Travel Agent here!

[Ju1es22]

Hi ladies

Just thought I'd introduce myself, I'm Julie my baby girl Eva is 10 days old and I'm obviously off on maternity leave at the moment!

I've been a travel agent for 9 years now, I've worked at Going Places now Thomas Cook (for 4 years) and now work for a family run independent travel agency (been there 5 years now!)

I'll have a bit of time on my hands while off on mat leave not going back until April/May time, feel free to email if you want some advice or travel tips:-)

Thank u will look at those areas. Also what about Portugal, where else would u recommend that is similar to caroverio ?!? Thanks for all this advice, this really is great

Hi! Welcome to mn and congratulations on your little girl.

I've just posted in long haul somewhere, I'd really like to know when is the best times to book flights? Seen august flights to California at the moment £850, out to San Francisco and coming back from lax. Does that sound good?

Also dh thinks we should just get hotels there - he has gone there in the past picked up coupon booklets and used those for cheap hotels. I'm not convinced it will be cheaper than booking ahead.

Hi chopstheduck

Sorry for the late reply had a hectic few days:-)

The general rule for long haul flights is to book as soon as they come on sale, which is 11 months in advance. But some of the big airlines BA and Virgin in particular do seat sales around Christmas, January time, although its not guaranteed to be cheaper than booking in advance, it'd be chancing it to be ho est!

Your quote seems about the going rate for advance purchase though! Regarding hotels you have to book your first nights accommodation before you get there for your visa (us immigration like to know where your staying) I wouldn't' book all hotels before leaving the UK as you don't have the flexibility if decide to stay longer or decide to leave somewhere earlier!

I do recommend booking a few places before leaving home though, Holiday Inns and Howard Johnson's work out very reasonable!

Hope this helps:-)

HI Ju1es, congratulations on your little girl. I am hoping to go to Nepal next July with my 10yo DS. I have friends there. The options seem to be to stopover in Mumbai or UAE, and then fly to Kathmandu from there. With your knowledge, which option do you think would be better? Also, on the way there, the total flight time seems to be 18 hours, but on the way back it is 36. I guess that includes a long stopover.

Thanks in advance, by the way!

thank you very much Ju!es. I think we will have to take the plunge and just book then. Hope everything going well with your little girl. x

Sorry not been on here for a while!

I'd recommend via the UAE as they'll be a much better airline (ie Emeriates or Ethiad) than Air India or the like, if I'm honest for that kind of journey you want comfort especially with little ones:-) It will be a lot more to travel via Dubai or Abu Dhabi but you'll thank me I promise!

Hope this helps:-)