Hi Folks
Asking for help & advice again............
The last two Years we have booked package deals with Thomsons staying at the Mathraki in July.
Happy with the price I paid this Year & had a fab time but next Year I would really like to wake up to a sea view so with that in mind I am looking to book independently.
My question is regarding which budget airline to use, where to fly from & when do flights become available? (1st 2 weeks in July)
We live in Hull so our options would be Leeds/Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle or East Midlands flying with either Ryanair, Easyjet or Jet2.
I have trolled through the forum (as I do every day) and found some useful information but if there is anyone who could point me in the right direction I would be truly grateful (although I realise a number of members who could help me are probably sunning themselves in Arillas right now)
Thanks in advance
Neil & jill
Jet2 are not the cheapest these days BUT probably the best. The other two are fine , Easyjet is probably the better of the two but are usually a little bit more expensive. Depends on what sort of baggage allowance you want as well ?
Flights usually come out for next July around October time , I tend to start looking constantly around that time and book them as soon as I can for the best prices.
you could always look at thomascookfly they had some pretty good bargains for this september (not any good for you i know!) but might be worth a look. otherwise my fav would be easyjet. if you book speedy boarding you are allowed a slightly larger carry on case, and we normally manage with that for a week.
ger x
We always do EasyJet, but from Bristol or Gatwick. We book within hours of release to get the best price. We book Bardis Sun Studios the year before, and are already "in" for 2016. They arrange our taxi transfer, so all we have to do is arrive.
We are here now, and this year for a couple, it has cost shy of £900 for three weeks. I would call that serious value for money!
Many of us on this forum help each other as much as we can. I will be happy to offer guidance when we get back on 1st of August. In the meantime, I am sorry. We are here and soaking up every minute this wonderful place throws at us!
Phil
We have used Jet2 and Easyjet and we find Easyjet cheaper and better.
We have flown from Leeds and Manchester, using Easyjet,Jet2 and Ryanair, and to be honest we've been happy with all of them. Ryanair from Leeds tends to be cheapest (and easiest) for us , but simply compare them last minute before you book. This year we're going out from Leeds (Ryanair) and coming back into Manchester (Easyjet) purely because it worked out cheapest (even including extra taxi costs from Manchester) and gave us a lot more flexibility on dates.
I would suggest you check the accommodation availability first, then choose and book the flights ( - because the prices can rocket in just a few hours), then book the accommodation.
But it really depends on your priorities. This year we needed very specific dates so we booked the flights without even looking at accommodation because we felt that as long as we could get there, we didn't care if we had to sleep on the beach, just as long as we were in Arillas.....
Good luck.
I don't see you struggling to get accommodation early July so I would book flights as soon as they come out and worry about your room later , that's obviously just my personal opinion.
Just to add to everyone`s good advice about flights - It seems booking flights first then sorting accommodation is the order of things. However, we`ve done it backwards. Booked our digs with a well known accommodation website allowing us to cancel if necessary, without penalty, really close to our travel dates. Will be keeping a sharp eye out for flights when they become available. If I can`t find what I need, then will see about doing the package deal option instead.
Paul
Last year we flew with Thomas Cook from Manchester and this year easy jet from Manchester also. Easyjet flights out beginning of October and usually some kind forum member posts when they are out. The flights literally increase by the hour. We check flights then check accommodation availability and then book flights and then confirm accommodation. Most places will pencil you in until you have booked flights. Prefer Easyjet to Thomas Cook as we had a lot of same sex parties on package tours to Kavos on our flight with Thomas cook and a policewoman got on flight before we even took off. Having said that Thomas Cook handled it really well and didn't serve a drink for about an hour and a half and then put seatbelt lights on for most of the flight.
Thanks for the help & hints folks - I must admit it didn't occur to me to use one of the accommodation websites - We do so all the time at home - unfortunately there is now no availability for the dates we prefer.
So.........from what I gather I can provisionally book accommodation and then wait to book flights later in the Year & the sooner the better.
Thanks Again
Neil & Jill
a lot of the "booking sites" for accommodation haven't release for Summer 2016 yet .
Sorry Folks - Still having problems deciding which option is best!!
Firstly - I can book the Mathraki Studios again for July next Year with Thomsons flying from East Midlands for £963 which is more than we paid this Year but cheaper than flying from Manchester.
I have been quoted 65 euros/Night for the alternative accommodation which is approximately £47/Night depending on which rate you can get - This would then be roughly £660 for the two weeks (accommodation only).
To compete with Thomsons price I would then need to get 2 x return flights for roughly £150 each - Is this possible?
Secondly - It would seem from what you tell me the budget airlines release their flights in October - do they all do this at the same time or at different times - If different what do you tend to do? - Grab the 1st available flights or wait for an alternative from the competitors with the hope it may be cheaper but run the risk of losing the original?
Sorry for waffling on so long but after 40 years of travelling with tour operators it is all a little daunting
Thanks Again
Neil & jill
I doubt you will get a return flight for £150 in July and then , if you do , don't forget you will have to sort your own transfers if you do , another 50 ish euro each way ....
