2007 Question

[Mumof2]

Hi

Please don't laugh at me asking this question soooooo far in advance but as we know its never too early to start planning?!?

Anyway, I'm trying to work out what the most cost effective way would be for our 2007 trip. This year we took a BA package booked about a year in advance.

For 2007, I wondered which of the following options would be acheaper:

(a) Package;
(b) Fly Drive plus independent villa booking (if this one, which companies traditionally offer the best prices for a 17 night stay?);
(c) Flights, car hire and villa all booked independently.

Hope someone can help......

 

[Clare D]

Hi
I would say option C would no doubt be the most cost effective but you have to be organised booking it all separately. We did this last year when we went with friends but this year we booked it all via Virgin and we have again next year as 1) there is just the three of us and 2) we have benefited from the 10% FVC discount and early booking discounts.
If you go down the route of b or c you will get loads of tips from this site.
I know you can price up fly drives for 06 but not sure whether you can for 07 as yet. I would do your homework on the villa now and e-mail the owner as you will not only get pick of the crop you could also be cheeky and ask for an early booking discount - worth a try.

 

[Hilary]

If there was a tried and tested answer for which option is the cheapest, we'd all be doing it!

Whilst a lot of us on these boards have managed to save money by booking everything independently, it's not always a 100% certainty that this is going to be the cheapest way to do it - the only way of telling is to cost out all the options and compare like for like. Early / late booking discounts, child reductions, frequent booking discounts, etc., all affect the bottom line, and will probably all vary every time you try to do the sums!

Do the research, decide what seems to be an 'okay' price for what you want, and then you'll know when the best deal comes along

However, another reason for booking it all youself is to get the package you want, not what's available from the brochures. If you want 17 nights you may be limited to only a couple of tour operators.

 

[kev kendall]

I'm planning our 2007 holiday too..... I'm wondering if booking direct with Disney on their US site, and booking flights with Virgin (becuase we want the DTD check-in) will work out cheaper, and perhaps we'd get more fringe beneifts (like the magic you way stuff, dining plans, pins, etc.)

 

[Mumof2]

If there was a tried and tested answer for which option is the cheapest, we'd all be doing it!

Good Point Hilary

To help with my research I'm pricing everything up as if I was going next year rather than 07. That'll give me somewhere to start....

Glad I'm not the only one thinking so far ahead Kev!

 

[Amyrlin]

I would def say options b or c, either fly drive or all seperate.

If staying at disney that usually cheaper booking direct or thoguh a specialist travel agency that deosn't charge extra. Don't forget, if you don't have an annual pass they do special rate for AAA, the American version of the AA and there is a reciprical agreement, so if you are an AA member you can get that discount (you have to show the memberhsip card when you get there). The same is true of universal and other hotels.

 

[Queenie]

Probably B or C, remember that travel agents charge commission which is increased in brochure package holidays (I've been astounded at some of the prices in this years brochures!)

Flights bought by themselves can be very expensive, I've seen flights more expensive than entire holidays sometimes! Fly drives can help alieviate that cost and some give you free car hire.

 

[misskrystal]

When I booked my trip this year, I used search engines, using words like 'cheap orlando hotels' and 'cheap orlando flights'.

You can find some really good deals that way. It's a lot more work and takes quite a bit of time, but it's definately worth it.

We got a really cheap holiday.

Krystal

 

[Shooby doo]

We looked at booking it all separately for next Sept,but kept coming up against the Hotel prices + 11.5% resort tax,the furthest in advance we could go was Aug '06 so had to base our prices on what the same dates this year. We couldn't find it any cheaper than some of the packages. What we did find tho' was Jetsave - Virgin flights,same hotels.....£ 300 cheaper!!
We never take the "free" car & book it here before going & normally have an all inclusive price cheaper than the insurance only option across there!!
HTH SD aw:

 

[nicknsara]

hi

we used travel city direct as a yardstick and moved things around to suit us.adding bits as and when we wanted.ie flights accomodation etc.

TCD do other hotels which are not in there brochure.Why not maybe try a DVC club member to see if thats an option?

nick n sara