Planning to do 16 days instead of 14 to Florida, confused on how to book airline and hotel on price?

[kizzle]

Ok I am starting rather early but already come across a problem with expenses

I want to go to Florida in 2016 but my dates do not show up on some websites yet as its too early, so I experimented with 2015 September to compare prices with package websites (3rd party) and going direct on the website to book myself.

Where I want an extra 2 days, and ive only ever booked up with package deal websites (lowecostholidays, cosmos, florida4less etc) and they only offer 14 days (no 16 etc), but I was told if I book the airline separate and then book the hotel after I can get the 16 days and should work out cheaper than using a 3rd party website.

Well just laughs and to compare prices I used few of the package websites and used the exact same date/time for 14 days for September this year and got a price. All 3 came up with the same airliner and hotel i want.

so I went directly on the airliner website and put same date/time 14 days and then went over to the hotel direct website for 14 days.

It worked out in total £1000 dearer than the package 3rd party sites? for the exact date/time airline and hotel? I don't get why it so expensive going without a 3rd party website, so I imagine adding another 2 days will add extra £100's

any advice or shall I just stick with 14 days and let them handle it lol

 

[scoobydooby]

I imagine that's because you are testing with flight prices only a few weeks away. That means they will be expensive. I always price packages against doing or DIY and have only found a package cheaper once. We rarely do 14 days so always go the DIY route. We have booked 14 days, 15, 16, 19, 13 and 9 day trips over recent years. You should book your hotel after price comparing as soon as you are ready IMO then check flight prices daily until you see a price you are prepared to pay. There will be flight sales for most large carriers before you fly. Also use a comparison sweeper like Skyscanner. Indirect will often be cheaper, sometimes a lot cheaper if you are prepared to do that. Expect a high average price of 1k

 

[scoobydooby]

Sorry pressed send by accident.

1k per person in school holidays and around £500 to £600 per person at slower times if you get lucky. Those are direct prices.

 

[ecclescake]

We are doing 17 nights via Virgin... They let you pick however many you want. Am going to look at DIY booking next time to see if we can save costs, but for this trip Virgin have been good.

 

[dixonsontour]

September 15 will be late deal prices. If you can go in term time there are some good package deals for September. I'd also budget £5

 

[dixonsontour]

Sorry on my phone - I'd budget max £500 for a September flight. Where do you want to stay

 

[kizzle]

I imagine that's because you are testing with flight prices only a few weeks away. That means they will be expensive. I always price packages against doing or DIY and have only found a package cheaper once. We rarely do 14 days so always go the DIY route. We have booked 14 days, 15, 16, 19, 13 and 9 day trips over recent years. You should book your hotel after price comparing as soon as you are ready IMO then check flight prices daily until you see a price you are prepared to pay. There will be flight sales for most large carriers before you fly. Also use a comparison sweeper like Skyscanner. Indirect will often be cheaper, sometimes a lot cheaper if you are prepared to do that. Expect a high average price of 1k

ah yes that might explain as it not far from dates im testing, I will try again with later dates ;p

 

[kizzle]

thx the the info guys/gals

 

[bex7583]

there are some good flight prices on thomas cook airlines at the moment and they are covering a lot of the 2016 dates