Who do you book your hols through?

[crazytown]

I usuall go wth Thomson, Portland but they are so pricey at the moment. Just wondering if you have any other sites you use?

travelrepublic are quite cheap

We usually try and put package together ourselves. We look at the main operators for inspiration. When we identify where we might like to go we google the local website and try and find accommodation this way. We just got our holiday for this year at half the brochure price doing this.

where are you off to? I find flight only quite expensive this year

We use Sovereign.

We do it all ourselves over the internet, find hotel we like then find cheap flight to nearest airport etc.

I did that last year and saved a fortune but am struggling to find cheap flights this year. I think its because we are looking at going later this year.

I look for cheapest flights on internet to a couple of places we fancy, then marry them up to hotels via travelrepublic.com or hotels.com or similar. Then do airport parking using discount codes found on line and book travel insurance on line too.

This year I'm booking direct with longwoodholidays.com

where did you want to go and when?

I want to go away Tuesday 2 September for 7 nights AI to a good hotel 4*. From Midlands Airport. 2 adults, 1 child 4 years

Majorca (Protur Safari Apartments) or Cyprus Louis Patheonon Hotel or similar...go on then find me a good price!!!

How much can you spend? Easyjet have flights from East Midlands for £381 for the three of you. Is that too much?

Ryan air don't have a flight on the 2nd Sept but if you go out on the 1st* and come back a week later on the 8th their fare is £226, but personally I hate ryan air and would never use them.

*that's East Midlands to Palma.

BMI baby do the same trip for £314. All the prices I've found are including all taxes and surcharges.

Is that the sort of price you were thinking of?

ITs more the total of the holiday including hotel etc... Thomsons are offering all above, hotel. AI etc... for around £1,800/2k

Well if you do 7 nights at the Majorca place, staying in a one bed apartment on half board, with flights from say BMI Baby, the total is £1180 which is quite a saving.

Got 7 nights at 4 star Cyprus hotel Pafian Sun Holiday Village Paphos and flights from EMA for £1400 with On The Beach (otbeach.com)

That was AI by the way.

oh thank you, these seem alot cheaper never thought of doing it like this . only thing is Im a little nervous with regards to flights home what if they get cancelled etc... youre not covered with "cheap" airlines are you?

Will chekc out Pafian Sun though

The likes of Ryanair and Easyjet will not be going bust!

We stayed at the Pafian Sun the year it opened and it was awful ... but then again we didn't like Paphos either - too English. Sorry that's not very helpful! I always book flight and accommodation separately as well. Try A1 Travel for flight prices and MedHotels, Hotels4u for accommodation prices. Travel Republic are good too.

Sorry I didn't read the AI bit.

With airlines going bust... just make sure they are covered by ABTA or IATA I think. Or if you have a credit card, book your flights on the card, which should give you some protection should the airline go bust before you fly. However as HF said, Ryan Air, Easy Jet and BMI Baby won't be going bust anytime soon. It's the smaller airlines that are more vulnerable.