Holiday-makers planning their next getaway have been urged to complete simple checks when booking, as this could help them cut costs and get free additional benefits. BBC expert Holly Hamilton shared her “serial holidaymaker” knowledge on Morning Live – and went straight into one thing people should avoid doing.
The journalist disclosed tips she has learned for enjoying summer holidays on a budget, observing: “I will say when you do find the dream holiday, don’t book the first one that you see, because that might not actually be the best price.” Travellers frequently encounter a dilemma when deciding between package deals from third-party booking websites or visiting separate airline, hotel and activity sites directly to organise their trip.
Holly provided her view on this decision, stating there’s no universal solution and urging people to carry out thorough research. She explained that these third-party websites operate as modern travel agents or “middlemen” without actually owning any of the airlines, hotels or firms travellers will experience during their break.
These websites earn income through commission and advertising, which means they may sometimes provide lower costs than booking directly with the supplier. Nonetheless, Holly said she uses these websites as a price comparison tool and recommended checking the terms and conditions on supplier sites.
She said: “Sometimes it can be cheaper but very often if you do go directly to the airline or to the hotel it can actually work out even cheaper if you dig a little bit deeper and read the extras.
“You might find that on the third party site, just the flight is £50 but for £60 booking it directly (with the airline) you might get your luggage included. Or in a hotel, you might get a flexible fare to avoid any cancellation fees, all that does add up very very quickly. Just read the small print on that, even a free breakfast.”
She warned, based on personal experience, that travellers using third-party booking websites could face challenges if issues occur.
Holly added: “You might end up stuck talking to a chatbot for a little while. It’s very difficult sometimes to get a refund.
“There is no one-size-fits-all argument here effectively. You have to think about the price, the convenience, and the security. What order you put that in, I find for me has changed throughout my life.
“There was a time in my 20s, I was very happy to hop aboard and take the risks and get a cheap price. These days, travelling with small children, I want to know where I’m going. I want to know that there’s somebody at the other end of the phone.
“I do like a package holiday. You get all your consumer rights with that… it can prove a little bit cheaper. Talk about things like your free breakfast.”
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