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How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 12:21
by MariaAlice
Hello all! I'm new here, and i've never been to Icmeler or Turkey for that matter!
I'm thinking that Icmeler is a good holiday destination for my boyfriend and me to visit on our first holiday together. Just wondering how far in advance you all book your flights, hotel/apartments ect. As I will have to give him a good idea of how long he has to save! - I'm amazing at saving money up for things, him, not so much ( I will have to keep an eye on him).

Thank you all in advance.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 13:19
by cassielucy
Hi and welcomr to the Forum.
We go to Icmeler twice a year in June & Sept - 2 weeks today and will just be arriving.
We have already booked our flights for June & Sept next year - find it better to book sooner than later as flight prices just seem to go up and up - no late minute bargains like there used to be.
We book our accommodation separately direct with the owner. Find this better for us as we stay in apartments and only get charged price for apartment per night whereas if we booked as package would pay supplement for 2 in an apartment that sleeps 4.
Hope you get sorted.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 13:30
by dksbbs
Normally 13-14 months before as I have usually found that the early bird gets the worm with the lower prices, this year due to circumstances we booked only at the end of June for September and I think we have paid about £150 each more for our flights than we would have had if we booked last year.


Dave

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 13:32
by MariaAlice
Looks like we will be booking the flights as soon as our student loans come through then! Thank you for the advice.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 13:39
by dksbbs
MariaAlice wrote:Looks like we will be booking the flights as soon as our student loans come through then! Thank you for the advice.



Easyjet should be out in September keep an eye on their website.

Dave

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 16:49
by smc4761
MariaAlice wrote:Looks like we will be booking the flights as soon as our student loans come through then! Thank you for the advice.



Student loan money should that be used for fees and books. LOL

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 17:19
by dragon
smc4761 wrote:Student loan money should that be used for fees and books. LOL

Take the books with you to read on holiday. Sorted. :lol:

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 18:33
by MariaAlice
smc4761 wrote:
MariaAlice wrote:Looks like we will be booking the flights as soon as our student loans come through then! Thank you for the advice.



Student loan money should that be used for fees and books. LOL


Well, grant money for me, we get tuition loans to cover fees, and I get a grant as I'm from a low income family, Going to buy all my books second hand to save money for a holiday. :D

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 19 Aug 2012 18:33
by MariaAlice
dragon wrote:
smc4761 wrote:Student loan money should that be used for fees and books. LOL

Take the books with you to read on holiday. Sorted. :lol:


Lovely idea!!

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 10:44
by sunseeker2011
I usually book in January for the same year - we usually travel around beginning of September but as my 15 year old daughter comes now we travel around the end July, beginning of August due to school holidays.

However, this year I will be booking for July/August 2013 next month - around 19th Sept when I get paid, will just pay the deposit (Jet2 is £60 deposit per person) and then if I can save between £80-£100 per month I can pay the rest next year and we should have plenty of spending money too.

You will not be disappointed with Icmeler - it was our first time last month and like I say, we are booking to go to same place next year (by the way, we stayed at the Grand Aquarium hotel - it was perfect).

Hope you get sorted soon and start looking forward to your hols :D

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 10:56
by MariaAlice
I will plan to book next month I think, pay deposits and then start to save up. Thank you to everyone for the replies, and I'm sure i'm going to love Icmeler, heard such lovely things. Getting exited already!

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 11:10
by Sami
At the start of the year I book the weeks I want with ICR. I then gradually pay them all off. Flights I get as and when I have the money and give ICR the details to sort out my transfers. Sorted. Though this year I have already booked for July 2013 and when I arrive in September will be booking for June next year too so that my parents can come too. :D

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 11:44
by ochlynda
Already Booked for the 24 June 2013. Did it when we came home last month and to be honest that is late for us as I usually book when flights/packages are first released.

