Guys really desperate I not that good with computers and have been on hotelopia and jet2.com and tried to get some quotes for a holiday but with no luck as I not sure what im looking for if I leave some paramaters could you guys maybe take a look or try out some bookings for me?

I been quoted £799 fropm my local traval agant for a H/B in spain but am interested in Crete or spain maybe

Place: Crete/Spain(pop places please)
Date: June 2007
Duration: 2 weeks
People traveling: 2

Im really hoping you guys can help me if you can could you leave details of sites used etc.

Check out holiday rentals for the accomodation, then skyscanners for the flight.

Hi

I have used Jet2 on 6 occasions now and have been pleased with the flights. Unfortunately, next years prices will not be out yet (next summers are usually out about November). You need to register with Jet2 and they will email you when the flights prices and schedules are released. The earlier you book, the cheaper they tend to be (for Spain probably about £80 return or less if you can be flexible with the dates).

What you can do now, is look at what airports they are likely to use. This is important because you can then look for hotels with short transfer distances.

There are lots of websites for hotels (I have used http://www.medhotels.com ) but there are lots listed within these forums. This year I paid £175 for two weeks half board in July to Mallorca and £80 for the flight.

Have fun!

been lookin for a hour or so now.

Still not up to scratch on the internet thingy I would be willing to send someone a finders fee for a holiday if they would take some time to look for me i know this sounds silly but wen it comes to internet im just very basic ie this Msg B

Where can you fly from daz ????

Robby

No need to pay anyone on HT a finder's fee, members offer their advice free of charge

Pippy

Hi Dazzler

I do think you are having problems because it is very early yet (for DIY). I prefer to book my flights and then book the accommodation (others may disagree, for example if they want a particular apartment/hotel that they know books up early). As I said, most of the cheaper airlines have not yet released 2007 prices yet. This year I booked my flights in December (a few weeks after they were released) but didn't book the hotel until March (most hotels do not seem to increase their prices until the season actually starts - so you do not save by booking earlier).

It would be easier for us to advise if you were a bit more definite about where you want to go (you said Crete but then mentioned Spain). Have you tried posting on the Crete forum - you may get better ideas on there.

Good luck - and it really isn't very complicated (once the prices are released)

Sorry forgot to add. Had a quick look on the jet2 website. They do not appear to fly to Crete - ask someone for advice on the Crete forum about flights. They do fly to Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Alicante (Benidorm).

Hi

No frills airlines don't yet fly to the Greek Islands. You need charter flights really. These should now be available for booking with your travel agent. There are two airports in Crete - Heraklion is the most popular with lots of flights, the other is Chania - quieter area, tends to be slightly more expensive.

Pippy,
A "Finders Fee " is a great idea ! - Can you open a " suggestions " thread please.

Erm................................................no!

dazzler,
If, as debbg suggested, you log onto skyscanner's site, and type in your local or preferred airport and then the destination airport, the next page will display a list of airlines that serve that particular route. This will help narrow down your search for flights. It's then a question of waiting for flight fares to be released, but, if you register with the airlines in question for e-mail updates, you'll be notified when fares are released.
Good luck.

Dazzler -

You could try Xl.com for flights...they are usually cheaper than Thomas Cook etc for the greek islands ;

http://www.xl.com/

Use the promotion code DIVERS or FAMILY in the promotion code box for a further £15pp off each flight (anyone can do this).

Also here are some accommodation only sites (I'm sure other people can suggest more sites if you need them) ;

http://www.findmeaccom.com/scripts/TDBkgEngine.dll/Startup?utm_id=

http://www.broadwaytravel.com/scripts/TDBkgEngine.dll/Startup?Now

http://www.sky.onlinetravel.com/hotels/HotelResult.asp?PersistID=Q03;{B414B20C-3F00-41AF-BF90-758B3D66C9B5};200604251502;28800

There are also other sites than can supply transfers only to your hotel, but we usually hire a car ......and that has lots of advantages; ie you can site see at your own pace, nip into town shopping and beat the bused crowds back to the airport (a big plus in my experience of greek airports !). Car hire for a week is pretty reasonable......please let us know if you need website suggestions.

I'm not sure how much you would save as a couple doing DIY (but you would have greater flexibility, and choice obviously)....we find it is the savings on the kids that really make DIY so worthwhile.

We stayed at the Iberostar Creta Panorama / Mare near Rethymnon last year - highly recommend it if you are not a young couple (no nightlife there).
Read my review here ;
http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/(Iberostar)/

Hope this is of some help !

I also go along with tippi. Getting cheap flights is the main part of getting good priced DIY holidays - accommodation is the easy bit.

Depending on where you can fly from may well determine your choice of destination. I always do Spain now DIY ( unless there are some really silly cheap prices around ). Greece or Greek islands I do on a late deal basis especially for May/June or September/October. I often find I can book a package for around £150/£175 for a week, and most of the time the flight only prices are above this price.

There are lots of people to help you on this site Daz, so hopefully you will get what you want.

Robby

Hi all
I had a fantastic first time DIY in Mallorca in April this year, and am now thinking of next year.
I am thinking of Tenerife, I have looked at the hotel chain I booked with this year Solmelia and have looked at hotels I like the look of. But it keeps coming up, that they are unavailable for some of my dates. Are they genuinely booked up or is it that they don't want to take bookings so far in advance?

Thanks
Dawnie-Rob

Are you trying to book around the Easter time ??????

Robby

Could be that the hotel is hosting a convention or something; try e-mailing them.

Hi
I was looking at the dates around the 14th April 2007. I'm not sure exactly what dates I would be going, depends on my husband's holiday rota, but just looking for prices but it was the 15th April I travelled out this year. I got a real good holiday price this year.

I booked my holiday for this year at the end of January

Dawnie-Rob

alas having no luck at all finding the cheap flight found acc for like 300 for 2 weeks for both of us but a £400 flight is something id rather not pay