STEP BY STEP DIY

1. Get an idea of the area you want to go , your dates and types of accommodation (ie self catering , full board , * rating).

2. Check out the package prices ....it is not always the case that you can do it cheaper DIY (though that might not be the only reason for DIY - flexibility comes into it too).
Its always good to find out package prices in any case, to check you are getting a good deal. Travel companies often have good package deals going too - especially free child places.
In general however, you are more likely to save money if you have children and are going outside, or even just outside, of school holidays. But that is in general remember !

3.Check that there will be transfers available from the airport to your resort by research or simply asking the question on one of these forums. Transfer could be by taxi, bus/coach, hire car, or possibly train & taxi. Check how much these are likely to cost for your overall price comparison against the package (and check your package does include them these days !).
NOTE : Booking a hire car has alot of advantages -especially if you are going to have to fork out for the kid's transfers too. You will have your own transport for the duration of the holiday and will not have to fork out for over priced tours, or rely on local transport, you will see far more of the local countryside and be able to access quiet beaches etc. You will also be guarenteed of a direct transfer to your hotel, and be able to beat the buses back to the airport on your return journey, to be at the front of the checkin queue !! I highly recommend it.

3. Next start researching flights (particularly those that that suit you airport and time wise) on the flight only providers. Check this board for ideas for flights and promotion codes.
....you may need to start monitoring now so you can spot a bargain when you see one....deals come and go (often before / after xmas).

Start looking at hotels/villas on accommodation only websites and their prices. Check for promotion codes . CHECK HOTEL USER REVIEWS (on this and other review sites )!!! Get an idea of what the accommodation is going to cost. Check with the hotels you fancy how much it would cost to book direct - though I have to say, that I normally find that the accommodation only sites are normally cheaper (but you should always check !)

4. Do your price comparison with the package price, against what you can put things together yourself for, and the pros & cons with flight times, transfers etc. etc.

If you decide to go ahead -
-Book flights FIRST - you can always get accommodation... but you will not always be able to match it up doing it the other way round !
- Book accommodation
- Book transfers
- Arrange your travel insurance !!!!

5. Relax, and look smug when you tell your friends of your savings

I have been trying to book DIY for 4day break and found it either, costlier or same as going through an operator. Decided on operator as everthing done in one go. We booked with Flyglobespan.

Joolz - that does not surprise me as packages can often work out cheaper ...and that is why you need to do a comparison.

However, getting good DIY deals requires finding good sites - I would recommend the following for general Med holidays;

Flights; http://www.xl.com/ (use TESCO in the promotion code box for £20pp off)

Accommodation; http://www.findmeaccom.com/scripts/TDBkgEngine.dll/Startup?utm_id=
However, others on this board will have their favourites.....

Getting a good deal on a diy holiday depends on quite a lot of factors.

1) Destination - places that are accessible by 'low cost' airlines can be the cheapest. Spain and Portugal tend to be the cheapest because they are used by most carriers. Greece tends to be cheaper on a package.
2) Flights - if using low cost airlines - register with them so that as soon as flight schedules are released you will be notified. Generally the earlier you book the cheaper the flight. Occasionally though you will find the low cost airlines have a sale at quiet times.
3) When you go matters as school holidays tend not be very cheap with the low cost carriers. Outside of these peak times though you can get some really good bargains.
4) DIY comes into its own if you want to go for anything other than the 7/14 days or you want to stay in more than one place.

We always do diy now and generally we would book flights first. Having said that though we have booked an apartment in Cost de Azahar for next May without yet booking flights - owner of apartment is very flexible as to when we go and we will of course notify them when the flight schedules are released.

Go for it but you do need to be prepared to spend a long time on the net searching - but that's part of the fun.

Pippa

"Greece tends to be cheaper on a package. "

Sorry couldn't agree less on that statement - we have had fabulous savings on DIY holidays to Crete and to Kos in the last 2 years !

All down to finding the right sites for each destination I suppose ?

I think it depends on where in Greece you are going. The 2 destinations you mention have a good choice of flights - some of the smaller islands may only have a couple of airlines going in and therefore because of lack of competition prices for flight only will be higher.

Greece tends to be cheaper on a package

100% agree with that, especially out of season. I've just picked up a cracking bargain for Crete. Turkey as well out of season, you can pick up a "package" cheaper than the cost of a flight.

Robby

It pays to keep checking prices periodically for both flights and accommodation. A couple of weeks ago I booked flights for a couple of weeks in Tunisia for 1st October and then started checking accommodation. I saw a hotel for £159 on one site but checked elsewhere before booking and found the same accommodation on Lowcostbeds for £109. Purely out of curiosity I've looked at it since and today LCB is quoting £204. There is no rhyme or reason about it so just keep looking and if the price seems really good grab it quick.

Without turning this post into an arguement about who is right or wrong about Greece (sorry, I know I started it - my apologies ) ....go back to my first point ....always check BOTH package and DIY prices ...there are bargains to be had in each given different circumstances.

I do approx 80% of all holidays/city breaks DIY, as it gives more flexibility, but sometimes savings aren't a much as some people hope. It does need planning to get the best deals.

