is a package always cheaper?

[beatricequimby]

Looking at a Thomsons holiday in Sorrento. 3000 for a week at Easter half board for a family of five. Really want to go to Sorrento to see Vesuvius, Herculaneum etc. But would we be cheaper trying to do it ourselves with Ryanair flights etc. Haven't been able to afford a foreign holiday for ten years so have no idea anymore.

Not necessarily but Italy isn't the cheap destination it once was. Packages tend to surcharge those who don't meet the standard room occupancy whereas a hotel may just charge per room plus meals.

probably more expensive. we always book a cheap flight think ryanair, rent an appartment and do mostly self catering. We usually go to italy for Easter and spend half of the price you are quoting. Last year Venice which is not cheap for 1200 pounds family of 4 one week??

We booked with Thomsons last year with 5 of us. They made us book two rooms but when we arrived our second room wasn't available and they had magically fitted us all into one room. To be fair the hotel compensated us for the lack of the second room but it annoyed me that Thomsons had in effect fleeced us for an additional room that clearly wasn't needed. We did get some money back but it still annoyed me.