Any travel agents or thrifty travellers?

[Phteven]

Do we have a travel agents on BB? I'm looking for some advice...
DH and I are hoping to go and visit my father in March or April next year in the UK. With 2 children plus us it's going to be quite expensive so I'm wondering how I can get the cheapest fare (and hotel rooms - we'll be staying with my Uncle and then my Dad but we want to spend a while in London so we'll be in a hotel there).
Is it better to book early or wait until closer to the time to look for specials?
Any tips to reduce the expense would be much appreciated.

[bailey99]

Hi Dachlostar,
I am a travel agent, and for your flights, if you can leave before the end of March, it is usually cheaper, as April is the start of the 'shoulder season' so it gets more expensive, plus there are ususally easter and school holidays in April so it's a busy and therefore expensive time to travel. There are really 2 options for booking flights, you can wait for a while, say November/December, and see if there are any earlybirds, or you can book now at the best available flights. I am in Sydney, so I will gladly send you a quote if you like you can just PM me and I can send you my work email and I can do it tomorrow. No obligations of course, but I can at least give you an idea.

[Phteven]

Hi bailey, thanks for your advice. I'll PM you in a minute
What do you think of webjet? I've just been having a browse and I was thinking of joining so that if a good special comes up I'll get an email.

[Beckibee]

Bailey, I'm not the OP but thanks for the advice. I'm flying to the UK & Ireland with a friend next year and it looks like we're going to fly out on March 31st. *L* We're looking at buying our fares in early November to try and get some early-bird specials.

Can I ask what airlines you recommend?

[carls888]

Hi I'm not sure if I can post a reccommendation for a travel forum on here, so sorry and delete it if it's not allowed.
But when we travel i always use tripadvisor
type in your destination and go the forum section, a wealth of knowledge awaits!
C

[Smoke Jaguar]

Earlybirds are out now and quite impressive for the April period. I went to Jetset in my local town with a printout from Webjet, and had also been browsing bestflights website. Jetset sponsors my fire brigade annual Art Show, and I was keen to ask for their business for as close to a web price as possible. We got flights for January at a pretty good price (considering I had missed earlybirds) flying Emirates for 2 adults and a 19month old (he will be) - $2165 each and $198 for DS. More than I've ever paid before, but I've never travelled there in Jan, always left in quieter periods.
Actually, that's not including the flight to Ireland, but that's not going to cost much.
Good luck!