What are we paying for our holiday?

[Canli]

We make it a challenge. We decide when we want to go then try to out do each other on the cheapest way to do it. We don't expect, or want, 5 star, as long as we've got a clean bed to sleep in for the few hours we spend in the apartment, we're happy. We can spend the cash we saved on having a good time while we're there. We go early and late season, for 16-19 nights, and this year is the first time we've gone over the £300 each mark for flights, transfers and accommodation. It's cost us £307 for september. The best deals on flights would seem to be about 16 weeks before you want to fly. The flight we booked has gone up by nearly £40 since we booked 6 weeks ago. We've never used ICR, but if they can do better, or at least the same, we'll certainly give them a go.

[dewsbury john]

last week i booked with t-----n holidays for 7 nights at devamli half board 307 pounds each for my wife and myself 2nd week in october this week same week comes up at 474 pounds each think i got a real bargin what do you think

[kirky]

flying from birmingham 9th august with tommy cook flight£300 each 17 nites apartment not icr sorry £25 night including air con and safe including transfer £1425 total price for 3 off us

[sandybeach]

We make it a challenge. We decide when we want to go then try to out do each other on the cheapest way to do it. We don't expect, or want, 5 star, as long as we've got a clean bed to sleep in for the few hours we spend in the apartment, we're happy. We can spend the cash we saved on having a good time while we're there. We go early and late season, for 16-19 nights, and this year is the first time we've gone over the £300 each mark for flights, transfers and accommodation. It's cost us £307 for september. The best deals on flights would seem to be about 16 weeks before you want to fly. The flight we booked has gone up by nearly £40 since we booked 6 weeks ago. We've never used ICR, but if they can do better, or at least the same, we'll certainly give them a go.

Thats exactly how i feel about holidays as long as I have a clean room /apartment I am happy and would rather spend more money on drinks, excursions, jewellery, meals etc. I also like to have at least 3 holidays a year and i would not be able to do this if I opted for a hotel at the high end of the market. My friend however prefers the 5 star hotels where there is entertainment at night, the service staff are formal to their guests and everyone dresses for dinner in smart attire, and she loves these type of holidays because it makes her feel very special.

I much prefer it to be very casual at the accommodation i stay at and just enjoy eating out at all the different restaurants in Icmeler and meeting new people at the different bars.

[GG.CUT]

Hey everyone its great to hear how other people go about planning and booking there holidays, loved reading them all, i agree everyone is diffrent wouldn't be the same if we all thought the same eh? and some of you got great deals, just love going on line and checking out what deals are best ect , we went to Fuertaventura for xmas and new year and i booked about 10 months before we went and if i had waited till about 2 months could have saved £600 but didn't want to take the chance with the flights at Xmas, last year was our first time in Turkey we went to Hisaronu,dont like going to the same resort twice, so heard Icmeler was similar so trying it there , going by all the reviews and forums here think i have picked a good one? 10 more sleeps

[noodles1609]

Bet you'll book again for next year

[icemeler5]

2010 (1st time to icmeler ) £3749. 2 adults, 3 kids 12,10 & 8 s/c 2 bed apartment, 2 weeks July/August. 2011 same place £2800. Next week £4200 (3 weeks). For 2013 we have booked appt. through icr and for the 1st time ever going to have a go at booking flights etc ourselves, as these days its just getting harder each year to find the spare cash plus spends. As this is all new to us does anyone think we could have a cheaper holiday for 2 weeks in the summer school holidays, or is it more difficult now so many flight companies have gone bust? We would appreciate any feedback, thanks.

[lechy123]

£933 for two of us 21 nights bed and breakfast , 20kg luggage and private transfer booked last October, depart September 4th. Funny thing is the most expensive time we booked for icemeler was the first time in 2004, two weeks at the private in July/August £585 but was worth every penny fell in love with the place,.

[booker]

may 2013 2 weeks s/c, 4 adults 2 apartments flying from LBA, £1436, just transfers to book, which ICR will get the honour.

[MummyD]

Went this year with Thomsons for 2 weeks. Found accommodation we might like to stay at in the future but priced doing it all separately and the flights from Scotland were really high so would work out cheaper with Thomsons again. Think you can only get good deals from English airports as Scottish flights are always more expensive.

[sunseeker2011]

I got 10 days at The Grand Aquarium Hotel for £1320 for 3 of us self catering, used Thomas Cook as other sites were more expensive and I didn't know this forum existed then lol - Also I got a 'free' child place for my 15 year old daughter which I thought was good, other sites classed a 15 year old as an 'adult'.

Price includes, flights, transfers & luggage.
I did pay extra for airport parking as it's the same one I used last year and I was very impressed with their service - they're called APH.

[cj1]

last year for 2 adults and 1 child aged 12 for 16 days we paid just under 1200, booked seperatley to suit us, so not into package holidays. we choose flights when we want to fly, the apartments we wanted to go to and booked transfers seperatley , so all in before spent roughly 1200. this year for 2 weeks same apartments as last year.... the ones we wanted to stay in, self catering as this suits us as a family, i think this year a little more expensive but only just, roughly 1350 for flights(chose times that suit us), our favourite apartments transfers and insurance. the cost of flights more expensive this year but not too much that it puts a stop to our holiday in paradise. and the joy of going to icmeler is that you can survive on the bare budget once there as the prices are so low

[cj1]

sorry meant to say we always go end of july beginning of august to fit in with school holidays so considering the peak season im very happy with what we pay

[daisysun]

sorry meant to say we always go end of july beginning of august to fit in with school holidays so considering the peak season im very happy with what we pay

that is a good price.

[bikerjambo]

Went this year with Thomsons for 2 weeks. Found accommodation we might like to stay at in the future but priced doing it all separately and the flights from Scotland were really high so would work out cheaper with Thomsons again. Think you can only get good deals from English airports as Scottish flights are always more expensive.

We managed flights from Edinburgh last year for £87 including luggage, then Aegean went bust.

[JT]

Once again the reason thesecheap companies keep going bust is because they are selling the flights at cost, no profit, can't pay taxes, can't pay staff or rent so they go bust.

Same will happen eventually to any business that sells its goods below a profit

In an Ideal world we would all be able to purchase goods within all our means but it isn't an ideal world

[ashington44]

We booked a package holiday with Thomson (June 2012) It worked out £500 cheaper than doing it ourselves!!!!!! as we have done for the last 8 years. This was for the same flights and acommodation. The flights from Edinburgh were very expensive this year. We could have still had a much cheaper holiday if we had compromised on acommodation but as others have said ....each to his own.

[sunseeker2011]

sorry meant to say we always go end of july beginning of august to fit in with school holidays so considering the peak season im very happy with what we pay

Same here CJ, my holiday is 2xAdults + my 15 year old daughter - I thought £1,320 was a good price considering, like you, it's peak season (last week July, first week August). I did book it back in January though and noticed even then that the prices were going up daily. If I'd left it 4 weeks later it would have cost nearer £1,700 (I checked lol). I can't see how they can justify a £380 price increase for exactly the same package - shocking!!!

[Roseanns01]

I booked flights through TC for May and then booked our apartments and transfers and we got the week for £383 pounds all in great deal I thought. However weather wasnt that great as we had brought the heavy rain with us. I have booked for last week in Augsut for a week for husband, son and myself all in ive paid £954 which includes flights with TC which got dearer the longer I waited. accommodation and transfers independently again. So looking forward to the lovely hot weather!