Travel Agents

[TheOnlyThing]

High Street or online?
Looking at booking this year and whilst the holiday starts on budget, when we change the room and change to an airline (that's not Ryan Air) it's taking it a couple of grand over budget.

We have an autistic child so we have some specific needs but nothing wild, essentially all inclusive with high quality food options, nothing too loud, lots of swimming options (no salt water pools), a really nice room with wifi and aircon and enough space for said child to read away from sibling. Swimming, reading and eating, how hard should it be everything is coming to nearly £10k for a week.

Is a High Street agent going to be better than me trying to find something online? I'm worried about booking something that makes the week harder than normal life, rather than relaxing!

I would have a look at Jet 2 or TUI, had some great all inclusive holidays with them in 2 bedroomed hotel rooms or apartments that have not broke the bank

You may also find this thread helpful:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/holidays/5094639-all-inclusive-with-2-bedrooms?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Everything on Jet2 was coming in at £9k+, doesn't need to be two bedroom, just a suite.

Can you give us an idea of what you have looked at that has come in at that price? What country and time if year have you looked at?
You say you need a suite, that will put the price up I would imagine.

9k? What location and dates are you looking at? Just 2 adults and 1 child?

Two adults, two children of primary age, so far Greece is coming up, needs to be 5* and 4.5 trip advisor. Last year everything was about £6k 😭

Are you looking for during the 6 week school holidays? You might be a bit late to get a good priced 5* in Greece. I booked mine ages ago and it was still more than I've paid in previous years. I'll see what I have shortlisted on my TUI and jet 2 as they are the filters I use

Yes, AI and the last week of July. If we have to pay more than last year so be it, but I’d really rather not spend £3k more than last year and the year before!

Seems incredibly expensive, don’t really use travel agents anymore but guess they do take the hard work out of it, though sites like loveholiday and on the beach do offer multiple alternatives

These are all coming up between 4500 and 6000 for a week at end of July (25th from Manchester Airport) and seem to meet all of your requirements?

Creta Maris Resort
Princess Andriana Resort & Spa
Elios Hill Sun Kissed Happiness

I've not looked at the reviews individually but all have over 4.5

For our last holiday we used on online travel consultant, which was a really good mix of personal service, travel agent expertise and lower overheads. I hadn't known that this type of travel agent existed.

They suggested a holiday we'd never have thought of, and were absolutely superb when things went quite wrong whilst we were travelling, and, as our multiple trip was booked as a package, they reimbursed all the additional costs we incurred because of this.

Travel Counsellors. There may be others.

For a family of 4 I find Easyjet usually cheaper than Jet2, if you would consider going with them.