Lynda

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 11:59
by toonarmybarmy
Arrived back in UK on 3rd Aug and booked next day for Sept 2013 and since have booked another for May 2013 :D

Tim

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 12:10
by barney1uk
Booked for 5th Aug 2013 on Aug 5th 2012......50 weeks today! :D

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 15:38
by dksbbs
Don't forget

Not all airlines take a deposit and pay later also my understanding is that you have no protection for flights from ATOL where the complete flight has not been paid for.

Dave

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 16:21
by dragon
dksbbs wrote:Don't forget

Not all airlines take a deposit and pay later also my understanding is that you have no protection for flights from ATOL where the complete flight has not been paid for.

Dave

Provided that the total booking is more than £100 you will be protected if you pay all or part of your booking with a credit card to get the protection of section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. It's worth doing as yet another travel company went bust last week.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 20 Aug 2012 20:34
by Kneale
dragon wrote:
dksbbs wrote:Don't forget

Not all airlines take a deposit and pay later also my understanding is that you have no protection for flights from ATOL where the complete flight has not been paid for.

Dave

Provided that the total booking is more than £100 you will be protected if you pay all or part of your booking with a credit card to get the protection of section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. It's worth doing as yet another travel company went bust last week.


Each flight, the outbound and return, must be over £100 to be covered, unless the flight operator you're buying from ONLY offers return flights.

You're also protected for any amount if you pay by Visa debit card, under their chargeback scheme.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 21 Aug 2012 11:17
by dragon
Kneale wrote:Each flight, the outbound and return, must be over £100 to be covered, unless the flight operator you're buying from ONLY offers return flights.

You're also protected for any amount if you pay by Visa debit card, under their chargeback scheme.

I think as companies are still going bust it is important to know how we are protected legally (another company went bust last week).

As long as you've booked with a credit card you're covered for your flights and for consequential losses. To get the protection of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you must pay all or part of your booking with a credit card and the total booking must cost more than £100. It doesn't matter what the booking is for or for how many people, or whether it's outbound or return, all that matters is that the booking is for £100 or more to get the legal cover. Have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shoppi ... -purchases

You also could be protected for any amount if you pay by Visa debit card, under their chargeback scheme. Unfortunately whilst Section 75 is a legal requirement chargeback when using a debit card isn't guaranteed but it's definitely worth a try. Have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shoppi ... chargeback

Even though this thread is about how far in advance we book our holidays we need to know how to protect our money especially if we book far in advance. In our case we normally book 14 months in advance but this year we returned home before booking our next holiday. Roll on 29th June.

Re: How far in advance do you all book your holidays?

PostPosted: 21 Aug 2012 19:20
by Kneale
dragon wrote:
Kneale wrote:Each flight, the outbound and return, must be over £100 to be covered, unless the flight operator you're buying from ONLY offers return flights.

You're also protected for any amount if you pay by Visa debit card, under their chargeback scheme.

I think as companies are still going bust it is important to know how we are protected legally (another company went bust last week).

As long as you've booked with a credit card you're covered for your flights and for consequential losses. To get the protection of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 you must pay all or part of your booking with a credit card and the total booking must cost more than £100. It doesn't matter what the booking is for or for how many people, or whether it's outbound or return, all that matters is that the booking is for £100 or more to get the legal cover. Have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shoppi ... -purchases

You also could be protected for any amount if you pay by Visa debit card, under their chargeback scheme. Unfortunately whilst Section 75 is a legal requirement chargeback when using a debit card isn't guaranteed but it's definitely worth a try. Have a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shoppi ... chargeback

Even though this thread is about how far in advance we book our holidays we need to know how to protect our money especially if we book far in advance. In our case we normally book 14 months in advance but this year we returned home before booking our next holiday. Roll on 29th June.


From the website you quoted, where I also got my information from:

"Fly to Traveltown with Holidayair on flights costing £99 outbound and £9.99 back, and while it's over £100 in total, as no single ticket was over £100 you're not protected. Yet if Holidayair had only sold return journeys and you bought a specific £109 return ticket then you would be covered."

Plus, I work for a bank 8)