The Year of the Holiday Price War

By Darren Cronian on Wednesday, January 10th, 2007

There’s a lot of discussion at the moment regarding holiday prices and I’m going to add fuel to the fire I am afraid. Last week, my dad, visited a local travel agent, and received a quote for 7 night’s villa rental and flight for 3 adults and 1 child in Albufeira, Portugal.

He told me the price and I was convinced I could beat it, so, off I went and did a search for flights from Leeds & Bradford Airport to Faro, with Jet2.com and found return flights for £208.00 each including taxes.

Then I ran a search for a 2-bedroom villa in Albufeira on a holiday rental website and found a villa which was available for £460 per week, and matched my dad’s requirements, private pool etc.

Let’s compare the prices:

High Street Travel Agent

£2,000 Inc villa, flights and taxes

Independent

£1,292 Inc villa, flights and taxes

It is worth pointing out that whilst my dad has saved over £700 for a week’s holiday, he won’t be protected by ATOL, for the flight and ABTA, TTA etc for the holiday. I’d imagine though that providing you take out adequate travel insurance and carry your European Health Insurance card, you’ll be covered.

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10 responses to “The Year of the Holiday Price War”

Kevin May | 10 January, 2007 at 10:44 pm

excellent post, Rants.

the £700 saved would easily get a family of four home from portugal at short notice, if the original airline failed…

what has your dad decided to do? does the lack of ‘protection’ bother him?

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Darren Cronian | 10 January, 2007 at 11:11 pm

Thanks Kevin.

My dad’s booked the flight and villa. I have to say that he could of got a much cheaper flight, but he wasn’t flexible, and wanted to fly from Leeds & Bradford, on a Saturday.

I found a flight from Manchester flying on a Thursday, which would of cost £114 return, per person. Saving him even more money. He’s not fussed about no protection – he’s already got annual family insurance, and has a European Health Insurance card (I made sure everyone in my family applied for one)

If he’s stranded, the saving would pay for a hotel, or another villa. It’s unlikely that anything would happen that he can’t sort out himself. Getting a flight from a popular tourist destination like Faro woudln’t be a problem.

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Rohan | 11 January, 2007 at 2:27 am

Each person is different and it depends on the location.

If I was visiting a European destination I’m not bothered if I am bonded, but if I am travelling long haul then I would feel much confident booking with a bonded travel agency.

I have friends who would never book a holiday unless it’s with an ABTA approved travel agency, no matter where they are visiting.

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Darren Cronian | 11 January, 2007 at 9:52 am

The travel agent couldn’t do airport transfers to the villa, where the owner included airport transfer as part of the price. No linen hire, towels etc, as this was included in the villa rental price.

There was a damage deposit, but its’ refundable, and was £150.00.

Lee, I have to be fair, this blog is for consumers, and I have to play fair. The blog tries it’s best to give a balanced view, and I am afraid the independant option was much cheaper, but like I pointed out, it has it’s negative points in that your not bonded.

Today’s post will balance out my blog from yesterday.

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Lee Harrison (owner Select World Travel) | 11 January, 2007 at 9:38 am

It’s not exactly a fair post in my view Darren, as you are not comparing Like for Like and exactly the Same Flights, Villa etc. Also Is Car hire included ? Transfers from and to the Airport? Towels, Linen Hire and charge? Damage Deposit etc etc?

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Henk | 11 January, 2007 at 10:59 am

The last time I used a travel agent was in the age when mobile phones didn’t exist, the Internet was still a secret defence project and air fares were set by IATA (except of course for business travel, where I look up the flight I want on ba.com and then have to phone the corporate travel agent to book it….).
As Darren points out you don’t have the ABTA protection, and it can be quite a lot of hassle to have to sort everything out yourself. It can even go wrong, but if you want to pay through the nose for this kind of service then feel free. I actually quite enjoy researching my trips through the Internet, and beating the price and even the value that an agency could offer. I am currently sorting out our annual family holiday – a three week trip through China and we’re doing even that independently. I’m keeping my fingers crossed….

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Rohan | 12 January, 2007 at 10:54 pm

Wow what a saving!!

Even if you do have to pay for the damage deposit, your Dad will get it back providing he doesn’t damage anything in the villa. I’ve always said to the family and friends that we should rent a villa, but its always been expensive when we’ve looked into it.

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Darren Cronian | 12 January, 2007 at 11:01 pm

Well Rohan, you know where to come when you want to rent a villa