Booking a package holiday in July/August

[Rachmumoftwo]

I am looking for a good deal for a family holiday in July/August.

How do the free child places work? I have entered our details on a search and when it says free child places, it still multiplies the price by 4. So the kids aren't free. Is that all a big swizz?

Any other tips on cheap ways to go abroad in the school hols welcomed, I would love some help!

I think they have some free child places - probably not at all resorts, & probably not that many - going through the tour operator direct would be easier.

Cheapest way is generally self-booked self-catering (as they charge for the accommodation, not by person) but then you don't get meals included.

definitely self-catering...a villa or apartment is cheaper

Go 'camping' in amobile home with canvas, keycamp, Eurocamp etc. You only pay for the adults. I'm going here in August - last fortnight- for 2 weeks for only £1200 ina 2 bedroom mobile home!!!! It's fab!! We have had to pay for flights but they were cheap too! Ryanair, Easyjet etc fly into Venice and you can get to and from campsite via pblic transprt which is v cheap. Fab holiday - going again this year!

I have done the same as Leslaki, though we are tenting it for £800 and we are at a different Eurocamp site near to Venice. We got Easyjet flights for £400. For 5 of us, this is as cheap as chips!

My top ten tips for getting a better Holiday Deal in 2009.

1. Check out the resort for max child ages. Go with the ones that suit your childrens ages.

1. Children sharing with an adult in the same room will stay free on room only basis. You will have to pay extra for meals or half board etc.

1. Try apartments or suites with sofa beds rather than 2 rooms.

1. Look out for real low deposits that have no hidden extra deposit payment required, if you cancel.

1. This is hard to explain, but it's to do with room occupancy for families. If you want 2 rooms for a family of 4, try searching for 2 adults in each room rather than 1 adult plus 1 child in each room. Try one room with 1 adult plus 2 children and one room with 1 adult only. Sometimes it's cheaper I have no idea why online search engines do this. If you want 2 rooms for a family of 5, do as above, ie; try different combinations to get the best price.

1. Don't pay more for a plush resort with a kids club, as the children won't use it much and want to bury you in sand all day and dive bomb in the pool.

1. Free child places, do they exist? Look at the total end value. Sometimes a free child place is just a gimmick and your adult price will be more on these offers, than if it were just for 2 adults going. See 5 above.

1. Try booking the last week in July rather than bang in the middle of August. It might make a difference.

1. Use www.skyscanner.net to check flight prices and book whern they look good. Don't go back to look again once you book, incase they have gone down in price and you'll be fed up.

10. Find your ideal top three holidays you like and keep checking the prices online from now till the end of March or April. When they go down, book. A bit like gambling on the stock markets as they could go up as well as down. But one might perform better, that's the one to book.

Hope that helps.

PS. If you can't afford it, a tent in the garden will have to do.

FWIW There I don't think there will be many last minute late deals this year for Summer holidays in August. So book early.

Disclaimer: I could be wrong and often I am on many occasions. So don't blame me if these ideas don't work.

Some great tips there, thank you. And lol at the disclaimer, I am not the type to sue! ;)