What savings before you DIY?

[pinktraceb]

We've been giving a quote via Travelbag (so ATOL protected) for our West Coast trip next year. Various hotels, car hire and flights with United (including luggage), total price £6900.

When I price it up individually but with flights with Norwegian I can get it for about £500 cheaper - so £6500.

I'm inclined to do it myself - £500 is almost a 10% saving, but husband thinks we should book via Travelbag for that extra ATOL protection.

What would you do?

[megaflyer]

Ensure I booked with a credit card and had a good insurance policy that covered the whole cost of the trip and book DIY - it’s what I do all the time and save literally £ks in a year of several trips . £500 is a fair chunk so a no brainer

[cornishfrogboy]

Is this saving of £500 with a bit of research.. or a lot of research?

Are you flexible a few days either way on dates?

Are you sticking rigidly to their hotels.. or looking at comparable alternatives?

Generally, the more you research, the more you save. (Up to a point).

Might be worth pasting up your itinary.

[pinktraceb]

I've done a bit of research- literally looking at the hotels they suggested via TripAdvisor and seeing what the best rates are.

Itinerary from Travelbag at the moment is as follows:

United Airlines LHR to SFO 6th August
InterContinental Mark Hopkins, San Francisco - 3 nights
Pick up hire car from SFO on 9th August, Standard SUV. Have for 9 nights
9th August check into Monterey Marriott - 2 nights
11th August check into Hampton Inn & Suites San Luis Obispo - 1 night
12th August check into Inn By the Harbor, Santa Barbara - 2 nights
14th August check into Staybridge Suites ‐ Anaheim - 3 nights
17th August check into Hilton Garden Inn Burbank Downtown - 3 nights
20th August United Airlines fly LAX to LHR

Any help or advice on getting it even cheaper would be most welcome.

We are 2 adults and 2 children (aged 14 and 17)

[pinktraceb]

Originally Posted by megaflyer

Ensure I booked with a credit card and had a good insurance policy that covered the whole cost of the trip and book DIY - it’s what I do all the time and save literally £ks in a year of several trips . £500 is a fair chunk so a no brainer

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Thanks! What specific thing do I need to look out for in the insurance? Is it airline failure? TIA

[cornishfrogboy]

on it and will get back to you when I finish work... another set of hands never do any harm.

[AlexE]

I always DIY our trips. Usually book hotels and car hire via Expedia or Ebookers, always refundable prices and via Quidco - whoever has the best discount rate and check dates frequently and change them.

The hotels chosen by your travel agent will be ones they have got a link up with where you would choose by price, location, facilities and reviews.

You will be amazed by the West coast and a drive down the PCH is amazing.

[megaflyer]

Originally Posted by pinktraceb

Thanks! What specific thing do I need to look out for in the insurance? Is it airline failure? TIA

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Airline failures and delays and the amount of your whole holiday should be covered - but your CC may well cover airline failure (worth a check ?) - it costs about £50’more for say a platinum or gold against silver or less which simply would cover the costs of my business class flights

[Gryff]

Are the Norwegian flights including paid bags they have radically changed there carry on allowance

[pinktraceb]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

on it and will get back to you when I finish work... another set of hands never do any harm.

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Thank you!