I'm not doubting you jdybnsn about getting great DIY deals to Greece, but what do you consider a "great deal" ?? I've had a few 1 week holidays to Greece for around £110 all in (flights, accomodation, transfers etc), and would find it very hard to beat from Newcastle airport.

Robby

Robbyw -

Sorry, but I thought I'd made it clear that DIY starts with obtaining the package price for comparison, and that it is not always cheaper ...... so I don't really understand what your latest point is on this post ?

As for holidays in Greece - I think where we might be differing is the fact that I always like to stay 4*-5* hotels, anything from half board to all inclusive, and like to book well in advance...and decide exactly where I'm staying (often based on the hotel reviews on here).
I've yet to see a deal, for a half board 4*, or better, for the kind of money you are quoting, six months or more in advance....I suspect we'd all be booking those kinds of deals if they were available

A "great deal" by my definition for DIY is anything that is considerably cheaper than the package price you WOULD have had to pay for exactly the same holiday of your choice (emphasis on 'of your choice')!
It isn't necesarily about the very cheapest price you can get "a" holiday for.
I paid £1400 for a family of 4, all inclusive, 4*+ on Crete over half term in October last year (booked almost a year in advance !)...and that included a week's car hire...the equivalent package would have cost us £1750 - so I was well chuffed !

Everyones circumstances, and everyones holiday requirements are different - for the cheaper end of the package market I don't doubt there are some good package deals ....particularly at the last minute, if that's what you want,...but last minute and/or cheap doesn't suit us all and not choosing exactly where you're staying in advance doesn't always appeal either.

To me the last minute cheap package is an entirely different ball game to general DIY.

Just IMO...you are perfectly entitled to yours of course

Whereas it's very easy to make a direct cost comparison concerning specific hotels, for families looking at self catering there are other factors to look at. There are lots of websites offering private rentals eg ownersdirect, holidayrentals etc where a family of four can find 2 bedrooms (often with en-suite facilities), washing machine, dishwasher, satellite TV, proper fully equipped kitchen, in fact all home comforts. All on a complex with pool, sunloungers etc. Comparing this to the last tour operater's apartment we stayed in - 4 star - one bedroom for 4 people, kitchen consisting of little more than 2 cooking rings and a microwave, and a race for the sun loungers every morning, even though the financial savings may not be great it is still well worth it.
However if a children's rep and entertainment are important to you then I would not recommend this option.

I would just like to say Jdybnsm what a terrific, well planned out guide to booking DIY that is. You had obviously put in a lot of time into that post and it was very much appreciated. i would also like to add that i would and do things precisely as you suggest. I also have a family of 5, like a good quality A/I ,research thoroughly where i want to go first and choose the exact hotel normally after discussions in the forums here and book around a year in advance , sometimes earlier. I compare prices just how you have advised but the last 2 years I havnt managed to beat the T/O price from Portland and eclipse who im sure most people are aware of are direct booking arms of first choice and portland. However for next easter on my holiday to sharm i have saved a massive £900-£1800 by doing it DIY depending on what flight day we would of chose with the tour operator and also have a better flight day of Saturday included in our saving. we were only offered thursday or monday flights with T/O, you can also get many more flexible holiday durations. i.e 10/11 and 12 days . for a city break i would always book budget flights and use an accomodation agent

I do agree with you robby that you can get very excellent late package deals and maybe one day we will be in the position to be able to do that but for now we have school holidays , exams etc etc to consider so this is the way we have to do things and if i was perfectly honest i dread the time when our children wont be with us which is probably not that far away

lyn

Perhaps a bit late to join in with my complete agreement with Jdybnsm on how to go about DIY, Robby made some good points as did Lynwestie and Avril.

Well done all, the definitive guide.

Oooo thank you very much for all your kind comments

Hi all, I have just booked next septembers hols, fliight with thomsonfly £114 for 2 & sc studio for £585 with wintersunshine - am very happy, altogether we have a fortnights holiday for under £700 whereas with my travel exactly the same dates would have been £1444 - wow what a saving!!! For me DIY is so much cheaper. ( Especially with loyalty discount with wintersunshine!

To make great savings on D.I.Y, you must be patient. Keep looking at flight prices, and understand what is a good price. I have just returned from Cyrprus, and booked already for 2007. There are 8 Adults in our party, and 1 week is costing 235.00 each, this includes Flight/Transfer to Airport UK/Transfer to Accommodation in Paphos & Accommodation for next September.

Saying that I have just let some good flights to Vegas with Virgin pass me by, some of our party could not make up there mind, so missed the boat and they have gone up £150.00 overnight, but I have patience on my side and will wait for another offer!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kaz.

Hi Kaz45,

We've booked a villa in cyprus for next august with my sister and her family - looking now for flights from birmingham to larnaca - looking a bit pricey at mo - never done DIY before - is it best to just keep checking prices or are the prices one the screen the average price - cheapest so far was £130 but that's now gone up to £178! All the rest are about £300 - i'm getting impatient but my husband wants to wait till end of month at least (only returned from this years holiday last week!)

Just some advice would be good - Hopefully we all want to be on the same flight - 4 adults 4 children.

thanks

Hippyjak - just being nosey ...who are offering the cheapest flights ?