One rule applies with all of the budget airlines , they will go up and up within hours of release for a few days and then could go up and down in price over the following weeks and months periodically.
Which airline you choose to go with can only be your choice ....
our flights this year were £189 each with Easyjet from Manchester. We then had 100 euros return for taxi transfer. I did delay for a few days after flights released and if I had booked them as soon as they were released they would have been about £150 each. Our accommodation for a studio for 2 was 300 euros for 10 nights. Hope this helps.
there is a wedding taking place in marina in july next year, apparantly could be 150 plus guests, bear that in mind, could be that accomodation beginning of july will be limited.
ger x
does anyone know when ryanair release there flights for next summer
I have used Easyjet for many years and never had do much as a ten min delay! Only cheap if you get within minutes of summer release as others have said. The wedding mentioned is on 20th July so early July may be ok for accommodation
I spoke to Dida at the Marina Hotel whilst I was in Arillas earlier this Month - She told me then that there was availability early July but very limited in the 2nd two weeks because of the wedding.
I have now booked our accommodation for the first two weeks in July and waiting for the flights to be released.
Jet2 have availability now from Manchester with good flight times but once you add baggage allowance it becomes quite expensive!!
Who is the first to go on sale - Easy Jet or Ryan Air? - Or are they at the same time?
Thanks Again
Neil & Jill
Where are you staying Neil and Jill? All being well we will be there from 27th June to the 8th July.
We really liked the idea of waking up with a sea view - I had a number of options & took the opportunity to view the Maranaki Apartments whilst we were there - Had a look inside and immediately felt at home - We've spent the last 2 Years at the Mathraki and they are lovely apartments run by lovely people but we found it to be too hot to stay around the pool - We love the beach and sea so really looking forward to staying in the Maranaki Apartments (we seem to spend our time wishing our life away waiting for our next holiday!!) - I log in every day & read everything I can but the weather we are experiencing here at the moment makes me even more envious of those lucky enough to be in Arillas.
Neil & Jill
Great. Heard good things about these apartments. I know quite a few people who regularly stay there.
we LOVE those apartments, go to sleep listening to the sound of the sea............wake up with a coffee on the balcony. lovely views, quiet and have everything you could need in an apartment (including a lovely spacious bathroom!!)
unfortunately the dates we needed in september were full, so we are next door in kaloudis. will probably spend a few days keeping george company by the pool though!!!!
ger x
I have just been looking around for flights to Corfu next june. Thomas Cook from newcastle seems to be the best opton for us. We could fly from Leeds with Thomsons or jet2 which is more local for us but Thomsons flight only works out more expensive. Jet2 is a bit cheaper but the flight times arent as good.
Having flown out from Newcastle every year for the last 9 years to Corfu I think we will stick with what we know. The drive up to Newcastle only takes 90mins at 2am & also this flight gets you into Arillas for nice mezze & a glass of rose for lunch!
Karen
x
Hi Karen
I am in the same position - I could get flights with either Thomas Cook or Jet2 at the moment but when the hold baggage is added for each of us the price is roughly £500.
The quandary I find myself in is do I book flights now and then I'm all ready for next Year but probably paid a little more than I wanted - or - do I hang fire until Ryanair/Easyjet release their flights and hopefully grab a bargain.
Neil & Jill
We`re going to wait for Easyjet prices to be released. Take it from there. If we have to, we can cancel our digs and get package deal.
Paul
If you are looking for a bargain there is no question that you will
Not at least half that price come October when the Easyjet flights are released. On the other hand if you cAn afford that price and you want to be able to relax knowing has slotted into place that may be worth more than the saving. Just dont check flight prices again lol
I would wait until Easyjet flights released as they will be cheaper but get on that computer as soon as they are released and book. That is what I am going to do. I know Jo has been known to stay up all night waiting for them to be relased - haven't you Jo?
and if she falls asleep I wake her with a reminder when they come out !!!! LOL
Yes but flaming well fell asleep in the first golden 20 mins!
Quote from: Jo Wissett on July 31, 2015, 05:08:08 PM
Yes but flaming well fell asleep in the first golden 20 mins!
Wegg does that , Jo , and not just when she's booking flights!!
Negg
Karen, have you looked at Ryanair from Leeds. We've always used Jet2 from Leeds but as you say the arrival times aren't good. This year we used Ryanair and the flight landed at 1.30 pm with was much better. They also worked out a bit cheaper.
Barry
Just booked flights with British airways to Corfu for 2016 for £171 return bargain good flight times too
When are you going Jeffers and from which airport?
Had a look myself after Jeffers post - 2 x returns from Heathrow 7th July for 2 weeks is £383 including 23kgs hold luggage each with good flight times
If I lived closer I would definitely book straight away - unfortunately there don't seem to be any Northern England flights😞
Neil & Jill
Flying from Heathrow 30th june2016
Yeah unfortunately no good for us either as we also live in the North. Will wait for Easy Jet to release flights.
I will have a look at Ryanair leeds-corfu. Thanks
Karen