UK: Newspaper survey suggests independent travellers can save money
“Why not go on a DIY holiday and save yourself hundreds of pounds?” asks the Daily Mail, in an article likely to annoy many people in the travel industry.
The newspaper predicts that the days of package holidays could be numbered, after researchers found that it is 26 per cent cheaper to book different components yourself than booking a package.
A spokesman for Goldman Sachs, which carried out the research for The Mail, told the newspaper: “The raison d’etre of a package holiday company is that it should be cheaper to book a package than doing it yourself. However, in 70 per cent of cases we found it was cheaper to book your own flight separately. The average 26 per cent discount obtained by booking the flight and hotel separately really represents the hassle factor but we believe this will fade over time as it becomes easier to book on the internet.”
ABTA responded to the findings, pointing out that those who book independently will miss out on certain financial guarantees offered by bonded tour operators.
A spokesman for MyTravel added: “This study is not very scientific and to those people asking whether this is the death of the package holiday, the answer is absolutely not. The independent bookers have been around for years and good luck to them.”
