Product Description
Package holidays are a popular choice with families and large parties as all of the essentials are included in the price. As a general rule the price of the holiday includes transportation (normally flights, train or coach) and accommodation but it can also include extras such as car hire, food and drink and day trips. Most package holidays are to foreign destinations and are organised by tour operators however there are package holidays available in the UK as well.

Main Players
There are numerous tour operators that offer package holidays and the big names include First Choice, Thomson, Thomas Cook, TUI Travel, Virgin Holidays and Airtours. You can book package holidays direct from the tour operators or alternatively you can book through a travel agent.

Pros of Package Holidays

• Flights and accommodation are included in the price so all you need in spending money and food money – although some food and drink is sometimes included.
• All of the hassle is taken out of your holiday as the tour operator arranges everything for you.
• Last minute package holidays can save you up to 50% on the original price.
• The big tour operators offer package holidays to all of the popular summer destinations including Europe and America.

Cons of Package Holidays

• They can be expensive and it is often cheaper to organise the flights and hotel separately.
• A lot of package holidays include day excursions which are paid for as part of the package. If you later decide not to go on them you don’t get your money back and this is a waste.

Things to Consider when Choosing a Provider
When choosing a package holiday you need to find out exactly what is included in the price and what isn’t. Some tour operators include the price of your meals and drinks however this might mean that you have to eat in the hotel restaurant everyday to get full value. Similarly, some packages include day trips or car hire and it is important you actually want these as well. It is often better to decide what you want included in the price and then find an operator that delivers this.

There are a number of tour operators that offer discount package holidays and these are well worth looking at if you aren’t too fussy about where you go and when you go. If you can be flexible with your requirements then these operators can offer up to 25% of the advertised prices – just so that they sell their holidays.

BUYability Summary
Package holidays take all of the stress out of organising your time away and they’re especially good if you have children that like to be entertained. If you can be flexible with when you go you can often pick up a package deal for a fraction of its original price but you still get all the extras included in the price. It is worth trying a package holiday once, just to see how it compares to a non-package deal and if you enjoy the experience then so much the better.