Package Holiday v. DIY

So which should you choose? Is there a truly cost effective option? Or could you make savings either way? Read on and I'll show you how to make savings, save time and keep cash in your pocket.

If you want a job doing properly, you have to do it yourself. That was what I was always told, but anyone who has seen my fence mending and house decorating might think a little differently. There comes a time when it's just easier to let someone else do the work for you, even if it does work out more expensive. The same could be said for holidays.

Booking through an established provider and having them do the legwork for you needn't cost the earth. As long as you use a comparison tool to search the market you can still grab relatively cheap late deals, ski and city breaks and luxury, all-inclusive summer and winter sun holidays from the leading holiday companies such as First Choice, Thomas Cook and Going Places.

There are big advantages to a traditional package holiday too - it's convenient, quick, and brings additional benefits such as a tour rep and transfers to your accommodation.

A package holiday can also bring added peace of mind. During the recent terrorism scare, hundreds of scheduled flights offered by the likes of British Airways and Ryanair were cancelled but only a handful of charter flights were cut.

As customers were not just flying from one destination to another, but were genuinely going to lose a holiday, the travel companies did their best to get them to their destination as quickly as possible. This enhanced responsibility led to the minimal disruption.

Nevertheless, this doesn't mark the end of the DIY holiday either. The savings that can be made by shopping around are still substantial and certainly there are more options for the consumer to consider. Price comparison websites, such as the flights, hotels and car hire comparison tools at travelsupermarket.com have made it possible for people to cut down on time and the amount of shopping around they have to do in order to find the cheapest available deal. And of course DIY holidays mean there are no restrictions - you can go where you want, when you want as the trip is tailor made.

So what will it be? Time or money? The truth is that you no longer have to make this choice for package holidays and DIY trips, because now BOTH can be cost effective and convenient to organise.

Instead, you can book your holiday based on your own needs and choices - DIY to give you more options, or package for peace of mind. Either way, the cash can stay in your wallet… at least until you start your holiday spending!

www.travelsupermarket.com

14 November 2006