Out of curiosity - why a package holiday with big tour operator??

[ShirleyH]

I have been to Orlando a number of times and have always found that the package prices with our big Tour Operators like Airtours, First Choice, Virgin, Thomson etc. are far more expensive than booking either separately or using companies like Broadway Travel, Travelshop USA. So just wondered why people booked their package through the bigger tour operators?

 

[Goofyish]

I think one of the biggest reasons is peace of mind knowing that everything has been booked and you have the security in knowing you have the backup of ABTA and a local rep. to assist if needed.
Some people just don't feel confident in booking everything themselves.

We now book things ourselves, but for our first trip we booked a package through Thomsons. Simply because we didn't know any different (pre-DIS days LOL).

Saying that you can get some very good deals with packages. either late deals or during term time. Sometimes it can be cheaper to book a package but only use one element of it, like the flight or the accommodation.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

I woukd think to many its easier than trying to get the elements together themselves, secondly if things go wrong, you have a single point of contact and its their problem to get you home, whears diy its your problem.
Also, many people grew up doing it that way and its hard to change.

We have'nt been on a package holiday for over 25 years now, its like everything, once you know what you are doing, its easy. Taking that first step is a hard one especially if its your only holiday of the year and your third most expensive purchase after a car and house

 

[ShirleyH]

Thanks for those answers. They explain a lot and do make sense.

 

[wideeyes]

If you book separately you have to pay more money up front.

 

[Ware Bears]

Both last time and this time we have found it cheaper to book a Virgin package than DIY. I have spent many hours number-crunching and Virgin came up cheaper than both DIY and other package companies. The only way I could have got it cheaper was to DIY with an indirect flight but as the saving was less than £200 in total for a family of 5 we preferred to fly direct. Perhaps it is because I am staying off-site that it works out this way for me.

Having said that, I always book everything at DLRP independently and save lots of ££££ that way and imagine that once all my DDs are all adults and no longer teenagers/children it will work out cheaper to do WDW DIY too!

 

[ShirleyH]

I looked at Virgin packages because I have two teenagers who I have to pay adult prices for so thought it might be cheaper going with them as they have teen prices but it was £1300!!! more expensive so I thought I would rather have that money in my pocket for spending and booked separately still using Virgin Flights.

 

[Claire L]

I usually mix and match fly drive with booking hotels myself but for our New Year trip due to no AP rates it was cheaper to book a package with VH. It was a gamble to see if an AP rate would come out fro Jan 1st and after but that may have meant changing rooms and in the end there was no AP rate for any of our dates and the VH price worked out about the same as an AP rate had there been one! Glad I took the gamble and booked it last April when there was still the availability as well.

Claire

 

[fuse04]

I have just checked Broardway Travel (web site not working well today!) for 2 weeks at All Stars Music for us (2 A and 1 C) 18/10/2007, the price without transfer is £2528, Virgins price is £2517 includes transfers and using Frequent Flyer status I would a further 5% discount, so it would be about £2350.

Also Virgin had accommodation at our preferred hotel AKL whereas Broadway appeared to only offer the value resorts.

When we booked for this year I looked at booking the components individually and I could not get it any cheaper. Booked via Thomas Cook Signature (still flying Virgin) as they price matched Virgin and I can go into thier shop at lunch time and talk to a person. Also Thomas Cook and Virgin are very well known,

Hope ths helps

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

Its easier for the TA to phone around and sort the diabled access. plus we can pay a little each week till it's paid off.

 

[Girlsontour]

Frequent Flyer 10% off with Virgin - that always makes them slightly cheaper for our holidays plus i buy the park tickets off them also - pay by direct debit thus spreading the cost over the year.

 

[carolfoy]

when I look for my own holiday I'll check EVERY way of doing it, after all, I'm in the right place to do it, the last time I did a package it was a Thomson one and actually worked out £25 cheaper than doing everything seperately, even if it had been £25 dearer I probably would have done it as a package. When accomodation only companies go bust there are thousands of people out of pocket and turning up in places where there aren't any beds for them. It takes a hell of a long time to get your money back, that bonding alone is worth a few quid to me.

No scheduled airline will sympathise if they scrap a flight and it costs you money in change fees to alter your hotel booking. (I can vouch for this after this seasons many cancellations by easyjet!)

 

[Groovee]

I got offered a great price for a villa for 2 weeks. But when I looked at flights and fly drives.... it cost more than my disney hotel package with airtours. I did look at fly drives last minute on last year but the dates weren't as flexible and if you are hiring a villa you are kinda stuck with the dates. Where as if we were using our friends apartment in Sarasota it would have been a lot easier.

 

[wayneg]

I find going in School hols is cheaper seperate but in school term packages can be great value. Every holiday I check every option.
About 3 years back we did 3 weeks in Oct. For 3 of us Virgin wanted £2,100 for flight only but with Virgin holidays we got flights and hotel for the 3 weeks for £1,700.
A lot of first time visitors will probably go package as they dont know how easy it is to do it separate. Our first time was Airtours package.

 

[Lizzybear]

I booked a package for our upcoming trip because this worked out best for us: It matched the DIY price and also I wanted to pay it off over the year not all at once. I'm under 25 so have to pay a premium with some car hire companies, with Virgin's platinum package the charges are included which is one reason I think a package ended up good value for us

 

[Amyrlin]

We will book whatever is cheaper, sometimes it is a package, sometimes it is fly drive and sometimes it is all seperate.

 

[mark&sue]

Due to going in school holidays I like to book the flight at least a year in advance and I think this can only be done as fly drive package. Will definately look at flighs only in a few years time


Susan

 

[tim allen]

We booked through virgin for this august cost of 3200 for 17 days including disney dining plan staying at pop century including transfers 2 adults and 1 child couldent get within 1000 of that price we always look around. We also always book atleast a year in advance with virgin and seem to get a better price as its dearer to book now the same pakage to book today will cost you 4650 sorry for no pound signs but mine is not working