TRAVEL SPECIALHow to Find the Best Tour Package..

Some tips on bagging the best airfares, hotel bookings and tour deals for those planning a vacation this summer

    Come May, and everyone wants to take a break from the sweltering heat. As schools shut for the summer break, families take off to their favourite holiday destinations. For others too, it is a welcome break from mind numbing routines and the cool clime is just an excuse to make get-away plans. For others it may be a good time to avoid the rising mercury or just an opportunity to break away from the routine.

However, thanks to the rising disposable incomes, plethora of information and the increasing willingness to spend, summer holidays are not a humble trip to the nearby hill station anymore. Also, it is not the usual Switzerland or the UK dominating the holiday preference charts of the affluent, but lesser known European destinations are the flavour of the season. And typically, holiday planners and travel portals have lined up several packages for such travellers. For example, a travel portal is offering an Irish package covering Belfast, Dublin, Waterford, Killarney and Galway. Similarly, packages on Spain are available where you get to explore Lisbon, Seville, Madrid and Barcelona. You also have the option of designing your own tour if you are well versed with the destination and the local culture.

PLEASURES OF TRAVELING SOLO

This is not to say you can’t do without these packages. If you are the type who don’t want to be herded around in large groups or do not want to be restricted by a rigid itinerary or want to explore destinations off the beaten track, a la carte holidays are the best bet. “Designing one’s own holiday and making individual bookings is perfect when travelling solo, backpacking, as a couple, willing to rough it out and when one has the luxury of time to research and decide,” says Karan Anand, head-relationships, Cox & Kings.

However, there are certain things you should remember if you are planning to do it yourself. For example, if you are travelling with kids or senior citizens, you better be a frequent traveler or be familiar with the place. Also, if you are designing your own holiday, you should cash in on early bird offers as you will be entirely responsible in taking care of finest details of the trip. Pricing in the travel industry is volatile with dynamic fares which oscillate every minute.

“The fluctuations are so variable that they sometimes change in the tiny window of time in between when you search for a flight and when you try to book it,” says Noel Swain – EVP – supplier relations – Cleartrip. “You pay 40% lesser on domestic travel if you book your tickets a month in advance. Similarly, you pay at least 25-30% lower on international air travels. Hence the key to best travel deals is to plan early,” he says. Also be flexible with your dates given that you have a whole month to travel.

Travel portals have a planning tool which shows the cheapest air fares for the entire month. Use this tool to your advantage and choose the best dates possible. Then you can book the accommodation as hotels have flat fares based on the traffic for that season.

PACKAGES COME IN HANDY

Saving money apart, packages ensure a smooth, stress-free holiday for first-timers. Many travel portals work in conjunction with a number of partners which include airlines, hotels and banks. This helps them to offer bundled deals, which are light on the wallet. “Booking a travel package is always the best option for travelers planning a foreign holiday. A travel package covers almost everything a traveler would require, be it booking air tickets and hotels to planning of the itinerary,” says Neelu Singh, chief operating officer of Ezeego1.com.

It can also be a good option if you are travelling in a large group including family and friends. “Apart from flight bookings and accommodation, travel agents also take care of sightseeing, thus easing off the strain of attending to all the finer details. It can get quite cumbersome for an individual to take care of such finer aspects, especially when travelling in a large group. In fact, travelling with a group also brings down the costs if opted for a travel agent,” says Karan Anand, head-relationships at Cox & Kings.

HOW TO CHOOSE A PACKAGE

First, decide on the budget keeping in mind the number of people travelling. “Scan for offers in terms of your budget and destination preference with at least top 5-6 tour operators. Also compare various inclusions, exclusions, offers etc,” says Neeraj Dev. “While booking a holiday package, ensure all the requirements like the specified budget, return airfare, transportation, accommodation, sightseeing, meals are taken care of. If you are comparing deals offered by different travel planners, check the hotel category before booking the package,” suggests Neelu Singh. Similarly, know the final price of the deal inclusive of taxes. Read through the inclusions and the exclusions of the package. The itinerary may not include some tourist destinations or activities which may be on your preference list. For example, if the travel deal to Mauritius does not include snorkeling, sailing or any water sports, you will have to spend for these out of your own pocket. Make a list of such expenses to arrive at the total cost for a fair comparison of the deals.

- Vidyalaxmi ET120413