Package holidays aren’t chavvy!

[Polarbearflavour]

DH and I booked a half board holiday via Teletext Holidays online. It includes flights and a five star hotel in Malta for a week and is pretty cheap.

A friend of mine made a face and said package holidays are “common” and for chavs. Apparently she only flies BA club class (not charter airlines or low cost airlines) and books hotels separately!

What on Earth is wrong with a package holiday deal?

I love myself a package holiday - some may judge but I enjoy what I enjoy and find their holiday styles probably as unpreferable as they see mine!

Your friend is a dick.

My elderly parents like package holidays because you get 'looked after' (rounded up at the airport, shepherded to your hotel and encouraged to attend morning community meetings where the rep sells you overpriced trips!)

I don't think package holidays are chavvy. But they do have a reputation for appealing to the elderly and people who haven't travelled much.

Probably a good idea to get a package for Malta though, we went a few years ago and it felt very unsafe. The roads are awful (pot holes, twisty hairpin bends and crazy driving) and the area we went to had a sinister feel.

I know some of those types

I was brought up by them, which is why I now love and adore wearing an arse groove into a sun lounger on an AI somewhere in the Med

I don’t think they’re chavvy but they’re not for me. I don’t like hotels much to be honest, I prefer a villa or a private apartment in a small complex. I also like how my way is generally half the price of a package.

DP and I have booked our last three holidays as package deals, with BA depending on where/when you fly you can upgrade to club class for as little as £50. They've given us a seat for DD for free every time too and let us jump all the queues so we are remaining loyal.

This woman commenting on your holiday choices is a ridiculous snob, and I like PPs idea of commenting on how it isn't exactly classy to comment on the 'chaviness' of something. Take her down a peg or two, she needs it

From some of the things I've read on here recently I think the definition of 'friend' has changed significantly. It used to mean a person who you liked, with whom you had things in common, shared interests etc and none of my friends would say such a thing to me or vice versa.

This person is not nice OP, and is not your friend and is talking rubbish.

I've not booked many holidays; as an adult I've never had the money. Did a Disneyland Paris deal which I paid.off over the year running up to it, just had to book the eurocartrainthing and everything else was included half board I think? It was great. First one I booked was a static caravan on a kind of Butlins type place. Last one I booked was last year, to a European goth festival, booked everything separate, accommodation happened to be appalling and we were bailed out by a friend in an amazing huge hotel room with extra huge beds in it and air-con, which was also right by the venue.

All very different experiences.

Never done Malta, never done one of those all.inclusive ones where you go somewhere hot to sit by a pool but not actually leave the resort and see the country.

But I always wanted to. I would leave the resort because I'm an explorer and love discovering other cultures.

I'm sure there was a point to this reply when I started it.

Fuck your friend. She's a twat

If she books her flights and hotels separately, she's a bloody idiot. Firstly, because she'd save a bloody packet booking BA Club class with a hotel together. And secondly, she'd be legally protected if anything happened to either the flight or the hotel under the Package Travel Regulations.

How rude I wouldn't dream of commenting on someone's holiday

I have flown business class and club class and been on package holidays.
Your friend is a dick for judging people. Just because you sit at the front of the plane doesn’t mean you are better than anyone else and anyone who thinks so is also a dick

Your friend is living in the past. With the advent of cheap flights tour operators have upped their game. I am quite savvy about booking flights, accommodation and transfers, but sometimes it is cheaper and easier to book a package, particularly if your destination is some distance from the airport with no public transport. We have had some fabulous package holidays in upmarket hotels and apartments in non chavvy destinations in recent years with Thomsons and Jet2.

As far as I’m concerned a package holiday operator provides flights, accommodation and transfers. Package holidays we have enjoyed have been to Hong Kong and Indonesia, The Azores, Lapland, Sorrento, Lake Garda, a fabulous resort on the Makarska Riviera in Croatia, a boutique hotel in a quiet fishing village in Crete, an upmarket hotel in Majorca and a short break to Rome – none of which had a “ chavvy” feel.

Maybe she is referring to cheap AI holidays?

Every flight I book, the airline offers me discounted hotels and car rental if I book altogether, aka a package. If I book the hotel and car separately I’d wind up paying more. It’s a bit like going to McDonalds and buying burger, fries and drink separately rather than the meal deal. Your friend is a bit stupid as well as a bit of a snob, I think. You do you and enjoy an extra nice dinner or two out with what you’re saving.

package holidays are what most of us do. They aren't chavvy, especially to Malta. It's a bit different to Benidorm isn't it? And that isn't chavvy either.

I saw Michael Portillo on Ryanair flight once. He's definitely not chavvy.

As with all things, there is a wide variety. And it depends who you travel with, and what you want to do.

Pre kids we were 'independent travellers'. Since kids we have stuck to the UK, and our first foray away with them was to an all inclusive in the Canaries. Due to our own prejudices we were a little 🤪 at the thought but decided that reasonable flight time and ease was important for three young kids. So, transfer included, pools, food, drink etc and it was perfect. It wouldn't be what we as a couple would choose to do, but it was easy and accessible for the kids. It was a 'naice' hotel with amazing food and facilities, for a good price. 🤷

I Book a 'package holiday' at least twice a year. Almost always had great experiences, some fab- particularly first choice holiday villages (if you have kids). I actually did book a package to Malta 10 years ago to a place called buggiba and it was the worst place I've ever been. It was last minute and 'cheap' but we travelled the island and it was beautiful! I think your friend is being a snob!

Firstly, because she'd save a bloody packet booking BA Club class with a hotel together.

Not sure about that. Adding a car often makes the flight cheaper and gives you the option to only pay a deposit, you don't have to pick the car up. Their hotels prices are often not good value. You also don't get the hotel loyalty benefits or points usually if you book with BA.

I think lots of people have airline or hotel points that they use for trips which is why they don't book packaged holidays.

package holidays are what most of us do

Are there any statistics fro that. I would say the opposite that package holidays are very much on the decline- but I would be interested to know which view was accurate.

I went on my first package holiday last year - loved it!

Nothing wrong with package holidays, you might want to find yourself a new friend though

I bloody love a chavvy holiday. Best fun.

@chingling.

We actually don't personally do package holidays, but I imagine most people holidaying abroad take a deal, rather than arrange flights and accommodation separately. Maybe I am wrong though.

I have gone all inclusive with my son twice in the last few years and thoroughly enjoyed it both times. The first time was to Cala Llonga in Ibiza. I would just love to take my wife there, but she really doesn't fancy flying.

Ahhh, she's a "traveller" whereas you (and me) dear op, are mere tourists. I worked with one of them. Insufferable snobby twat.

We're doing a road trip in the US in May and we booked it as a package as we wanted the ABTA protection.

Mama that's why I would never go all inclusive!

It's often far more practical and cheaper, i.e. I love Sicily and the cost of flights, hotels and a long (3 hours plus) transfer to some resorts is expensive and not viable. Hired a car there once and never again. Malta? Been twice and loved it. Mdina ancient city, Valletta, trips to Gozo and Como. Package holidayshave changed too, they aren't all skyscraper Benidorm and keep fit by the pool. I do a mixture of package and non depending on practicalities and cost.

Package holidays aren't for me but I know plenty of non chavvy people who go on them. Personally if it was a fun holiday I wouldn't give a shit if it was considered chavvy. Your friend sounds like a dick.