package vs private?

[m1ke]

Hi again, been reading these forums for a few weeks now, had already decided to go the all in one package route through t-c-d all in £2800.00, then started investigating more deeply into the process, got 2 weeks car hire through this site for £440.00 .the car i wanted as well!. then looked at private villas here and elswhere, seems you can get 2weeks in a named 3 bedroom exec villa we could choose ourselves before we book so we know exactly what we are getting before we get there for under £1000.00 next year in september. which totals £1440.00 up to now. so now for the hard part 'cheap flights' try as i might i dont seem to be able to find flights that equate to around the £1350.00 left for the five of us. my million dollar question 'is it possible'[?] .cheers for now from your now mixed up and undecided new member Mike[:I][)]

[Gillian-B]

Mike,

Although all the "package holiday" companies have prices released up to the end of 2004, if you are thinking of going "independent" then many of the airlines don't release prices until 11 months before. Therefore, it may be a couple of weeks before you are able to get a real idea of independent prices, but you're right to start looking early as the cheapest seats are usually the ones available first.

Personally, we have always booked independent holidays. Not just because we usually find them cheaper (there are no travel agent overheads if you book with an owner), but as you say you get to choose exactly where you stay and what "comforts" your holiday home has. Also, because you will deal direct with the owner, you can use his/her knowledge of the area to ask questions and get the most out of your holiday.

Good luck

[neilandkay]

Did the TCD car hire include all the insurances that you should need and extra drivers? I believe the car hire on this site does have an all inclusive option (which is the cheapest way to go - the insurances in the USA add up dramatically). You may be saving more money on the car hire than you think...

We have just paid UKP 297 for a return flight early November. This is a charter flight and many companies have reduced the number of charter flights from the end of October. Theoretically it should be possible to get a good deal on prices.

--Kay

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

I can confirm our car includes all the insurances you need. If TCD are providing basic car hire (i.e. you pay tyhe insurance on arrival at the car hire desk), expect to pay something like:

LDW Insurance $14-$20 per day
SLI Insurance approx $10 per day
State and local taxes 15-16% of total cost
Airport user fee 4-10% of total cost
Tank of fuel $15-$25
Additional driver fees approx $6 per driver per day

This can have a substantial effect on the cost of your car hire, meaning you can be paying up to £300 to £500 extra on arrival for a 14 night stay!

[Funshine]

Mike - September tends to be a shoulder month as most children are going back to school. I'm certain you will get flights for your £1350, probably less. For example, we have just booked a last minute fly-drive with TCD. The flights were £169pp, with car hire it was £347pp - this included all car insurances and taxes - all we have to pay at Sanford is for a tank of petrol (approx $15 - $25 as John has quoted above). We're travelling on 3 October.

If you are happy to travel on a charter flight - you will definitely get booked within your budget. Scheduled flights are upward of £300pp by the time you've added taxes on.

Another point about 'all-in' packages is you do not get a choice of villa. When you book independently you choose exactly what you want, where you want, what facilities is has, local amenities and of course how far to the 'exhaustion' parks!!

[steph_goodrum]

Mike
We have also found that Travel City allegedly appear to be misleading people in some of their advertising for next year so there could well be many disappointed people who have not got access to the facilities they think they are going to get when they book a villa through them.

[m1ke]

Hi, great to get so many informative replys, I am totally happy with the car rental rates I got from the forum link even though they havn,t taken the money from my account for the deposit which is strange usually when you use your card it is immediate?. and as I said around £1000.00 for a villa of choice is fine as well. But I still worry that I will not be able to find flights at a cost close to my budget.Even from the cheap flights link on this site the best quote was £444.00 each (gulp!).So my worry is if I go the independant route and then end up not being able to get any flights unless I pay way over my budget to do so. cheers Mike.

p:s anyone of any good flight sites?? that may help.

pps seen some villas for less than £1000.00 as well, "damn these flights, how long will it take to walk there?"

[athurstance]

Try the flights link on http://www.orlandovillas.com/cheap_flights.aspx

we got flights for 4 for £1200 for Easter 2004 - they were by far the cheapest we spoke to.

[m1ke]

cheers arthur but they are the ones that quoted me £2220.00 for 5 of us in september 2004.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

Hi Mike

It depends - we do not use online credit card software - the amount is manually debited from your card by our car hire agents soon after your order has been placed. I'm sure you will see the amount taken as per your booking very soon.

quote:Originally posted by m1ke

I am totally happy with the car rental rates I got from the forum link even though they havn,t taken the money from my account for the deposit which is strange usually when you use your card it is immediate