Does anyone just book an apartment and flight?

[SwanShaped]

I want to go on holiday with my small kids. It seems that flights and an Airbnb are the same price as a week in Cornwall. What are the downsides to just booking flights and an apartment rather than going through a travel agent or using a resort?

We do it all the time, you do need to do your research, especially in terms of transport, but not a big deal.
Booking and Expedia are great, we tend to pick accommodation with a good cancellation policy, often 24hrs before and big airlines seem very flexible post covid

Nearly all the time. Choose an apartment where booking can be cancelled at no cost up to a week before, particularly now we’re in Covid times. Use a reputable site and I’d say you should be fine with all airlines. The only package holiday I had in the last two years was Las Vegas. All others tend to be individually booked.

I’m excited now! I think I’ve not been on holiday abroad for so long I’d got myself in a tizz about it. And I always see people on mn going on about it costing £3k for a week’s holiday in a resort. Which I wouldn’t want anyway. Much prefer an apartment and self catering.

We have an annual travel insurance policy as a family, and tend to book flights and accommodation separately ourselves a lot of the time. It suits us, but takes time to find what we want and check the T&Cs carefully. And we always book items that can either be cancelled (mostly the flights) or that require the balance of payment shortly before arrival rather than all up front (mostly accomodation - although that's sometimes in the cancellable category instead).

But we have not been away since Covid started, so haven't considered the changes that have happened because of it in general, nor the uncertainty and potential need to amend bookings as restrictions change here or elsewhere.

Every time,
We look at the hotel we want and go from there, normally save £££.
Booked a TUI AI for September this year, same flight, same hotel/room etc and saved £800.

We’ve done it for years now, I think the last time I booked a holiday package was in the late ‘90s! It is usually much cheaper and more choice.
You obviously don’t get a holiday Rep in the resort so I do lots of Google research about the area before I go. I look at Viator for ideas of excursions available in the area, but often await to book until I get there.
If I have booked the hotel through a third party website i email them directly a few days before I go just to double check they have my booing details (once Booking.com made a mistake and didn’t confirm with the hotel).
I also try holiday within around 30 miles of an airport to reduce the cost of taxi transfers, as coach transfers often not available unless it is a very busy tourist area. I like to confirm the transfers as well a few days before I set off. Obviously not a problem if you are happy to drive.
For hotels I don’t look at anything less than 4+ on Tripadvisor and then check Google maps to ensure it isn’t in the back end of beyond.
I do miss the feeling of browsing through a holiday brochure, sitting in an agent’s shop and chatting to them about our holiday plans whilst booking. However the savings of separate bookings online more than make up for that.

We mix and match between the two. When we just want an easy holiday in a nice hotel we'll often book with a TA as it's just simpler and a lot of the hotels we'd be staying in are a lot more expensive if you book directly. Same with complicated, multi-centre stays.

When I was on my own and went abroad on holiday I used to book independently with flights and separate accomodation.

We travel to Florida a lot and have always booked everything separately. Covid then came along and bit us on the arse on that one. The airlines thankfully reimbursed our flights, etc, but the holiday home booking wasn't refundable. Thankfully I had a pre-Covid holiday insurance that paid out on it, but it was a hassle getting the money back.

Until the potential missing of holidays or cancellations from Covid diminishes I'm sticking with an ABTA registered agent for now.

@Sunsetsupernova

Have a look on Easyjet and BA holidays. They both have sales on right now and it’s often cheaper to book the hotel with the flight. Plus they will include luggage and with Easyjet transfers to and from the airport

Jet2holidays is another option for this.

We've had packages for only a few quid more than the flight only price, so it's worked out at under £50 pp for a week's half board in a 4 star hotel.

Wide range of accommodation so if you want an apartment, you can have one and includes transfers and luggage too. Often do free child places if there's two adults travelling and have been great at refunds or free date changs during the pandemic.

