Any tips on booking a holiday?

[motorbiking]

BA holidays are good price wise. The Greek Islands are great, friendly people, reasonable prices. Corfu, Rhodes, Kefalonia, Santorini, Kos, Mykonos, and Zante. If you want to go a little further - the Caribbean is nice. Antigua or Barbados. Avoid Dominican Republic. If its a once in a lifetime experience then the Maldives.

Avoid the aggregators (booking.com) etc. They are a good place to search and then contact the hotel directly. AirBnBs can be great if you are a larger group.

Can't recommend Tui, I was at a wedding in Spain a few years ago. Chose a nice hotel, on checkout day they took us to the airport, knowing there was no plane, just so they could move us in the sh**tist hotel they could find, rather than allow us to extend where we were. Kuoni on the other hand have always been above and beyond.

 

[aveatry]

I vowed not to go back to Greece after a couple of years ago. Pick up coach back to the airport was due at 10am you are told to wait until 10,20 before contacting them. Walked out of the hotel to wait at 9.58 and there was a coach just leaving - and it turned out that was my coach. When I complained I was told to start waiting 10 mins before the 10am pick up.
I blame the greek attitude. Also the Greek beaches I have been to are dumps with broken concrete at the edges and graffiti. The sea though is amazing for swimming in.

 

[aveatry]

Another thing to think about is tourist tax which in Greece for a 4star is 10 euros per night per room. Other countries there is no tax to pay.
The star ratings are to be used with a pinch of salt too. Trip adviser is your friend here.

 

[MNW67]

Pick up coach back to the airport was due at 10am you are told to wait until 10,20 before contacting them. Walked out of the hotel to wait at 9.58 and there was a coach just leaving - and it turned out that was my coach.

Rookie mistake!

 

[aveatry]

Rookie mistake!

Not a rookie - more like got lackadaisical about it from experience. I would of thought the bus would at least wait until the actual scheduled pick up time.
It was Jet 2 who always check off names as you get on and then if you are not there the driver gos into the hotel to reception - I have seen them do it. I blame the Greek attitude -cant be arsed should of retired at 45 but Germany made them work for the bail out.

 

[MNW67]

I blame the Greek attitude -cant be arsed should of retired at 45 but Germany made them work for the bail out.

Speaking of that, German banks should have swallowed more of the losses on the money they lent to Southern Europe.

 

[gas112]

Rookie mistake!

I have Never had a coach pick up time that doesnt say to be there 10/15 mins early .