travel tips

Six myths about package holidays

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By Julia Brookes

Forget the 1970s stereotypes — package holidays deliver all sorts of experience, from fly-and-flop to stirring adventure. Here’s what you need to know

Sales of package holidays are soaring in 2023 thanks to the cost-of-living crisis and post-pandemic anxiety about securing a refund if things go wrong. 

Over 80 per cent of 2,000 people polled by the UK’s largest tour operator, Jet2, said they were now considering a package because of the current economic climate. Jet2’s summer 2023 programme will be the biggest ever — it has just added flights to Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Larnaca, Majorca, Tenerife, Faro and Malaga. 

Meanwhile, travel trade association Abta has revealed that 29 per cent of Brits are planning on taking an all-inclusive holiday this year to keep costs under control. 

Still think this style of trip is just not for you? Here are eight popular myths about package holidays that you shouldn’t believe.

A mural in Buenos Aires, Argentina
A mural in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Alamy)

1. Package holidays involve two weeks in Spain, eating at the same restaurant every night 

Forget that 1970s fly-and-flop stereotype: packages come in all shapes and sizes. Any type of trip, from trekking through Bhutan to exploring the vineyards of California’s Napa Valley on horseback can be a package holiday. The definition of a package is simply that a travel company has put at least two elements of your trip together for you, such as flights, accommodation and car hire. Check out Aito, a brilliant site for sourcing every style of holiday, in destinations from Argentina to the Azores, offered by independent and specialist travel companies.

The view from Manhattan Bridge on New York's Chinatown
The view from Manhattan Bridge of New York’s Chinatown (Getty Images)

2. Packages are more expensive than booking hotels and flights separately

Not necessarily. You may think you’re getting better value for money by going it alone but for traditional seaside summer holidays in destinations such as Greece and Portugal package holidays will generally be cheaper than DIY trips, and you won’t run the risk of losing your holiday if your airline or hotel goes bust.

Even city breaks can be cheaper when booked as a package: BA Holidays has some great hotel and flight deals especially off season. Short-haul trips tend to offer fairly modest savings, but long-haul deals can be incredible bargains if you strike lucky: a three-night trip to New York from Gatwick, staying at the plush Indigo Hotel on the Lower East Side in mid-March was £565pp if two people are sharing a room, saving an astonishing £2,275 on the cost when booked separately.

Dining out at Oliva Restaurant, Ikos Aria, Kefalos, Greece
Dining out at Oliva Restaurant, Ikos Aria, Kefalos, Greece (Ikos Resorts)

3. All-inclusive holidays are all wristbands, cheap booze and dodgy food

All-inclusive holidays have always been a brilliant way of keeping spending under control and according to Abta, 40 per cent among those aged 44 and under and 57 per cent of young families are planning to take one in 2023 to manage their finances.

All-inclusives cover all price points and if the cheap and cheerful doesn’t appeal, a new breed of high-end all-inclusive has redefined the experience. Five-star Ikos Resorts (with resorts in Greece and Spain) offers the “Infinite Lifestyle concept”, including restaurants with Michelin-starred menus, cocktails designed by top mixologists, 24-hour complimentary room service, kids’ clubs and a dine-out option that means that guests can try local restaurants. Book through tour operators such as Jet2Holidays.com, trailfinders.com and britishairways.com.

4. It’s quicker and easier to book everything myself

The internet can be a wonderful resource but planning a complicated trip online will be time-consuming and can be stressful and confusing. Book through the right travel agent or tour operator and their staff will be on top of the logistics; they’ll have been on the excursions, stayed in the hotels, eaten in the restaurants and know the right time of year to travel, so you shouldn’t get any nasty surprises.

The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon
The Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut (Getty Images)

5. An escorted tour means endless coach travel and a big group wearing name badges

Small group escorted tours have soared in popularity in recent years, partly because they’re a brilliant option for solo travellers. They’re led by expert guides (whose services would cost a fortune if booked privately) and often include packed itineraries and experiences that would be impossible to arrange privately, in off-the-beaten track destinations that can be daunting to navigate for newbies. Group sizes are often no more than 12. 

Explore! for example, whose average group size is 11, has a week-long Highlights of Lebanon tour including crusader castles and Phoenician ruins, and a sobering reminder of the civil war on a walking tour of Beirut. Some operators offer different grades of comfort and pace: Intrepid, whose new trips for 2023 range from communing with penguins in Patagonia to hiking and biking through Morocco, has four, ranging from “Basix” itineraries for those on a budget to “Premium”, with top-notch accommodation, many meals and tips included.

The Danube cycle path
On the Danube cycle path (Alamy)

6. Packages are a one-size-fits-all trip

Many tour operators offer tailor-made trips so that you can explore at your own pace, stay in exactly the sort of hotel that suits you and eat when and where you want. Exodus, for example, has a self-guided seven-night cycling holiday starting in Vienna that meanders along the Danube and includes cycling in three countries in one week, with stays in four-star hotels, luggage transfers and flights from £1,299pp. Tailor-made trips can also include insider access: try Abercrombie and Kent, whose little black book of contacts will get you an exclusive pre-opening tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo if you book a wider itinerary.

