One of the most frequently asked question I get from my friends is “Can you find me a cheap holiday too x”. Bearing in mind I haven’t been a ‘Travel Agent’ for about 4 years. It’s like asking a pilot where you can book cheap flights.

So I thought I would write down what I tell them whenever they ask, to save me repeating myself over and over when it gets to holiday booking time.

There are two ways you can attack this. Search online for something or get on Teletext Holidays (TTH). My preferred method is to gather telephone numbers from TTH web pages or get on Teletext on your TV – ITV is the channel you will want. Both the web pages and TV pages look the same and contain the same info. To be honest it doesn’t matter where the numbers come from, I am just working on the basis that TTH has loads of numbers all listed in the same place. Once you have collected about 7-10 numbers of companies advertising holidays to your desired location, it’s time to get on the old dog and bone (Phone).

It is worth bearing in mind, when you call the TTH numbers you will be going through to call centres with staff that are generally on commission only, so they have a high turnover of calls and don’t like to spend time looking for ‘something cheap’. Have an idea of where you want to go, when and how much your budget is. If they ask you what your budget is don’t say something like “You tell me”. They will hang up on you. Poor customer service I know but it happens and you won’t have a name to ring back complain about it. Tell them your budget and let them find something that you like. Make sure you write everything down when they tell you the ‘best’ offer they have found. Flights, accommodation name, tour operator, extras that are and aren’t included in the price etc. You will need this information later.

Now you have found what you want, ask them for their ‘Total’ price to book including all their booking fees and credit card charges. Be specific that the price must be the final price and if they try to add things on to the price once they have your credit/debit card number you will not book with them. This sounds a bit far fetched however, it is the most common method used to get your cheap bargain back up to a reasonable profit level. Prices quoted are sometimes below the cost price, this prevents anyone from undercutting the price you have been given and forcing you back to the quting agent. They will then slap you for loads of extras. Remember these guys are on commission only. Take their name and number and tell them you are ringing around, now move on to the next telephone number you have.

Now you have found a holiday you like, it’s time to get it for a price you like too. Relay all the info you have just taken from the previous call to the next sales consultant you speak too. Even the price and tell them to beat it. 9/10 they will. If at any point during this process you get told “That’s too cheap, I can’t beat it” or “That offer is sold out/doesn’t exist”. It generally means your starting to get nearer to ‘bargain price’. Never let yourself be convinced that the person you are speaking to is telling the truth. They are just trying to get the sale off of you. Keeping ringing around trying to get that price down and stick to your guns.

At some point you will have to concede defeat and go back to the cheapest agent and book. Now, again this is where your bargain price might disappear for various reasons. If they can’t/won’t give you the price and holiday they quoted call back the next cheapest person on your list. Tell the agent you are doing this. Sometimes the holiday miraculously becomes available again. This is another tactic that will undo everything you have just spent the last hour or two doing. As many people can’t be bothered to repeat the whole process again and they just take what is offered to them. It will rarely be as good a deal as the one you have already found.

Once you have decided to book, again get the sales consultant to confirm their price is inclusive and they won’t try for extra’s once they have your payment details. Now bag your bargain. If you do have things suddenly added to the cost, end the call. You don’t have to book with them just becuase they have your CC details.

Don’t forget to check out Holiday Reviews for your hotel or apartment you are about to book. You don’t want to end up somewhere crap even if you did get it cheap. You don’t always have to ‘get what you pay for’. Isn’t that what bargain hunting is all about. :)

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