Split stay. How would you book?

[stba2006]

We are looking to go back to my favourtie place in the world again in 2014 and this time we are considering a slipt stay within Orlando.

We would like to stay 4 weeks in total, with the last 2 (hopefully 3 if we can afford it) being on site at Disney.

The first 1/2 weeks we would like to stay in a hotel in the Orlando area.

Would it be better to book all of this seperatley and flight seperately also, or does any-one have any good recommendations of tour operators that they have used previously for something similar?

We would love to go at the end of September and stay for the first few weeks of the Food and wine festival. Would love to have the free Dining plan is possible.

I have never booked in any way other than package so not sure what things to watch out for if booked seperatley, but was wondering if the general thinking was that it is cheaper??

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated please

 

[Barbie5]

I always book separately, in May we did a week on disney and an week off, we are going again in August doing 10 nights at lbv 4 nights at treasure island and a week at pop, all booked separately.

I find get better prices and get exactly what i want.

If you are planning on spending for 4 weeks - i would try and head to the beaches they are fab and nice and relaxing.

Chris

 

[scottishgirl87]

I might be wrong but I don't think tour operators will do 4 week holidays.

I would also personally prefer to book it myself anyway. In 2010 we did a split-stay and I did it all myself. I like having control over my own bookings and knowing what goes where, when so to speak.

 

[franc]

We are doing a split stay next year, the Disney hotel and the condo are already booked and I will book the flights when they are released.

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

us too

We going 2014 mid Sept and would like 11 days disney OKW or AKL one of the deluxe resorts for DDP then would like 5/6 days on I drive, we stayed at Plaza on Idrive in 2009 and it was perfect location DH loves a walk down Idrive for tea and it was near Sea world.

based on this years prices I have found some Cheap offers with Thomas Cook but they dont do split 17 day holiday??

so because I want to use my Tesco Club Cards The only way would be book a Virgin package or Virgin miles and book all seperatly, running out of time to decide!!!

 

[jtlover]

I did our holiday the wrong way found this time. We booked saratog springs first then the cruise and then the flights and then booked 2 nights at all star movies. But I did it all myself, unless I got a fab deal with an Agent I do it all myself now.

 

[LeaversOnTour]

We always do a split stay. We are staying 2 weeks on I-Drive and 2 at OKW when we visit in January 2013.

We always book seperately. But you have to consider that you dont have the same "protection" as with a package holiday. You need to make sure you use a credit card even if you pay it off as soon as the bill arrives.

If Virgin went bust or the flight was cancelled - you would lose the accommodation. As with a flight only booking they only have to refund the flight - not the rest of your trip.

On a sperate note, i would recommend the Sheraton Four Points on I-drive. Its the circular tower hotel by Wet and Wild.

We find this hotel really nice, easy to get to Universal - You could walk it in 15 minutes. Also its far enough away from the main section that you dont get the noise - especially if you are on a higher floor. Plus this year when we went we could see Hogwarts Castle from our window which was pretty cool - even my 3 year old was impressed and she doesnt really know who Harry Potter is

 

[stba2006]

We always do a split stay. We are staying 2 weeks on I-Drive and 2 at OKW when we visit in January 2013.

We always book seperately. But you have to consider that you dont have the same "protection" as with a package holiday. You need to make sure you use a credit card even if you pay it off as soon as the bill arrives.

If Virgin went bust or the flight was cancelled - you would lose the accommodation. As with a flight only booking they only have to refund the flight - not the rest of your trip.

The protection things is the main reason why we tend to book as a package normally. How long from making your credit card payment to do you get to claim if anything happened to the company you placed bookings with?

 

[LeaversOnTour]

As far as i am aware it depends on the card etc.

You have to do a chargeback, which is for "Failed delivery" of goods. So the "delivery date" would be the date you fly even if you paid for the flights a year before. I have never actually had to do it - touch wood. But i imagine its probably 60 or 90 days? Which is pretty standard. - To a credit card company it wouldnt make much odds, if you paid it off in full ASAP, as they wouldnt have earned interest on your transaction anyway so the only "loser" would be the provider.

You would then have to request a charge back for the other aspects on the basis of the failed delivery. It can be tricky as the credit card company claims the money back from the provider anyway - which they can do automatically.

However, unless you have a travel insurance policy which offers scheduled airline failure which some do it the only type of protection available for these types of situations. I know the policy we have does cover in for certain cirumstances such as these. But you have to know what your looking for. I work for a travel insurance company so know what the "get out clauses" are.

My theory is some cover is better than none.