Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Expensive holiday? It's the flights, not the accomodation

With half term rapidly approaching, the age old problem of holiday prices being hiked up to coincide with school holidays is once again upon us. But there's a solution.

Research conducted by Worldwide Holiday Homes shows that it is the price of flights that increase around school holiday time, not the accommodation. Darren Cronian, of Worldwide Holiday Homes, says: “I was amazed to find that flights for a family of three to travel for a half-term holiday in Alicante could be twice the price than if they had been able to wait and travel one week later.” *

“One solution is for families to take advantage of the flexibility of independent travel. The price of accommodation doesn’t vary a huge amount as it is largely determined by the season, not the date of school holidays. Booking flights independent of accommodation means it is possible to shop around for the cheapest available. If we can pressurise the airlines to reduce prices during the school holidays it will considerably reduce the cost of holidays for families with school children.”

Package holidays can be the easy, no-hassle option but when it comes to going away during school holidays there's often little value-for-money. With package holidays you get what you are given which can often mean a 5am check-in for a 7am flight – no fun with young children in tow. Independent travel allows the option of choosing the price of the flight as well as when you fly and where from.

If independent travel sounds like the cost-effective option you have been looking for then here are a few websites to get you on your way:
Holiday Accommodation www.holiday-rentals.uk.com
Cheap flights www.flightscanner.net
Travel Insurance http://www.holiday-rentals.uk.com/travel-insurance.html
Car Hire www.carrentals.co.uk

If the issue of price hikes during school holidays makes you hot under the collar then have a rant on Darren Cronian’s Travel Rants website (www.travel-rants.com)

* The biggest difference was found on flights for a week’s holiday to Alicante from London Gatwick. It would cost a family of three £597 to fly on 11th February 2006, but less than half this (£286.08) if they flew on 18th February 2006. Source: www.flights4less.co.uk on Monday 6th February 2006 – figures quoted are the cheapest flights found for the dates in question.


For further info please contact:
Lindsey Collumbell, Public Relations, Worldwide Holiday Homes
Tel: 01372 274975, Mob: 0771 7744719 or e-mail: lindsey@bojangle.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Worldwide Holiday Homes was established in February 2002 and features holiday villa, apartment, and cottage rentals in 47 countries.
2. Visitors to the Worldwide Holiday Homes website at www.holiday-rentals.uk.com gain access to the property owner and book their holiday direct, therefore removing the need for travel agents.
3. The owners are very knowledgeable about their holiday home so you'll receive detailed information rather than a sales pitch from a travel agent who is unlikely to have visited the property / destination and will have only read about it in a brochure.