August bookers, how do you do it?

[Guest]

Someone please help with how you obtain at least sensible holiday quotes for August ? I've not been in august since 2003! At moment just the flights are showing at £6000 for 4 of us and an infant.

This can't be normal otherwise only lottery winners would be coming?

[magickate]

This year or next? We went last August & saved a few thousand by booking it separately myself. Flew indirect which was a large part of the saving.

[sammykitten]

if you want direct flights in August at a sensible price you need to be looking to book around 11 months in advance of travel. Indirect you can easily get flights under £500 each, if its this year you're looking at.

Also, if you can go end of August and come back a few days (or even a day or 2) after the schools start back you can get a decent price.

Or, if you are in the north of the country, check prices for flying from Scotland (as their school holidays end mid-August).

[Rac20]

You have to keep an eye on flight prices and track them. When you see a good deal jump on it and don’t look back! 👍

In 2016 I paid 4K with Thomas Cook premium economy but next time (2020) I’m planning on flying indirect via New York. Indirect will be cheaper.
Use flight apps such as Skyscanner, kayak and momondo to set up flight alerts.
Flying towards the end of August also tends to be cheaper.

[Guest]

Consider indirect options. We have never done this before but have taken heed of great DIBB advice and I'm quite looking forward to breaking up our time on flights with a single stop.

Booked full package for this August through BA holidays. Return BA/AA flights with one stop + NY hotel + Universal hotel + SUV.

We are going via New York, stopping 4 nights then on to Orlando for 10 nights. Under 5k all in for 3 adults and 1 child, booked last month.

Good luck with finding a great deal!

[sam7]

I have got flights, villa and car for 5 x adults for only a little bit above this. I am booked with Kenwood, but also contact Virgin as my friend got a good deal with them

[NewtoOrlando]

We book DIY. We've paid £2700 Heathrow to Miami which include 7 seater car and a night at Deerfield beach when we arrive. No way would I be paying £6000 just for flights. We're a family of 4 with kids 12 & 10, and booked direct with BA on a fly drive. Flying to Miami isn't for everyone, but we quite like it and is relaxing before a busy park holiday. Our whole holiday is costing £8336 before spending money. That's for 19 days 16/08-03/09. It can be done but you have to be a bit flexible, the biggest saving for us is flights. Good luck!

[macadoo]

We book everything diy and fly indirect.

[toonarmani]

Options for reducing the prices are indirect (loads of different route and carrier options), or flying into a nearby airport rather than MCO.

We're flying direct from LGW to Fort Lauderdale outbound, but return direct MCO to LGW and that is under £650 pp during the summer school holidays.

There have been some decent prices flying into Miami and Tampa.

[anneeb]

We fly direct after flying indirect one year to LA and it taking us nearly an extra day to get there. We fly with Thomas Cook PE direct from Manchester, so start to look as soon as they're released then keep an eye on the price, after a week or so the price starts to fluctuate and we jump in as soon as they're at a price we like. They always go up and Virgin never come close to the price. I know people say to come back after schools go back, but as three of us teach we can't do that.
If you're not bothered about flying indirect there are deals available, but you have to keep track of flights, Sky Scanner is a good one, then jump in as soon as they're at the price you're happy with.