The budget airlines the flights initially seem cheap but when you "add" what to me are basics (seat allocation, one carry on and one hold case) the price can triple!

Leaving last week of June

@jenandberrys as I said it's been an incredibly long time since I flew anywhere and it's all completely alien to me. I'm sure I know how to do things you don't.

Destination is set as I'll be staying with family happy to tell you by pm if you wish. Major European city.

I'll check bank re travel insurance hadn't thought of that thank you.

OP posts:
Owchy · 27/04/2023 04:59

I often look on Google Flights, very easy to use. Put a date and number of travellers and then you keep the calendar open and look when’s cheap. It also gives an indication of if prices are low, med, high.

It will always be the case there are a lot of extras flying within Europe (even with BA), so account for that.

Add ons tend to be:

  • luggage (hand held or in the hold)
  • seat selection

Travel insurance, airport parking/transfers.

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2023 05:03

If you have dates and a destination, then you might as well just use the airline websites. Is there only one airport each end or could you use more than one? In any case, the airport website could be the easiest way to find out which airlines use that airport. Ryanair is usually cheapest, but I've seen some very good prices on EJ.

And yes, if you need to take luggage on either of these airlines, it could well cost more than your own seat to take bags. But do you really need to take so much stuff with you? Unless you're going to a place with a variable climate for weeks on end, or transporting gifts or other items that you can't buy at your destination, I would have thought that the small and the large carry on would be plenty. Having said that, it can sometimes be cheaper to take the small carry on and then a hold case only, and don't bother with an extra carry on.

Is seat allocation really necessary if travelling alone? If you want to do it as cheap as possible, that's an easy way to save a few quid.

Is this a city you need to fly to? Or could you get the train?

Cheapest way to spend abroad is to just do it using a Starling card (there's also Monzo and Revolut but these have charges if you're withdrawing a larger amount of cash, but otherwise I think they're all much of a muchness so if you already have one of these just use that to pay mostly by card, like you would in the UK.

Often the easiest way to find out how to do anything cheaply is look on Moneysaving Expert.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/destinations/

BarbaraofSeville · 27/04/2023 05:05

Good call on Google Flights, I always forget about them. Travel Republic can also be good.

But always book directly on the airline website once you've found your flight. Not all third parties have live booking and it can also make things more complicated in the event of any problems like cancellations, strikes etc.

weemouse · 27/04/2023 06:09

Why don't use find your nearest high street/shopping mall travel agent?

You need help, this is their area of expertise, they will talk you through everything.

Simple, no?

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 27/04/2023 08:38

Why the cloak-and-dagger PM insistence? If it's a major European city in summer you will be one of hundreds of thousands going there. It's hardly outing.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 27/04/2023 08:40

And don't forget to delete cookies between each search.

BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn · 27/04/2023 08:43

Anyway, you know where you want to go, you presumably know where you are starting from, and you know what airlines you are flying with. So open the airline websites, put in the destination and the dates, and pick one.

Then buy travel insurance though an insurance comparison site (if you don't have it through your bank).

Use TripAdvisor or Booking.com or Aor B&B to find somewhere to stay.

Carefully check the airline luggage rules, measure your case and make sure you have electricals and liquids packed in the permited ways and places..

Can't advise on money if you're not going to reveal what country you're visiting - some will want cash, others there's no point taking anything but your bank card.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 27/04/2023 08:54

Try Google Flights to search for cheap flights if you don't like sky scanner then when you see one you like go to the airlines website and book directly.

Airlines you have to pay more for seat and luggage - Wizz Air, RyanAir, EasyJet, Lufthansa.

For hotels you can use booking.com or Expedia to search for one on your dates. You can cross reference the reviews with TripAdvisor. I'd also recommend searching hotel and clicking News in Google. This will bring up any dramas that have made the press.

For insurance try compare the market and input your requirements.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 27/04/2023 08:56

In terms of transfers you won't get them if you're not booking a package so look into how far the hotel is from the airport and search if they have a transfer option like a coach. If not look into buses, trains or taxi fare. Rome to Rio is a good site to use for these.

crew2022 · 27/04/2023 15:44

Something like easyJet holidays or travel republic would give you more protection as it is treated like a package holiday. With travel Republic you choose flights from whichever airline (can be different each way) and a hotel and they give you same level of protection as a package holiday. I try and do this.

DappledThings · 27/04/2023 15:46

Open up a few tabs, put the same requirements into different airlines and compare the prices.

You can say no to all extras or add some like luggage if you want to.

Original poster
Graphista · 27/04/2023 22:10

@Owchy thank you very much I'll take all that into account

Travel insurance I do need, I don't need to worry about parking or transfers thankfully.

@BarbaraofSeville only one airport my end 3 options the other. I can fly into one airport and return from another if that's cheaper/easier times.

I do need my stuff, partly as I've a ton of meds and medical things I need to take with me but also as I get anxious if I think I haven't covered every eventuality I'm also a larger lady so my clothes are bigger.

I'm not bothered about seat allocation but when I was looking before they only had paid seats left.

Are there not charges for paying by card? Plus the banks end up thinking you've been defrauded and put a stop on the card sometimes? I'd rather have cash to be honest so I knew I was covered.

Yea I looked on Mse but in this case left even more confused!

Good tip re booking direct in case of any issues

I haven't seen a working in person travel agency for years!

@BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn but added to the time and other details could be outing. It's an EU country euros the currency

@CharlotteStreetW1 thanks good tip!

No hotel and no transfers required

OP posts:
CharlotteStreetW1 · 28/04/2023 08:46

CharlotteStreetW1 · 27/04/2023 08:40

And don't forget to delete cookies between each search.

Or search in private browsing 🙂

Carriemac · 28/04/2023 08:57

You are probably mistaken about 'only paid seats left' they will allocate you a seat on check in, you just skip the seat selection but when booking

Snailsaresweet · 28/04/2023 09:06

Just to add - if you're concerned about your bank blocking your card use abroad, you can just tell them when & where you're going. You can do so online before you go.

BarbaraofSeville · 28/04/2023 09:21

Yes, if they're selling tickets, they have seats available, the fee is to choose where you sit. If you don't pay, they choose (bear in mind that with Ryanair, it will almost certainly be a middle seat, as that's how they encourage people to pay), in my experience the other airlines don't stoop to this level. We never pay and almost always get two seats together, usually with Jet2.

No charges with Starling and the exchange rate is better than you'll get elsewhere. I've never had any problems with the card being blocked, even when I've done things like use it in 3 different countries within 24 hours. Other banks do charge, but seeing as you can apply for a Starling or Monzo account through the app in a few days, well worth doing.

If you are taking something like a CPAP machine (DP has one), you can take that as hand luggage extra to your allowance. Some airlines ask you to apply for this, there's a form on the website under passenger assistance, or similar. It's the same form as you'd fill in if you needed to apply to be helped onto the plane if you're a wheelchair user so it seems a bit over the top, but it's worth doing as it saves your luggage allowance.