Another email offering a (not so) great deal.

This morning I received an email offering me a great deal on the perfect holiday for me from a major High Street travel agent.  I clicked on the link so that I could compare their prices with the holiday that I have already booked.

The first issue was that they don't fly from my chosen airport to my destination at the weekend, they only offer one flight per week on a Tuesday evening but as I only wanted to compare prices I let this slide.

The second issue was that they only offered one hotel in the whole resort, and this is a hotel that I will NEVER be staying at again, but again this was just a price comparison exercise.

The package price for two travellers was £493 per person for a week's half board in a 3 star hotel and included flights and transfers, this was for mid June.  Breaking this down, the flight was £198.98 per person, the hotel £276.50 per person and the remaining amount covers the costs of transfers and the rep at resort.

The third issue was that when I searched for 1 person travelling, as you know I always travel alone, the hotel was sold out. Change the search back to 2 people travelling, and the hotel was available again.

Booking separately, the flights work out at around the same price once hold luggage is added, however, the hotel can be booked much more cheaply.  Going to just one of the many comparison sites the same hotel can be booked for the same dates, the same board for £295 for two people, a saving of £258 on the original email offer.  With transfers costing around £20 return this is a good saving.  

You could possibly find even cheaper, this was just the first site I looked at, I usually look at a couple before I book anything.

I've talked before about shopping around, and this is another reason why.

My London Visit Wishlist

I would love another trip to London, in the past I have been for one night stays but would love to stay for longer.

The places that I really want to visit are (in no particular order):

1.  The Natural History Museum.  I really want to visit Dippy before he is moved to make way for the whale skeleton.  I have never been to the NHM so it is definitely on my wish list.

2.  The Science Museum.  The geek in me loves the Science Museum, it was the first museum I visited where you are encouraged to touch the exhibits.  After years of having to walk behind ropes, signs on everything telling you not to touch and attendants in every room to make sure you don't, this was fantastic.  I need to go when the schools are not on holiday so that I can get to the exhibits to play, I mean, investigate.

3.  The Churchill War Rooms.  When I was at school I hated anything to do with history, probably more to do with the teachers and the subjects we covered than anything, but in more recent years I have become more interested in what went on, so a visit here is a must.

4.  Bletchley Park.  Not technically London, but close enough.  Again this appeals to the geek in me.  The fact that people were able to break codes, generally in a foreign language, just boggles me.

5.  Madame Tussauds.  Another place I have never visited,  I've been to Louis Tussauds' in Blackpool, but I am hoping that this one would be better.

Is there anywhere else you think I should add to my list?