As the New Year approaches, thoughts are turning to booking a summer holiday in search of some fun in the sun in Summer 2010. Leading holiday companies, Thomson and First Choice are advising people to book early to secure the best deals, and in order to help people bag an even better bargain, have launched a range of money-saving offers, including thousands of free child places, discounts of up to £200 per booking, low deposits and great savings…
As the New Year approaches, thoughts are turning to booking a summer holiday in search of some fun in the sun in Summer 2010. Leading holiday companies, Thomson and First Choice are advising people to book early to secure the best deals, and in order to help people bag an even better bargain, have launched a range of money-saving offers, including thousands of free child places, discounts of up to £200 per booking, low deposits and great savings.
“We are offering some fantastic deals for those who want to secure their summer holiday now,” says Dermot Blastland, Managing Director of TUI Travel UK & Ireland. “There will be less chance to grab a last-minute deal nearer the summer so if you want to get yourself a bargain and ensure you have the best choice in holiday, now is the best time to book. There are great deals on offer for early bookings with low booking deposits to enable customers to take advantage of guaranteeing a summer holiday for the best price.”
10 Top Tips for bagging a holiday bargain from First Choice and Thomson are:
1) Book early. As ever, the best bargains are to be had by booking now. With early booking discounts, such as save £200 per booking, as well as further reductions on selected holidays available in store, it really is the best time to book, especially for those who can’t be so flexible with dates, such as families with school-age children.
2) Look out for Free Child places. Free child places are not a gimmick and can make a really big difference to the cost of your holiday.
3) Upgrade to all inclusive. This year has seen the rise and rise of popularity of the all-inclusive holiday, with Thomson and First Choice noticing a 32% increase in demand. All-inclusive holidays include the cost of drinks, meals and snacks plus some activities up front. This option allows you to better budget your holiday spending before even leaving the UK.
4) Go for 10 or 11 nights. While traditional seven and 14 night holidays are still popular, Thomson and First Choice have noticed an increase in demand for flexible durations, including 10 and 11 night holidays.
5) Be as flexible as possible. If you have pre-school age children, try to book outside of the school holidays – not only will you get a better deal, the resort will be that bit quieter too. Or if you are tied to the school holidays, consider travelling at the very beginning or end of them
as sometimes these can be the cheaper option. Also be prepared to travel from a selection of regional airports, or consider a night flight which may help lower the cost.
6) Always book with a well known ATOL protected Tour Operator. The recent demise of Scottish holiday company Globespan has put the issue of financial protection on holidays back in the headlines, and reiterated the importance of booking a holiday with a well known financially robust ATOL protected tour operator. Many people simply don’t realise that most low-cost carriers and accommodation-only providers are not ATOL-protected, which means if they go bust, you lose your money. To make sure you’re not caught out, look out for the Government backed ATOL logo on brochures and other sales material.
7) Choose a holiday that’s right for you. Do your research to make sure that you end up in the right type of resort for your holiday needs.
8) Save on extra luggage charges. Some budget airlines promise cheap fares, but then bump up the cost of flying with them by charging for extra luggage and check-in.
9) Shop around for foreign exchange. Ask your travel agent for their best deals when you book your holiday.
10) Sign up for the best deals.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
