Book last minute. Always, always late deals to Laganas. Start looking 6 weeks before you want to travel.

Although that might be cheaper, we want to get it booked and sorted in the next couple of weeks. Let's call it 'peace of mind'. Thanks anyway :-)

You could try people like

http://www.otbeach.com
http://www.travelrepublic.co.uk
http://www.freedomdirect.co.uk

who will put together a flight and accommodation for you. You will probably need to book your own transfers with these companies.

alternatively you could DIY and book accommodation through one of the following

http://www.wshtravel.com
http://www.hotelopia.co.uk
http://www.findmeaccom.com
http://www.thomson.co.uk - click on the hotels only part of their site
http://www.somewheretostay.co.uk

and try http://www.travelsupermarket.com for flights. This site should bring up a selection of flights.

Dont forget to take out Insurance and pay by Credit Card as you have less protection this way than if you book a package

Check on the thread in general hints and tips for promotion codes to get discounts from some of these sites.

Hope this helps

Doe

Many thanks for the reply.

Is the insurance bought, at the same time as booking the flight/accomodation?

Best too, because if you have paid out money but have to cancel for say health reasons you won't be able to claim if your insurance isn't in place.

Some folk budget by not taking it out until a week before they travel, but if you book up six months ahead that means you aren't covered for the interveneing 5 months.

You don't have to buy it from the websites listed or a travel agent.
Loads of people do it M&S, Post Office, Building Societies, Banks etc etc.

There is an holiday insurance thread in the general hints and tips forum it might be worth reading some of the posts on there.

Doe

Thanks doepsmc, I appreciate it.

What would you say is a reasonable price for 2 weeks in Zante in July for flight, accom & transfer? I found a deal for £780 for both of us - £390 each.

Would you say it's usually always cheaper booking the flights/accom online, as opposed to going through a travel agents because of their commission?

Hi Mucho

Not an expert on Zante, but that price is a lot better than the original one you posted from Going Places.

A lot does rest on the quality of the accomm. you book, so make sure you read any reviews you can find on the net. You don't want to end up in a dump, however if you are going to go out a lot, clean but basic may suit you.

Many on HT are confirmed DIYers for various reasons. Some think it's cheaper others feel they can get more flexible deals, dont like to be limited by brochures, like doing endless research etc etc

Check a couple of package tour companies as well that should give you a comparison

http://www.portlanddirect.co.uk who are owned by TUI (Thomson etc)
http://www.eclipsedirect.co.uk who are First Choice

These are normally the cheaper of the package companys and you should find your accommodation, flights and transfers included in their price.

Some folk take a print out of a price they got off the net into a travel agent and ask them to either match it or beat it.



Doe

Is the insurance bought, at the same time as booking the flight/accomodation?

Don't buy your insurance from the travel agent as it will be a lot more expensive than buying it elsewhere.

Try this link which will check many companies for the best prices and then give you a list that suits your needs.

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/travelinsurance/

Graham

and remember when you buy insurance it is like any other commodity.. there is a lot of difference in cover between the cheapest and the best.... read the small print to see what cover is offerd

wizard

Hi mate,

Just so you know what kind of places are going around, me and a group of 9 are going Laganas in July 17th - 31st

We paid £440 inc. Insurance each. I thought it might have been steep also but as the group booked as a whole I didn't get much of a say
We booked back in October.

Also, were with MyTravel which i've heard is good for prices to Greece

Hi Muchacho

If you are going to Laganas, don't be paying out too much for a transfer as the resort is very close to the airport. I would think you could get a taxi quite cheaply and much quicker than waiting for a coach.
Hope it works out.
Cheers, Jean

Sorry just bumping this to the top.

So, would you say it's far cheaper and better value for money

- Booking flights
- Then booking accomodation
- Then sorting holiday insurance out?

Would you do each of the above with different websites/companies, or all together? Am I missing anything apart from the 3 above?

never book any holiday without either having insurance in place [ and remember you get what you pay for and many free bank insurances dont cover before you depart...] or purchasing with the holiday [expensive at best] if anything should hapen before you depart and you don't have sufficient cover you will loose all

What about booking the holiday and flights and then sorting the insurance out like the day after? It doesn't have to be literally sorted before the holiday is booked does it?

What about looking for the best price for flights - booking it, and then looking for the best price for accmodation straight after? Or would you book the accomodation first and then get flights sorted around those dates?

we have had cases in the complaints forum in the past where insurance was not taken out and within a day or so something has gone wrong and members in the end had to bite the bullett and take the loss...

point of interest.. do you have more than one holiday a year [including uk/ireland] then an anual policy may be better

wizard

ps something i missed on your list ..transfers or car hire this can be done after flights/hotel is sorted

Wizard,

As the resort is very close to the airport, I fancy just jumping into a taxi upon arrival at the airport as it seems to be cheaper than paying for transfer. Also, I rarely have more than 1 holiday a year to be fair.

Muchacho

What's the cheapest site for flights and what's the cheapest sites for accomodation in Greece that you know of?

You could try people like

http://www.otbeach.com
http://www.travelrepublic.co.uk
http://www.freedomdirect.co.uk

who will put together a flight and accommodation for you. You will probably need to book your own transfers with these companies.

alternatively you could DIY and book accommodation through one of the following

http://www.wshtravel.com
http://www.hotelopia.co.uk
http://www.findmeaccom.com
http://www.thomson.co.uk - click on the hotels only part of their site
http://www.somewheretostay.co.uk

and try http://www.travelsupermarket.com for flights. This site should bring up a selection of flights.

Dont forget to take out Insurance and pay by Credit Card as you have less protection this way than if you book a package

Check on the thread in general hints and tips for promotion codes to get discounts from some of these sites.

Hope this helps

Doe

I'd say that just about covers it Mucho.

Cheers for the help.

I've looked on Wshtravel and it's come up with £337 for a 3 star from 30th June to the 10th July, with flights on Travel Super Market for £329.98 flying out on 30th June (00.45) and flying back on 10th July (14.30).

Does this sound about right and I'm right in assuming this would be for both of us?

The total would be £666.98 but that sounds very cheap - perhaps too cheap?