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May 2023
3:05pm, 15 May 2023
30,357 posts
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Johnny Blaze
I’ve always tended to use Expedia, but last year we chanced a holiday with TUI for the first time ever. We found it was okay, but we plan on avoiding their excursion packages and we will book directly with local resort operators online.
In the UK we use Airbnb or the many cottage holiday websites. I’d prefer not to deal with solo, freestanding property owners but that’s just me.
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May 2023
3:08pm, 15 May 2023
8,822 posts
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DoricQuine
I wasn't quite as swish when we were there Dio! But still nice and an excellent location.
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May 2023
3:11pm, 15 May 2023
78,935 posts
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Diogenes
That's interesting. We use the holiday cottage sites, but we've also booked direct. I prefer to do this as I can as it generally works out cheaper and is better for the owner.
I've booked my flights and accommodation in Paris directly with the airline and the hotel. It's annoying how much flights end up costing once you've added all the necessary extras.
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May 2023
3:44pm, 15 May 2023
22,574 posts
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DeeGee
While we're asking...
My daughter (aged 7) wants to go to Spain. Specifically Madrid. She's learning Spanish at primary school and likes the idea of hearing it in use.
As a modern linguist by background, I heartily approve of this approach.
There are no decent flights with the cheapies available, so I'll either be flying with Iberia from Manchester or with BA from Heathrow (Iberia being the preference at the minute, but the timings are not so good)
What I'm after is a recommendation for a nice hotel, not crazy priced, and not necessarily bang in the middle, but easy enough to get into with a tired little girl but with something nearby that will also entertain a 13 year old boy so I can carry on doing stuff with him when the girls start to flag. A pool would be the icing on the cake.
Anyone know anywhere?
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May 2023
3:58pm, 15 May 2023
6,486 posts
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Little Miss Happy
I use vrbo a lot for accommodation but we go self catering.
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May 2023
4:10pm, 15 May 2023
38,232 posts
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LazyDaisy
Not been to Madrid I'm afraid DeeGee.
The only Vrbo place we've stayed at was last year in the South of France. The photos looked great; the reality, much less so. Having said that, we're using Vrbo again in a few weeks' time. If it doesn't live up to photos for a second time I'll not be giving them a third chance.
When the children were small - so a long time ago now - I used to use The Lady magazine to find holiday cottages. Most were brilliant as they were the owner's own holiday home so well-furnished and equipped. In maybe 10 years we only had one bummer. I like the idea of dealing direct with the owner but have some reservations about AirBnB as a business model.
On the Isle of Wight I used to like dealing with Wight Locations but they got taken over by Classic Cottages during the pandemic and the customer service is nothing like as good now.
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May 2023
4:13pm, 15 May 2023
22,575 posts
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DeeGee
I use vrbo a lot for accommodation but we go self catering.
I'd be happy with something like VRBO, actually, the girl's a particularly fussy eater so I don't mind self catering. Keep forgetting that that's an option for shorter stays. We've booked a flat with Interhome for a six-nighter in Austria in August, so I'll see what other self-catering options I can find...
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May 2023
4:53pm, 16 May 2023
17,302 posts
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Garfield
I usually book flights with the airline and for hotels, use TripAdvisor for recommendations then book on Booking.com. I've booked so much with them over the years, I get a genius discount on my hotel bookings.
I also second Mushroom's recommendation of seat61.com. It was invaluable for booking train tickets for China when hubby and I wanted to go from Beijing to Shanghai.
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May 2023
6:28pm, 16 May 2023
3,961 posts
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Pou Pou LePhoõk
Booking accommodation directly can be cheaper than via booking.com, as no commission is paid.
I check flights with the airline, then compare with other booking sites. These can sometimes be cheaper.
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May 2023
7:25pm, 16 May 2023
26,911 posts
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Dvorak
I stayed in Madrid in a place out of centre about 500m from Alcasia (?) Metro with a kids playground opposite and they gave us free access to the municipal pool about 300m away. Probably not quite what you were thinking of, mind you. And it could all have changed now, of course. (I think it was an AC hotel, but I'd have to check.)
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ABBA Voyage
May 2023
