Pre-Book Sun Lounges

Given the weather that we are having this week (and last come to think of it) you may not be thinking of lounging in the sun but Thomas Cook is.
Their German company has decided, as you may have seen, to allow German bookers to prebook for €3 a day, sun lounges if they do it when they book their holiday. So far the offer is only available for 9 hotels in Turkey, Egypt and the Canaries so don’t necessarily feel that you may lose out when you head for the beach. But it will be rolled out to other destinations.
Over the years, there have been more jokes about the Germans nicking the sun lounges by placing their towels on them at the crack of dawn than I have had hot dinners. What will this do for their image? And it’s not only us Brits that moan about it. Scandinavians, Irish, French, Swiss have all had vented their ire in pubs and bars that I have been in over the years. Why, if Thomas Cook operates in just about every other European country, do they not make it available outside Germany as well. Yet they announced laeter that there are no places to make this available to British tourists. This sort of idea isn’t going to anything to do away with that stereotypic view we have of Germans at the beach.
Is this a gaffe or merely a case of Thomas Cook Germany not telling all their associated companies what they were doing?

Going Abroad with Tui and Thomas Cook

This week saw financial figures released from both TUI (owners of Thomson and First Choice) as well as Thomas Cook (who also own Airtours). As these four brands are the dominant players in the overseas package holiday market, their comments give a better idea than anyone else's about what we, the holidaymaker, are going through. Both have cut the number of holidays to try and match the downturn. Both are down about 14% in the number of holidays they have sold and both have almost managed to match the number of holidays to the number of expected buyers.
What it means for us though is that by managing that process, we seem to be having to pay about 10% more to go abroad this summer. Some of that is certainly due to the weakness of the pound against other currencies. Countries like Spain and Cyprus that heavily rely on the British holidaymakers are bending over backwards in trying to persuade the travel agents that we should go. In turn the travel agents should be trying hard as well. Yet this rise looks as though it is sticking so you may have to grin and bear it.
So where will be the best bargains?
Good question and the answer will vary depending on timing. More tourist authorities will be spending money as it comes closer to crunch time. The Mexicans, for example, agreed a $58 million dollar package to help the Mexican tourist industry once the swine flu crisis is over. The Thai government has come to the aid of its tourist industry after the demonstrations there. So what seems a price today may be cheaper later.
So can we afford to wait? If you are flexible in you holiday dates, maybe. If you are limited to school holidays, it could be tougher and you should probably expect to have to pay more,- at least if you're going abroad. The answer is probably that if you see a holiday you like and it meets your budget, book it. Waiting around may not help

An Update on Mexican Holidays

The outbreak of a flu virus in Mexico has prompted some of the strangest media coverage. On the one hand, there have been the stories of returning holidaymakers suffering from flu like symptoms and the spread of the virus to other countries and on the other, plaintive stories of people who have had their holiday plans dashed as tour operators cancel their package holidays.
It is too early to establish how severe this scare is but comments from Michael O’Leary of Ryanair claiming that it is only a tragedy for slum dwellers in Asia or Mexico and that a couple of strepsils for the rest of us will do doesn’t help.
To those going to Mexico in the next few days, the Foreign Office travel advice means that ABTA members will probably cancel the bookings. In this case, holidaymakers are entitled to alternative arrangements or a refund. For those of you seeking compensation, forget it. Just about every travel insurance policy would rate this as outside the control of the travel agent or tour operator. If you have booked flight and accommodation separately then you will need to check with both to see what their attitude is. For example, British Airways still is flying to Mexico
Thomsons, First Choice, Airtours, Virgin Holidays, Kuoni, Cosmos and Thomas Cook are amongst those tour operators who have all stopped holidays to Mexico for the next week at least.

is it Cheaper to Holiday Abroad?

Thomas Cook runs a Holiday Cost of Living Survey and the results have just been published. It claims that places like Majorca, Cyprus and mainland Spain are still cheaper than the UK. But all these places are in the eurozone and we have been told that the eurozone has become expensive because of the fall of the pound against the euro. Can this be right?
This survey compares prices in resorts as opposed to the actual cost of the holiday and checks nine individual items. They include such items as cigarettes and a UK newspaper. Now when you consider some of those some have always been cheaper like the cigarettes. And only about 25% of people smoke so for 75% there are no savings. A UK newspapers always more expensive abroad and how many people buy them when you’re abroad anyway. Judging by the overseas circulations, not many. This could well be the case when the basket of items needs to be updated to reflect what real people buy; postcards, stamps, a 3 minute mobile phone call as well as the meal and the price of drinks. And what about bread, cheese and some items of fruit?
Even allowing for my criticisms, Goa seems to be the cheapest place at £14.10 for the 9 items. Its £30.75 in Cuba, £34.01 in Egypt, £42.50 in Majorca, £34.66 in Spain and £45.38 in Cyprus but £48.51 in the UK. Coffee costs only20p in Goa but a whopping £4 in Egypt.
Perception is everything and the insurer, LV has issued a survey saying that a quarter of UK adults will holiday in the UK because of the cost. The responders estimate that a week in the UK will cost them on average £477 whilst those going abroad will spend £728. That’s a pretty big saving for the 25% LV says will holiday in the UK. But will they? Estimates by holiday makers can be inaccurate because prices vary where you shop. Until you get to your destination you won’t know what you’ll pay.
Both surveys are probably a bit misleading. It’s up to you. It might be cheaper if you buy carefully either abroad or here. What neither says is that overall prices like food and travel have gone up wherever you are so wherever you go it will probably cost you more than last year.