@notacooldad

I e been booking flight and accommodation for about 18 years when I had small children. These days I tend to book the first night and last nights accommodation and see where I end up in between.

We used to go to the States regularly since 1989 and never used a travel agent. Flights were booked directly with the airline, we always booked the first night and also we booked motels/hotels for the very popular places, eg National Parks on free cancellation deals. We would always keep an eye on the rates for places we'd booked and would sometimes book it again at the cheaper no cancellation rate, cancelling the other booking later.

All the time. Also easyJet packages are good value

Pre covid, only way we travelled. Now I'm signing up for packages for protection.

Just check AirBnB cancellation policy carefully. It varies a lot for each different apartment and I think you usually lose the service fee regardless. In my experience booking.com tends to be more flexible (but again they vary). In Covid times I would aim for something that is free cancellation until at least the week before.

Yes, we always book flights, accommodation, cars etc independently and never book packages. We are experienced travellers, though, and we don’t have children in tow. We always take holidays in term time, which also makes things easier.

I've only once used an agent, as an 18year old on a last minute hersonissos cheap holiday.

Always do flights and apartment seperate. Though we always stay in the same place if we go to our usual in Spain so it's super easy and cheap!! Use booking usually if we go elsewhere.

Just checking out our usual Spanish holiday place, onthebeach cheapest
package holiday is £1900. if booking separate then Ryanair flights £500, apartment £334.

As a family of 6, there's no doubt what id pick.

I'd never do anything other than self book flights and an apartment. Bigger choice, bargains to be had. It's the only way to travel.

Ive booked a package with on the beach this year, just for ease due to covid. I priced it up separately, but it actually wasn’t that different in price as I booked while it was still quite cheap ( prices seem to be fast increasing at the moment). So I went with the package for an easy life if things are disrupted due to covid.

Often do book flights and accommodation separately though. Last time was in 2020. It’s more hassle if things get cancelled, but can work out much cheaper. Hotels.com are good for accommodation. Had an issue with accommodation once and they sorted it straight away with no hassle. You often don’t need to pay until you arrive too which is handy.

If you want the ease of a package though on the beach do still seem to have some cheap deals about. I have week in Corfu, small hotel b&b for 4 of us with 3 or us now counting as adults, so needing 2 rooms, in the summer holidays for only about £100 more than a week at haven in Cornwall. That includes travel insurance and transfers. So much better value.

In fact I’ve just looked at haven prices and anything but the most basic caravan at haven in Cornwall, is actually more expensive than we paid for the same week. It’s crazy!

Hope you have a lovely time wherever you go OP.

Never been on a package holiday. Book separate flights, accommodation and hire car. Never had an issue. Although in saying that we never pay a huge amount as we travel off peak so it wouldn't be life changing if one was cancelled and we lost the others.

We have always done this. Partly because DS1 has food allergies so self catering is useful - we still eat out sometimes but it takes the pressure off - and partly so we don't have to share a room with the kids

I seem to recall that what seem to be package holidays are not, they're selling a flight and accommodation at the same time but without the protection of a package holiday. When airlines go bust the customer is still left paying for the now useless accommoidation.

Yes, always. You do have to arrange your own transport of course but it is always pretty easy to book taxis.

I'm 60 years old and have never used a travel agent. I've always booked my own travel and accommodation.

@BendicksBittermints4Breakfast

I seem to recall that what seem to be package holidays are not, they're selling a flight and accommodation at the same time but without the protection of a package holiday. When airlines go bust the customer is still left paying for the now useless accommoidation.

If they sell you a flight and accommodation at the same time, it's legally a package and you're covered as such. They are required to offer ATOL protection.

Paying by credit card also gives valuable protection.

We were booked to fly 2 days after monarch went bust, the credit card we paid on covered the cost of new flights at twice the price.

We always travel this way. The only package we’ve taken in the past 25 years or so has been to a major sporting event abroad which was just easier because of ticketing etc.