Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

The Travel Thread

Status
Not open for further replies.

chicoazul said:
As much as I agree with the sentiment its not true that you get a better deal by booking independent.

The UK tourism industry needs some new companies to pop up and bring some choice but the exclusitives and purchasing power that Thomas Cook and Thomson have means the best deals are usually with them lid.
Click to expand...

I agree somewhat, but like you said in terms of choice i've always found booking independently to be better and more suited to me. Not a fan of staying in all these hotels with biffs knocking back shots of raki about the pool and drawing cocks on each others backs or a swimming area contaminated by screaming children. So personally found doing my own bit of research you can find a much more suited hotel and on most occasions cheaper.

However, it has to be said that in terms of package holidays and deals (half board, all inclusive etc) the big companies win hands down. I suppose it comes down to preference.
 
LocalNative said:
I agree somewhat, but like you said in terms of choice i've always found booking independently to be better and more suited to me. Not a fan of staying in all these hotels with biffs knocking back shots of raki about the pool and drawing cocks on each others backs or a swimming area contaminated by screaming children. So personally found doing my own bit of research you can find a much more suited hotel and on most occasions cheaper.

However, it has to be said that in terms of package holidays and deals (half board, all inclusive etc) the big companies win hands down. I suppose it comes down to preference.
Click to expand...
Hi mate how are you tonight.
 
LocalNative said:
I agree somewhat, but like you said in terms of choice i've always found booking independently to be better and more suited to me. Not a fan of staying in all these hotels with biffs knocking back shots of raki about the pool and drawing cocks on each others backs or a swimming area contaminated by screaming children. So personally found doing my own bit of research you can find a much more suited hotel and on most occasions cheaper.

However, it has to be said that in terms of package holidays and deals (half board, all inclusive etc) the big companies win hands down. I suppose it comes down to preference.
Click to expand...
I think we both would agree with you, which is why I was recommending either the travel aggregators, which might give you an few options of less family- or single-friendly accommodation, or maybe people like Exodus (for example) and looking at any sales they might have. (Should be noted that a lot of 'big' companies now own smaller brands through consolidation and thus put them on sale the same as their main ones.)

Having said that, the last time we went to Portugal (Benfica game?!) and Greece (Crete in late October) we booked our own stuff direct.
 

LocalNative said:
I agree somewhat, but like you said in terms of choice i've always found booking independently to be better and more suited to me. Not a fan of staying in all these hotels with biffs knocking back shots of raki about the pool and drawing cocks on each others backs or a swimming area contaminated by screaming children. So personally found doing my own bit of research you can find a much more suited hotel and on most occasions cheaper.

However, it has to be said that in terms of package holidays and deals (half board, all inclusive etc) the big companies win hands down. I suppose it comes down to preference.
Click to expand...

atrottel said:
I think we both would agree with you, which is why I was recommending either the travel aggregators, which might give you an few options of less family- or single-friendly accommodation, or maybe people like Exodus (for example) and looking at any sales they might have. (Should be noted that a lot of 'big' companies now own smaller brands through consolidation and thus put them on sale the same as their main ones.)

Having said that, the last time we went to Portugal (Benfica game?!) and Greece (Crete in late October) we booked our own stuff direct.
Click to expand...

Aye spot on both, if it means I swerve Terry and Ange from Dartford trying to befriend me at the pool then I'm booking independent all the way.

Spot on Mountain Man about the smaller specialist companies getting swallowed up by the big two in UK tourism. Used to be some ace wee companies to get off the beaten track with.
 
jackyboy said:
Girlfriend wants to go to Portugal or Greece this year, has to be in the school hols though (she's a teacher). Any ideas of anywhere that might do deals different to the usual Thomas Cook, Thomson etc?
Click to expand...
Santorini is a good place, I know they fly there...

I know (because I use those flights to get back home) they fly most places direct to Bulgaria and the trips+hotels are ridiculously cheap, just swerve Sunny Beach as it's a sh**hole. Give me a shout if you decide to go that way for some reason lol

chicoazul said:
As much as I agree with the sentiment its not true that you get a better deal by booking independent.

The UK tourism industry needs some new companies to pop up and bring some choice but the exclusitives and purchasing power that Thomas Cook and Thomson have means the best deals are usually with them lid.
Click to expand...
Agreed with the Chicster here - having checked some prices myself (and basically living around the Bulgarian coast for half the summer every year for the last 5 or so) I've seen them and it is quite cheaper to get TC/Thomson to do you a packaged deal than doing it yourself, especially if you're going to a place you don't know the language well/at all. There's bound to be a tw@ basically ripping you off and you'd be none the wiser to it, until you check the prices yourself and realise you could've spent £100-300 less and so on. Plus travel to/back from places is arranged, so that's a bonus for a foreign country, especially if you've never been there before.

Unless you're minted, in which case do whatever the hell you want, Greece is in a massive crisis, as you might've heard, so just go and buy an island lol
 
Just to add, not sure if many are aware of this company, but AirBnb provide a fantastic service where other people will rent out rooms of their house or their entire house/apartment/flat for very cheap prices when on holiday. I used them in Croatia and Poland and had two brilliant apartments with great hosts. Very affordable too. Literally accommodation available in more or less every country.

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/

Each place is fully kitted out with pictures and reviews beforehand, so chances of The Human Centipede are slim... for better or worse.
 
I'm looking to use Air BnB for a week or so in Barcelona, and a 6-month career break in Buenos Aires. Seems the best way of snaring a good deal
 

Status
Not open for further replies.

Welcome to GrandOldTeam

Get involved. Registration is simple and free.

Register
Back
Top