I'm making progress but need help...

[mkingdon]

Ok, so we are still 6 weeks off our trip in August, but for some time I've been thinking about next year, and the possibility of our first 3 week trip.

DW has been less keen as she wants to do boring stuff like get a new kitchen and decorate.

Anyway, she is beginning to weaken, and if I strike whilst actually there in August, I bet I can get her to agree. I can be really nice when I want to be.

So, I need your help. How is it possible to keep the costs as low as I can?

We will need to go around the 10th of August, for 3 weeks, ideally a villa, but maybe a suite to keep costs down. Flying from Manchester, with a basic car etc. We may even consider a cheapy off site hotel if we need to.

I've read some stuff on Nat West Car insurance, and we have one of the posh accounts there, so I think we could take advantage if we buy it on our switch or premier card or whatever they call it. Is that £75??

So all your best trip planning tips please. Time to spill all your tricks of the trade



Many Thanks

Craig

 

[signtalker]

Buy annual passes this year and you can use them next year,which will keep the costs down!!!

We did a 3 week in May of this year,and to be honest it doesnt work out much more expensive than a 2 week,how we looked at it was if youre buying AP's youve made a saving,you usually get a good deal on a villa booking an extra week.

Flights for august will be your biggest outlay(being the busiest time)Florida r Us is £1589 for 2 adults and 1 child,with economy car for next year(august).

Again annual travel insurance.

The way I persuaded my DH to do an extra week was,I have to do shopping everyweek here,so its no differant to over there for an extra week!!!.
We have found a very good B&B close to the airport that does parking for £10 a week(another plus!)

And think of the kids faces(that usually gets em every time LOL!!!!)

jules

 

[tony64]

Try contacting Funway holidays book early on an in-direct flight and you will save about a grand, you can also book a couple of nights stop over at the city you land in so you can get a different angle on the states

 

[mkingdon]

Thanks for the info.

Hadn't thought about the indirect option (Doh!!!), but that makes sense.

Do you think it is generally cheaper to fly indirect into somewhere like Tampa or Miami? If that is the case we could do a day or two at Busch etc and then drive up to Orlando.

Cheers

Craig

 

[PoohBears#1fan]

Hi Craig,

We got quotes for flights into Tampa & Orlando with BA (direct) and the prices were exactly the same for each.

I'm watching this thread with interest hoping someone will come up with an incredibly cheap deal so I can convince DH that we can go next year despite having already spent next years holiday budget! LOL

 

[mkingdon]

I just phoned TCD to see if they were quoting for 2004 yet, and they were.

Price for flights only (no insurance) from Manchester on the 8th of August 2004 for 21 nights was £2692 for 2 adults and 2 children!!

Seems pricey to me.

Fly drive was quoted at £3144, of course the car was free (???) but the insurance was £612.

Let's just say the search continues

I think we'd need flights at around £2K, villa at £1k and then car at £400.

Do you think these are achievable?

 

[mkingdon]

Me again!!!

Just spoke to funway holidays and they quoted the following.

Virgin, direct August 2004 into MCO.

Adult £608
Child £392

That equals £2000!!! Much better, and it's Virgin. They tell me these are available to book now!! Surely they mean reserve as I didn't think they'd be out yet.

These prices are only available if you either book 3 days accomodation or the car hire through funway though.

I asked about non-direct and they said these were not released yet, but they would only expect them to be about £10 per person cheaper!!!! Not convinced on that one either.

Encouraging non the less.

Craig