Booking non package holiday. Please help

[stba2006]

The past 2 times we have gone to Orlando we have just booked package holidays. This time through we have quite a lot of airmailes and tesco/virgin vouchers to use so I want to see what the cost is when I book things seperatley.

I need to try and find out the following

Which is the best way to rent a car

Does disney direct do a 40% discount on some hotels? If so when does this normally happen

Does disney direct offer free ddp, if so when and does it ever tie in with the 40% discount

Any help on this or other ways to book a cheaper non package holiday would be fantastic

 

[wayneg]

Car Hire you need to check at least all these site below, any of them could be cheapest for you, all depends on dates and offers on.
http://www.usrentacar.co.uk/
http://www.uscarhire.co.uk/
http://www.yescarhire.com/
http://www.netflights.com/carhire/
http://www.carhire3000.com/Home.do?country=USA+-+Florida&city=Orlando
http://www.carhireflorida.net/
http://www.virginatlantictravelplus.com/DefaultCar.aspx
http://www.alamo.co.uk/Hotdeals/740/uk/aluk_discount_usa/

Yes Disney.co.uk does free DDP, we have booked it this year in addition to 44% off at OKW (had choice of OKW or SSR), its costing us £91/night for 3 of us(2x ad, 1 x teen)
Hopefully they will offer it from mid August~early Nov (extended to Early Dec last year for this years bookings)
TC have a page here they have still not deleted from their site, it gives details of this years offer that was available last year. http://www.tcsignature.com/Pages/Static/Offers/Disney.html

For DIY hols its all down to booking at the right time, our DIY package this Aug for 25 nights is 16 nights OKW, 3x21 day Unlimate tix, 7 day Disney Cruise, 2 nights AKL, Full size car with Gold cover, Business class flights (indirect Delta) £6,000 for everything, re-priced a few month later would have been £12,000.

Good luck.

 

[WiganTony]

The past 2 times we have gone to Orlando we have just booked package holidays. This time through we have quite a lot of airmailes and tesco/virgin vouchers to use so I want to see what the cost is when I book things seperatley.

Apologies if you are already aware of this, but the Tesco Clubcard vouchers can only be used to book a Virgin Package deal - it cannot be used to book Virgin Flydrive or hotels only (but when I enquired, I was told you could book a flydrive and accommodation together to make your own "tailored" package).

It may be worth considering cashing in the Tesco vouchers for airmiles if you don't have sufficient miles. Alternatively, I believe you can use Tesco Deals with Cosmos to book a flydrive only.

Not sure when you are planning on going, but this year Universal are offering free nights (7 for the price of 4 etc) as well as Disney, outside of the traditional "peak" periods in the USA. If you can get your flights booked, it may be worth holding on until nearer the time to see if any more special offers appear.

As Wayne has mentioned, over the last few years Disney have offered free Dining Plan for UK visitors when booking between September and October for travel the following August to November.

 

[stba2006]

Thanks for the advice & links.
I didn't know about the tesco vouchers so that it somethng else I need to look further into.

We have a while to go yet so lots of time to try and get the best deals. Just don't want to miss out on anything

 

[Julia Ann]

I have always booked package deals and sometimes considered separate bookings. The thing that puts me off is, if you have to cancel - trying not to be negative but you never know. A friend of mine cancelled their trip (no medical ground, just crazily decided she didn't wanna go - she was frightened of flying with terrorist threats) and lost 600 quid in deposits because she booked it all separately!!!! just something to consider that's all.

 

[wayneg]

I have always booked package deals and sometimes considered separate bookings. The thing that puts me off is, if you have to cancel - trying not to be negative but you never know. A friend of mine cancelled their trip (no medical ground, just crazily decided she didn't wanna go - she was frightened of flying with terrorist threats) and lost 600 quid in deposits because she booked it all separately!!!! just something to consider that's all.

It is something to consider, DIY is not for everyone, suprised she only lost £600, if I cancel our August trip now without medical reason I would lose £1,595 nearer the time a lot more but like I said above our DIY package is costing £6,000. I would put money on a similar package could not be found under £10,000 and more likely to be nearer £12,000 thru a T/A or Tour op.
All depends on your own circumstances, personally in over 100 trips abroad last year was 1st time I ever cancelled a hotel, and that was becase I got a better rate at AKL, turned out I made a profit from cancelling as I still got me cashback which was more than the £15 cancellation fee.