greg

For those of you who have been to Spain on holiday (i.e. stayed at a hotel/B&B/rural home...) where did you book your stay, online or at a travel agent?

I made a poll for the general question but also welcome any feedback on the following:

Do you book hotels together with flights?
Do you rather book cheap flights like easy jet and co or more like Iberia?
Do you prefer hostels or budget accommodation to hotels?
How important is price when choosing holiday accommodation?
Do you prefer rural areas or are you more into touristy locations?

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keddyboy

I think you have to be careful in the present climate as to what or who you book your holidaywith. There are far too many horror stories regarding holidays and the fact that the company or airline go to the wall leaving thousands stranded without any come back. All I can say is do your homework if you are going to book online.

Beachcomber

In the dim and distant days before we lived here we used to cross on the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao, drive down to our apartment sometimes staying overnight somewhere and sometimes not depending on the time of day.

We stayed in our own apartment then did the return journey in reverse. So, if P&O went bust whilst we were away we would have been snookered, but apart from that we were reliant on no-one.

greg

Thanks for the feedback everyone... I look forward to more!

@cheesymag... I suggest you post your question in the Costa del Sol Forum

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dannyR

Before I moved here I used to always try and look out for easyjet flights and the like. As for accommodation I always aimed for budget accommodation so I could spend more on the actual stay (bars, eating, shopping, souvenirs, etc.)...

Still so many places to see in Spain!

Solsearch

I search for my flights on websites like skyscanner.com, wegolo.com, kelkoo.com etc.

When I get to Spain I just ask at the local hostel, and if they have a room I book myself in for a few nights. I had no problem finding accommodation this way, even when I went in August.

If you prefer to book in advance, there are plenty of sites such as hostelbookers, hotels.com, lastminute.com, alpharooms etc etc.

It really is very easy when you are a single traveller!

dkviesfo

I am happy with AirBerlin. Not the cheapest but within the quality budget range. New, clean aircraft, unuasually punctual, great onboard service for the fare I am paying. (Yup, an advance booking is a MUST.)

For short stays, I book my hotels directly by writing to the select group of hotels and asking for their best offer. I have been lucky so far. Early bookings are preferred and there is practically always a very nice hotel in town, happy to grant quite a discount over the published rates, if you book well in advance.

I have tried my luck with apartment houses and apartment holiday rentals for longer term stays and though, I did not have any major trouble with those either, I am pretty sure, I do not want to go there anymore. I have had some difficulty in trying to find ****+ apartment accommodation in Spain. The basics are all good, but I do want a bit more comfort for the longer stays and am willing to pay for it as well. Yet, dishwasher, satellite TV and BB Internet as well as washers and dryers are still not deemed to be standard equipment here. (If you know of any such accommodation in any of the major cities, please, let me know, too.)

jawg

I live in Canada and when we go to Spain we go for 3 months. It is important that I get a proper place for the 3 months. I have been very succesful using the internet. The first time I got an apartment in Pueblo Camelot (Los Hidalgos). It was very comfortable. The next time I went to the owner of the apartment in Camelot and got a smaller place on the outskirts of Estepona. Also very good.
The next time I again reverted to the internet and obtained an apartment in Monte Duquesa which was the best of the lot. Booked it again earlier this year and have tentatively reserved it for 2010 (Jan, Feb, Mar.)

For Air transportation we have flown variously with Swiss Air (6 hour layover in Switzerland on the way and overnight on the way back) then a connecting flight to Malaga; Air Canada to Madrid with an almost immediate connection to Malaga (this flight has since been cancelled - couldn't make any money although the flight was always full), return flight also very good; Air Canada to Frankfurt (same layovers as Air Swiss) then Lufthansa to Malaga. Last time we hit on the best connections. Air France to Paris (1 1/2 layover) then Air Europa to Malaga. (The flight back would have featured about a 2 hour layover, but we elected to spend a few days in Paris.) This method got us to Malaga around noon rather than 1600 hrs. Then an easy drive to Monte Duquesa.

Everything, flight, accomodation and car rental, was done on line.

I have found the internet to be an invaluable aid in making travel arrangements. Have also found several very good apartments or houses in Florida.

Takes a lot of time - comparing and investigating - but well worth the time.

I do not deal with a Travel Agent. I have a friend who was a Travel Agent (now retired), and on occasion he asked me for advice.

Floriana

It all depends on what you want in a holiday. There are certainly very good deals for families/groups of friends renting villas on the Costa de la Luz, away from the British crowds, particularly out of school holiday season and loads to see and do both sporting and cultural. Budget flights available can make it a very economical trip but you do need to be able to travel light and be canny when booking that you ensure that you uncheck all the extras......villas have all mod cons, washing machines and the sun dries so minimal clothes needed