Travel city direct

[jna]

1.5k - what would you do? Its a lot of money......... :

Look at it this way. Two flights say eighteen hours on the planes for six people. I make that a little under £14 per hour per person for the Virgin flights which is possibly, if you will feel more 'relaxed' with them and more comfortable on the flight worth the extra.

 

[Jennie4647]

Ooops - does include car hire, so Airtours looking good.

 

[wicket2005]

I have flown with Airtours in 2000, they used a fantastic plane that had been kitted out with back seat tvs as standard.

We used Thomsons this year who used Monarch. Monarch were fine, no complaints at all with them.

Next year we are going with Airtours who use Monarch planes on some of their flight paths. They only use Monarch during the summer from Newcastle so we are flying with Monarch again.

 

[Jennie4647]

Bev,

How did you book Thomson's? I can only find flights to Europe on web site. Same deal with Monarch, only showing European flights.

Thanks,

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Bev,

How did you book Thomson's? I can only find flights to Europe on web site. Same deal with Monarch, only showing European flights.

Thanks,

Go here
http://www.flymonarch.com/

and click on the right hand side on charter flights

 

[Jennie4647]

Found it thanks - but they only show dates to July '06 - will have to wait a while to get August '06 dates.

 

[wicket2005]

Bev,

How did you book Thomson's? I can only find flights to Europe on web site. Same deal with Monarch, only showing European flights.

Thanks,

We did it the old fashioned way with a travel agent. I don't think Monarch does separate flights to Orlando it just leases seats out to tour operators. You want to look at Thomas Cook and Airtours because they will only charge you kiddie prices for those under 19.

It is costing us £349 for the 17 year old and £449 for the 15 year old to stay in the Rosen Centre Hotel on IDrive instead of £1159 each in other brochures that charge full price for 16 year olds. Quite a saving.

 

[Jennie4647]

Just did a price check on Monarch for the last 2 weeks in July, Total price: £4586.00 for flights - we are flexible on summer holiday dates as we both work term time, this also restricts us taking time outside school hols.

Think we are gonna have to bite the bullet and accept that for Florida flights in summer hols for 6 of us we are looking at between 3.5k and 5k - depending on carrier. Really want to go next summer as I fear the older two, both at college, will not be coming on hols with us for much longer..... Add the Villa, car hire, insurance and park tickets, might need to go and see the man at the bank!

 

[wicket2005]

Does it really work out that much cheaper for you to stay in a villa? When I was working prices out our hotel came in cheaper, less room of course.

It is costing us £3800 for 4 to stay in a good quality hotel for 14 days from 15th July 2006, this includes car hire, insurance, supplements, etc. We got quite a reduction when we were in the travel agents plus free insurance which all helped. When I did the same holiday online it worked out more expensive because they were no reductions or free insurance. The travel agent also new where

Have you tried pricing up a holiday with an agent just to make a comparison?

I know what you mean about wanting to continue to have family holidays. My lads are getting older too but are adamant at the moment that as long as we go to Orlando they will want to come with us.

 

[Jennie4647]

Bev,

We just prefer a villa, we like the space, I know this will sound sad, but here goes - I like to cook, I like to eat when we want to eat, be it at home or out and about, I like to keep the washing up to date, hate bring home cases of washing, also less to take with us. I have always booked villas even when we have been to europe. I always book our own flights/accommodation/car/insurance etc., not necessarily because of cost but I like the choice and I like doing the research.

But I am not one to be blinkered, so I will have a look at a package through a tour operator. We could prob book a holiday through a travel agent and choose a villa? Virgin on line do them, as well as TCD. You might well have a point, do it all through one place and it could indeed work out cheaper.

 

[wicket2005]

I love the villas too, we have stayed in them twice but when booking up in for 2000 we found it to be cheaper to go in a hotel. I wouldn't recommend the Comfort Inn, LBV though too close to the I4. Again when we looked for this year it was cheaper but your costs will obviously be different with you having two adults and 4 kids for hotel rooms.

 

[cherjp]

hi first time using this so here goes, we too have booked with travelcity direct for 2006 havent heard anything bad about them but theres a first time for eveything , have a great time

 

[carolfoy]

Hello Cherjp welcome to the Dis

 

[Jennie4647]

Hi,

Welcome aboard. This is a great site. I have been away from Florida for too long.

 

[Amyrlin]

It used to be that TCD was by far the cheapest. Now, they are cheaper than virgin, but according to dates, there are other compnaies that compete, such as Airtours, also some sceduled flights (BA) into MCO may also be cheaper.

I just priced up for Feb next year and it worked out cheapest to flight schedluded with BA and book it all seperatly than travel with TCD or another package company. Personally, following the appalling treatment during the delays, if I can get it a similar price somewhere else, or even a little more then I will not use TCD agian. If it is a big difference then I may consider it, but not whilst the last trip is so raw, and it will also depend on how they deal with the complaint and claim.

 

[Nitram64]

Weve used airtours 3 times and virgin 2 times and are booked with tcd for november this year.
Trip 1 airtours Delayed out Good flight lots of films and so on back seat screens
Trip 2 airtours Delayed out 3 hrs/in 14 hrs replacment plane no entertainment and the cabin crew were awful.
Trip 3 virgin no delays in or out great flight loads to do
Trip 4 virgin same as Trip 3
Trip 5 airtours/mytravel delayed 3 hours old plane tv you could not see but ok.
Trip 6 Fingers crossed

Would i pay an extra £1000 to fly with virgin not a chance maybe £300 but thats about it.That £1000 pays for your theme park tickets or the villa.I know alot of people who travelled with tcd and have no complaints but im well aware they have had some problems with delays.But there no worse than some other companies and over the last month there seems to be a big improvement.You can check the sanford arrivals at http://www.orlandosanfordairport.com/fids.asp?Display=Arrivals
The only thing i don't like about virgin is they use orlando international airport.
If i don't get delayed then im happy.

 

[janine]

Hi
I am also going in Feb 06, to get married at Disney World.
I got a quote from TCD and a quote from Virgin, and saved myself £1000.00.
Check virgins web site out first. Virgin atlantic for flights and virgin holidays for the accommodation only.
Janine

 

[brer rabbit 28]

have used TCD 3 times now,twice in economy and once in sunshine first.All flights were fine,we had absolutely no probs at all with them-and hope we never will as they do seem so much cheaper than virgin.

 

[PigglyWiggly]

Just returned from my 2nd trip with TCD and havent had any problems with them.

We didnt have any delays on outgoing or return journey. Staff were pleasant and helpful. OK, so the interior of the plane was not pristine condition (was a bit scratched that's all !!!! ) we had no problems with the flight, take off or landing.

All drinks (including alcoholic) were free and meals amd snacks were also included (some airlines charge extra).

We booked extra legroom seats - £69 each for a return trip and these were located at the exits - well worth the money.

We saved approx £600 on the same holiday compared to Virgin at the same hotel so although they may be a budget airline they are IMHO well worth the saving.

2001 Travelodge Maingate East
2005 Best Western Lakeside

 

[Amyrlin]

I think the thing with TCD is that they are cheap and as long as nothing goes wrong they are fine, it is only if there is something that goes wrong and a delay of more the a couple of hours that the problems arise.