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6 highlights of the Azores

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1. Furnas

A dramatically active volcano lies next to this scenic little town and gardens where you can swim in hot, mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep within the earth.

2. Sete Cidades

A spectacular caldera and a pair of hauntingly beautiful crater lakes that are entangled with local myths and legends. Ethereal and mystical, the area makes for some of the best hiking on the islands.

3. Capelinhos

This wild headland only reared out of the sea split-seconds ago in geological time, though it first emerged in 1957. An enthralling museum is found within the lighthouse, which is still half-buried under volcanic ash.

4. Whale and dolphin watching

Wildlife-watching trips can be arranged from various ports, including Horta (Faial) where a museum brings to life the history of humans and whales.

5. Angra do Heroísmo

This UNESCO World Heritage city is steeped in history and packed with reminders of Portugal’s old empire and age of exploration.

6. Azores Geopark

A site protected for geological research. At its heart is the Algar do Carvão volcanic cone and lava tube.

Where to stay in the Azores

Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico, São Miguel

This local landmark sits on Ponta Delgada waterfront. It has great views over the harbour and some of the finest dining on the island at Balcony restaurant

Hotel do Canal, Faial,

This is a maritime-themed four-star hotel is by the Horta marina. It has legendary status in Faial’s seafaring history and was once an overnight stop for passengers on the Star Clipper flying boat between Lisbon and New York.

Terceira Mar Hotel, Terceira

This is a four-star stay set in luxuriant gardens by the sea and in full view of the Monte Brasil fortress. It is only a short walk to the historic centre of Angra do Heroísmo

Top things to do in London

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Here are 6 reasons why everyone needs to go to London at least once:

1. The famous sights

Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye, the list goes on and on. There’s nothing quite like the experience of hopping on a red double-decker bus and seeing some of the most recognisable sights in the world from its top deck.

2. The shopping

Whether you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket or you just want to have a nose past some windows, there is no better place to experience the best shopping in the world than London. Get overwhelmed by the number of people on Oxford Street, stunned by the prices in Knightsbridge and charmed by the boutiques around Carnaby Street.

3. The nightlife

Londoners may work hard, but they also play hard too. There’s everything any night owl could possibly want in the capital, from classic pubs, to chic clubs, quirky dive bars, theatres packed with Hollywood stars taking their turn on the boards. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you book tickets for some kind of show one evening, whether it be a West End musical, a stand up comedy show, or a great live concert. The biggest stars and the best shows always make a stop in our nation’s capital, so you’re sure to find something that will blow you away.

4. The history

The story of London is ever so long and dramatic. So much of our culture as a country developed in this city and you’ll discover more than you can possibly remember if you visit some of its museums and historical attractions. Terrify yourself with the gruesome past of the London Dungeons or bask in the splendour of royalty at Hampton Court Palace.

5. The unexpected bits

The best bits of a trip to London will be the bits you won’t expect. There are some things you’d never know until you experience them in person, like how peaceful the green spaces in such a bustling city can be, or how distinctive different neighbourhoods can feel. The one-of-a-kind memories can only come from travelling to the city, putting on some comfortable walking shoes, and going out to explore.

6. The people

London, and in fact Britain in general, may not have a great reputation for being full of friendly, welcoming people, but actually, the city is the wonder that it is because of the great diversity of fascinating people that live there. Everywhere you look you’ll see people doing incredible things, whether it’s building businesses or performing circus acts in the street. Everyone has a story to tell, and on a visit to London it’s worth talking to as many people as possible to hear some of the amazing stories, as well as creating one of your very own.

Check out the amazing range of tours available here

Currency in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam

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Thailand’s currency is the baht, and at the time of writing the exchange rate for ease of calculations is approximately 35 baht to the US dollar. I didn’t take any baht with me to Thailand as I had pre-booked and paid for transport from the airport and our hotel, Trang hotel, takes card payment for meals. The local street vendors seem to take dollars for everything and the ubiquitous 7-eleven stores will take dollars and give change in baht. I did take plenty of US dollars in cash and was able to change it at one of the many currency exchange booths and banks in Bangkok, there are also plenty of ATMs there. Bahts are useful when paying for entrance fees to temples and boat trips.

The local currency in Cambodia is the riel, but here dollars are accepted everywhere and there is no need to change currency or get riel from an ATM. Change may be given in dollars with smaller amounts in riel. Most restaurants and shops do not take card payments. At the time of writing the approximate exchange rate was 4000 riel to one dollar.

In Vietnam it is easy to be a millionaire in Vietnamese dong as there are over 24,000 dong to the dollar. Fortunately most notes are in multiples of 1000 and even a 50,000 dong note is only worth just over 2 dollars. Some restaurants and bars leave the zeros off their prices so that 50,000 dong would be 50. Here again the dollar is widely accepted and change may be given in dollars and dong, there are plenty of currency booths and ATMs available. Card payments are more widely accepted here than in Cambodia.