I too have noticed an increase of prices, which is rather strange given the good dollar/pound exchange rate in our favour

Add to that my greatest bug-bear: fuel supplements

Usual applies: immediate increase when costs go against them. Taking ages to pass a saving over to the customer.

Mark
Just to add: The newly introduced Airport Passenger Duty does - of course - not help either

Hiya Becki

We've already booked next years holiday to the Bellini Bungalows in Ayia Napa through Olympic Holidays. We paid total for self cateing £972 for 2 people forf 2 weeks. It has now come down in price by about £30 but considering it actually works out to £486 per person for 2 weeks, we can't really complain. The Bellini Bungalows are only 2 star, in a small complex of about 15 apartments, small compared to other places, but its cheap, still very close to everything, its on Nissi Avenue near the Kaos Apts/Anmaria Hotel/Thallassaki Beach Hotel. It would only take about 10 minutes to walk into The Square, obviously longer if you stop at bars/shops etc. Hope this is of some help to you.

Julie

Just one word DIY.

I haven't booked a TO trip for years and years due to the cost and often inflexible conditions attached to them, granted there are some bargains to be had when they're trying to offload excess holidays and Olympic are good as are Libra at heavy discounting when needs be.

But DIY in my personal opinion has saved me a fortune. an example from one of my trips this year. I went to Ayia Napa in the middle of July this year for 2 weeks, I travelled on Schedule airlines and the flights were booked in January 07 for £144 inc taxes. We stayed in 3 star apartments of a high standard excellently located and paid £196 each for a one bedroom apartment for 2 of us for 2 weeks, therefore the total for my holiday £340 The only extra was our private transfers which cost £68 between 7 of us and that was a return trip so it cost me £9.70 to get to and from Larnaca to Ayia Napa.

So a fortnight in mid July for less than £350 to Cyprus I doubt any TO could beat that for an advance booking let alone a last minute deal

Nice one Miss Cheif1! Well organised and well priced. Ive done independent bookings twice but found the taxi transfer quite boring and uncomfortable. I like the transfer coaches as they are so comfy. I think it all depends on what each person likes and dislikes. Im really glad you like to make all the arrangements separately as it can be done very cheaply. Good on ya gal! I'd do it independently again if I was really pushed financially, but Im happy enoough with TO's. I maybe tempted to "got it along again" booking-wise in the future.

Jules...........You must be the first person on Holiday Truths who likes the TO coach transfer as oppose to the luxury of a private limo cab Most people pay extra to do the whole private transfer rather than sit on a coach and have to wait while everyone else gets off and unloads luggage etc. which can take forever as per previous posts. Our transfer was an executive people carrier for 10 and very cheap and very comfortable.

And I'm afraid I never do it for "being financially pushed" far from it in fact, less money spent on the holiday and in the TO's pocket means more spends for me and the opportunity to have upwards of 4/5 holidays a year

It was a coincidence that I mentioned Ayia Napa, albeit not unusual for me as October 07 will be my 34th trip and 3rd to Cyprus this year.......Love the place, as if you couldn't guess

I hope Becki can see the advantages to a DIY holiday if the budget is £400 for 2 weeks I know it can be done Becki and pretty easily without having to "sleep on the beach"

Next year we're only doing cheap and cheerful as in 2 weeks time we're off to Cancun doing All Inclusive at the Caribbean Princess Hotel. In Ayia Napa we're only doing 2 star self catering at the Bellini Bungalows. My friend works just round the corner at the Rainbow Bike Hire Shop, so she knows what the apartments are like. Its only a small complex of about 15 apartments but thats fine with us, apparently there's also more than enough sunloungers to go round too! I like the coach transfer as you can have a snooze on it and the aircon is lovely too, unlike a taxi! But again that's only my opinion. I do hope Becki finds something she likes. Where are you staying in Napa next year?

I too have noticed quite a big price jump for 2008 hols. Maybe its time to try DIY but when i`ve priced up in the past i honestly have not found it that much cheaper. It seems a lot of hassle for a small saving.

Thanks for the advice guys,
I think DIY is something we'll definately look into. We've done DIY city break in Prague and got one booked for Rome but for some reason have never thought about doing it this way for the summer holiday. I guess it must work out a lot cheaper as the TO's must whack a fair bit on the price for themselves. Also, Cyprus is somewhere I'm definately interested in going, went a few years ago to Protaras but I was only 13 so didn't really appreciate it. Do you have any recommendations on the best places to go then?You guys seem to know the place well.
Also, I'm not sure how easy it would be to book the flights seperately, I live in the middle of Cornwall so it's gotta be Exeter or Bristol really. Where do you find the flights, is it through the airline websites themselves?
Sorry for all the questions!!

Becki
x

Hi Becki

When I've booked flights separately in the past, I've used freedomflights.co.uk, but the other main airlines also book flights separately too. Hope you can find something you like. I've stayed in perneera, which isnt too far from Protaras. Ive stayed at the Issaac Hotel Apts and the Toxotis Hotel Apts. You get a great view overlooking the Med from the Toxotis as its on a little bit of a hill, not steep tho, its just how the driveway is. Pernera is quieter than Protaras itself. There are many good website to book accomodation though, freedomdirect.co.uk is one to try. My friend booked her hols last year through them to Paphos, she haad to choose the flight, then choose accommodation, then arrange separately for transfers from Larnaca Airport. Let us all know how you get on.

Julie

Miss_Chief1,
You say 350pounds,did you eat? as to give a fair comparison you should include at least 2 meals a day Breakfast and evening dinner,so we can see what the real savings are.

If you would like to re-read the post correctly, then you will see it was the COST of the holiday not spending money

Less than £350 for the flight, accom & transfers

I get a shock every year when I'm pricing our next holiday because they always seem to be more expensive when the new brochures come out. Once I get over this and start comparing prices and companies I can usually find a deal that I am quite happy to pay. This year's holiday to Salou in October is actually £500 cheaper than when we went a few years back.

I booked my 2008 holiday with Portland Direct when the First edition brochure came out in May. I was pleased with the price at the time. However, the holiday I booked is £100 cheaper in the Second edition!!

Becki

However you book your holiday for next year, Im sure you will find spmething reasonably priced. Every one of us has found different ways of arranging our holidays, either through TO ro independently. There are plenty of travel agents/websites that can assist you.

Let us all know how you get on with booking your holiday, we'll all be interested to know how you booked it and to where to.

Good luck with your booking arrangement. You never know, you might decide on the Bellini Bungalows!!

Keep us up to date.

Julie

I've just been looking at flight only prices for next oct H/T and they are more than double what we paid for this Oct H/T !!!!!!!!! That is flights from Man-----Sharm / Taba!

Surely increases in taxes etc can't justify doubling the price!!!!

Flight only options seem to have increased to silly amounts no matter where you are going

Still cheap flights available to Turkey, via http://www.aegeanflights.com £112 per person in August is not bad.

I'm getting stitched up every time I look for decent holiday price. Been looking for next year but coz its just me and my son I have to pay huge supplements!! and even the so-called "single parent saver" deals aren't that cheap! Do TO think that coz I'm a single parent me and my son aren't entitled to a nice holiday???

have you tried booking your son as an adult sometimes it works cheaper