Booking direct - avoid the pitfalls

 I support travel agents, and if pushed for time or no budget restrictions, they are definitely the way to go. They know what they are doing, and often can get great deals. However, with a family of five, I'm finding it harder and harder to be able to travel.

You can save an enormous amount of money if you book directly and take advantage of special offers. However, there are plenty of pitfalls for the inexperienced.

1. Sometimes on budget carriers, it is cheaper to fly in with one and fly out with another. This is the opposite of normal airlines.

2. Make sure you book luggage.

3. In hotel speak, adjoining rooms do not mean connecting rooms. You are asking for connecting rooms. You will not necessarily get it. However, make sure your hotel ACTUALLY has some for you to request. There are a lot of hotels that don't. In some countries, a bungalow nearby is deemed the same thing, or the room next door is the family offer.

4. If you are a family with 3 or more kids, it will take some time to find a suitable hotel. You will probably be charged for a bed. If you are allowed to add a bed, and in many cases, you aren't.

5. Some hotels (and countries) have different rules on rooms. Just because you're a family of four, doesn't necessarily mean you are allowed to sleep in one room (even if the room has 2 double beds).

6. Consider the self catering option - this can cut the food & beverage bill enormously, and also mean you don't have to spend a fortune on food the fussy eater barely touched.

7. If you need two or more rooms, look at the offerings. Sometimes the Family suite is charged closer to the rate of one room, sometimes it is cheaper to get 2 normal rooms.

8. Head to a local supermarket and stock up on drinks and snacks. Ask the hotel to empty the mini bar if you have to (they don't like to do that but they will). Five or Six cans of Coke can add up to $30 or more in a hotel.

9. Taxes. I could write a book on this one. I have had friends book a week online, only to get a bill for over $1000 in taxes on check out. It is written in the fine print, quite clearly on the websites, but where it gets tricky, is some countries build it in, and some don't. Most countries separate it, so it may be 10% Govt tax, 7.7% bed tax and some other 5% tax, adding a further 21% to your room bill. Malaysia quotes prices tax inclusive, Singapore & Thailand you need to add it in yourself. I kept looking at hotels, thinking I could afford them, only to discover with the tax, I couldn't.

10. If you can't afford the beautiful beach resort, or they don't have family accommodation, get better accommodation on the mainland and spend some bucks on a day trip, or split the trip with just 2 nights on the island and the rest elsewhere.

11. Sign up to every hotels reward programme (if free), even if you think you will never stay there again. You may get free upgrades, free internet or even a free night. The also sometimes have special sales for members, so the room itself is cheaper.


12. Always travel with insurance. Always.

13. Keep those spare passport photos - you never know if you'll need them for a visa form down the track.  If you have a number of kids, this becomes a costly exercise, getting photos done for visas.

14. Check the visa details prior to trip - needing 5 or 6 visas can add a couple of hundred onto the cost of the trip. Same with the vaccinations. Build those costs into your budget first.

15. Check location of Airports. Make sure you know how to get to your hotel, or that your connecting flight is leaving from the same airport.

16. Check airport parking specials - if you are a family that requires two taxis (or Maxi), there may be prepaid online specials that allow you to take your car and park, alleviating the stress of waiting on taxis to arrive.

17. If you have taken advantage of an early morning flight (because they are the cheap ones), buy some muffins to take for breakfast at the airport as they're much cheaper at the supermarket and it takes the stress out of getting everyone ready.

18. If you are going to a certain theme park or event, check out the hotel packages with the tickets included. Depending on the country, the packaged option may be the cheapest way to go.

19. Be aware of special discounts you get through NRMA, your health fund, Entertainment Book, shopper dockets or any other discount offers you have access to. Work out which is best for your trip or car hire.

20. Once booked, forget about the costs. Nothing is more depressing than feeling ripped off or watching the money haemorrhage at every meal. It is what it is, and enjoy it. You'll be paying that money no matter how you feel about it, so try not to let it ruin your holiday.

It is time consuming and will take you a few days to sort it all out, but once booked, you can relax and enjoy the pending holiday. As frustrating as the organisation might be, once you find the house, villa or hotel, you'll be happy knowing you've got a little extra for a rewarding cocktail or massage...

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