Advice for inexperienced traveller

[Ereerenownow]

I haven't been abroad for years and desperate for a foreign holiday next year. Any advice for an easy trip for an inexperienced traveller? Even dealing with an airport is daunting. Im looking for about 4 to 5 nights and I have a tight budget. Are there any particular holiday firms for example that make holidaying a bit easier?

What kind of holiday? I don’t tend to ever use an agent as I just feel it adds expense.

An independent travel agent might be helpful in this instance though

You might find it easier / cheaper to buy from TUI, Jet2, EasyJet holidays (or one of the others that offer packages). Your flight, accommodation, luggage and transfers will all be included in the price. You can usually sort by price and check the reviews.

Most airports have information on their website aimed at autistic children to explain very clearly how the process works, with photos of every stage. It’s very helpful.

I would just look at a company that does as much as possible for you. If you say where you went to go, I could make recommendations. Booking it all yourself is very easy if it’s a city, if it’s miles from an airport and more remote, it’s not so easy. So where interests you and what do you want to do?

Im probably looking for more of a city break as im not really into pool, beach hols x

Where are you based? I'm at City Airport waiting for a flight right now. It's so small and easy to use compared to the hell that is Heathrow.

Or Leeds Bradford is good.

Or how about a ferry somewhere?

Or even a mini cruise

North east x

Im thinking now maybe a nordic cruise from Newcastle?? X

I’ve find Thomas cook and jet2 to be really good for holidays, often cheaper than BA for example for the same hotel but obviously the flights are usually with easyJet or similar so not luxury.
you need to think about what type of luggage as well, the low cost airlines start at only including a tiny bag and then you pay more to add more.
transfers - check these are included as it’s often very expensive if not hiring a car.

Have a look at Iglu Cruises for some ideas & prices - covers all the different companies / destinations.

if you only have 4-5 nights, you may not have long enough for a cruise.

Work out what you nearest airport it

look up Skyscanner that will show you all flights from that airport

pick a destination that is small (Verona, not Rome) and has a flight in the middle of the day (2pm not 6pm).

then look up the destination on TripAdvisor and see what you think.

Cruises are often very expensive for solo travellers (who tend to pay quite high supplements for many holidays) and mini-cruises in particular often attract a bit of a party crowd. That might feel a bit lonely depending on whether you’d feel able to join in or not.

Jet2 offer lots of trips from Newcastle and they’ve been great when I’ve used them for flights and when my elderly parents used them for holidays. The staff always seem supportive and helpful in my experience at any rate.

Great advice from @parietal about how to choose a destination. Smaller cities feel more doable on your own.

If you are concerned about the airports, Paris on the Eurostar is very easy as the station is just a mile or so from the city centre.

Thank you all, great advice and food for thought xx

@Ereerenownow Ignore some responses. You don’t have time for a cruise. Eurostar means London? It’s easy though and you arrive in the middle of Paris! Easy transport vis metro to a hotel. Or look at holiday companies offering flights from Newcastle. Many offer city breaks but check how you fry to a hotel. What transfer options are there? Stockholm is easy for example vis the train. Venice is easy via the water bus. Milan is easy via a bus. Berlin is easy too.

You won't get a cruise on a budget but you could do a ferry.

DFDS do an overnight ferry to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam has a few art museums, the Anne Frank house - you do have to pay for that.

Im looking for a 4/5 night stay this summer.

I have decided to go with Tui as I want the security of a package holiday, especially this summer with the potential fuel problems. Tui seem cheapest and has the cabin luggage/transfer included that I want.

Go on their site and play around with dates and airports and see what comes up.

Happy holiday.

Amsterdam is great for exploring too. Churches and independent shops. Anne Frank Houde must be booked but the Van Gogh museum/gallery is great. You can travel out of the city too. Delft for example by train.

Just book it yourself. Small cities are best.

5 nights in Bergamo flying from Newcastle 7th March with Ryanair (perfectly fine to fly with, just take a small backpack, you don’t need much and it’s surprising what you can fit in).

Then go to hotels dot com or booking dot com and choose a hotel either near the station in Citta bassa or in citta alta (beautiful). The A1 bus runs every 20 minutes between the airport and Citta Alta via the station. The whole trip should come in at around £300 including breakfast

As for the airport. Just take your time. Newcastle is a nice airport.

Check in online on the app, take hand luggage only so go straight to security. Then into the terminal until your gate shows in the app or on the screens. Head to the gate and queue up!

Then follow everyone else when you land. Get on the bus to the city and you’ve done it!

Tui, Jet2 etc can be v expensive for solo travellers though. But worth a try.

Lots of replies from experienced travellers.
If you've not done this before make it easy on yourself the first time and then you can be cleverer with the booking next time.
Look at Jet2 city breaks from Newcastle or Leeds. Then you can pick a 3/4 day break which includes the cost of flights, luggage, transfer from airport to hotel and the hotel.
You might look at less obvious places to keep the cost down, such as Budapest, Seville, Málaga.

Why pay a premium to save just one visit to a ridiculously easy to use website though?

The process for booking a jet2 citybreak is no different to booking a flight and a hotel separately apart from it all being on one site. The OP is on a budget and the cheapest citybreak to Budapest, as per your suggestion, on the dates I used is £600. That’s a very basic hotel with average reviews too for double the cost she needs to spend.

OP, you’ll be told that booking through jet2 is so much easier etc but it’s really not, although I like them as a company. Take your time and you’ll be fine, don’t be deterred or feel like you have to pay a premium.