Guindalf

Really? On what are you basing this assumption?

Sure, prices vary, but to say they 'go up each month drastically' is not only a figment of your imagination, but completely wrong!

We like to cruise and I've seen offers change on a monthly basis. As you can cancel without penalty up to 90 days before you sail, I've seen prices increase and decrease in 24 hours, let alone by the month. In fact, in January last year, we were able to book a suite on Norwegian with free specialty dining, a free drinks package and $150 on-board credit for less than $1000 each. The brochure price was $2500!

So, if you're going to invent 'facts', at lease make them ones that won't be shot down in flames in an instant!

Nutek

So... You save your money... in someone else's account?

Why would you do that?

Jerseygirl

You can usually get some great last minute deals...flights, hotels, cruises.

Englishmum

The only travel company I can think of offering packages is:

Http://www.applevacations.com

If you have an American Express card I think they also offer some package holidays, but I imagine that they are likely to be expensive. Come to think of it, are you a member of Costco? I've often spotted their travel promotions in their warehouses but I guess you can also see them online.

Mallory

In the UK you have millions of people living on an island or two, all within easy reach of a specific airport. The holidaymakers can group together, board a flight, and get flown to a hotel in Spain, with a 1-1/2 hour flight. Quite easy for travel agents to organize.

In the US, their market of holidaymakers would be hundreds or thousand of miles away from each other. Airports are spread all over the country. There isn't Spain, Italy, Portugal just 1-1/2 hours away. There just isn't the density of people all living close to one another, that all want to go to the same resort, from the same airport.

Most people aren't chasing the sun in summer, as they are in the UK - they live mostly in sunny weather. Many people have swimming pools in their back yard, and don't need a hotel to swim. You can plan a trip to the beach, and not wonder if it's going to be freezing cold and raining for two weeks.

I believe if you book a cruise, you can make a down payment, and pay in installments, if you book early enough.

ChocolateBabz

I haven't used a travel agent in years but I know a lot of family back home still do. Our recent vacation, we booked and paid for our flights way in advance, put down a deposit on a vrbo rental, booked all the other bits and pieces as we got closer to the date.

If we had waited until the last minute we would have paid a lot more for flights, 3 x the amount for car hire and wouldn't have had the choice available for rental properties. I certainly understand why you would want to put down a deposit and pay it up.

Noorah101

I used Costco Travel a few years ago for a trip to Maui, and it was fantastic! Highly recommend Costco.

Rene

scot47

Travel agents are slowly disappearing in the UK too.

Mallory

We went to St Maarten, in the Caribbean, last year with a Costco vacation. Daughter and BF went on a Christmas Caribbean cruise with Costco. Very enjoyable.

Rete

My sister and her hubby cruise a minimum of 3 times a year. This is the way that they do it. They wait for those special offers and last cruise they went for 10 days, balcony room for $250 each. They are going again just after Thanksgiving for another 10 day cruise for under $1000 each with the perks you mentioned. They would never sail unless it was either a suite or at the very least a balcony room.

vikingsail

Thats what I thought! If your concern is buying and locking in your price then consider DIY with a credit card. There a plenty of 0% cards out there giving youon average 12/18 months to pay off. true you will pay a small fee to transfer the money but its likely the same as a service charge buried in the coast of a holiday elsewhere. And then you would be free to shop

Expedia, Kayak, vacationstogo etc etc the list is endless on the web.

scrubbedexpat097

I just have one thing to say.

You're in Texas so why do you need to go somewhere else on vacation?

mrken30

I think in the UK there may be some consumer protection benefit in having a package holiday. Similar to that of booking a flight straight through with one airline compare to booking the legs separately. If one part of the deal fails, the tour company is responsible for the cost of finding a new hotel, new flight etc.

robin1234

his is very true. I was recently in Ozona, Texas, and there were several gas stations and convenience stores there to visit. It was raining very hard when I was there, but given more settled weather, I suspect I could have seen cacti and assorted reptiles in some of the abandoned lots in and around Ozona.



F

N1cky

http://pleasantholidays.com/

There are lots of benefits of booking with a travel agent.