Looking to book a holiday - best websites, places to go to or general tips

[westy]

Hi all,

Had a quick search but couldn't find anything relevant. Looking to take the family to Bali next year, was hoping for around this time 2014 as it will tie in with my oldest son's birthday to make it a bit more of an occasion. The catch is it will be 2 Adults, 4 Kids (ages then will be 8, 6.5, 4.5 and 3.5) and an Infant (would be about 6m-12m old). I realise big families don't holiday cheaply but if I search now, I can reduce costs. Saw a special with Air Asia, I think it was, last week saying $129 there and about $50/60 back between Oct and Dec this year. I usually miss this sort of thing. Cheapest quote from them would be $1000 for all 7, getting to the airport at 10pm to leave and about 2am to come back.

I took them to Phuket 2 years ago (was only 4 of them then and a midnight flight out) and they all seemed to like it, so will try Bali next before I plan a trip with my two oldest sons to Japan.

I am searching Air Asia now but they don't go a year in advance, when is one of the cheaper options to fly to Bali? Can push it out a few months if other months are considerably cheaper but don't really want to bring it forward by any more then 2 months or so. Would like a nice place to stay as we don't party and drink so not looking for hot spots and late nights out (Seminyak, Kanishka Villas was OK when I took the wife for a weekend last year).

Also, due to numbers, most hotels are not going to take us all in one room so I will be looking at villas (private pool will be bonus and save other hotel guests from 4/5 kids). We will be meeting up with my wife's cousin from Sydney (5 in her party). A villa/house seems to make sense (staff/pool and transport covered with a bit of luxury). Currently budgeting on a $4000 stay for a week or 10 days. Phuket was $5000 for 10 days and would be all I would be prepared to spend in an Asian "developing" country/location.

Another thing is I currently am able to redeem about $1200 worth of Flight Centre vouchers to use but would consider cash and save that for the next holiday.

I realise I can go to a travel agent but would rather book myself first/get rough idea of what brands fly at what times before I set anything up.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[TJ]

Brockas mum does a mint job at looking at peoples travel needs from all accounts.

I stayed at Rumi Villas Seminyak in 2011 - sounds ideal for your needs. Great place/location etc and wasnt too bad pricing wise.

Flights - just look out for the sales.

[westy]

Any idea of when these sales spring up? Or are they all random times? Just need an idea of when to have the credit card ready and let my wifes cousin/family know when we are booking.

Was also hoping to take off to KL after there for a couple of days, take the kid to legoland, but that idea has only just popped up in the last week.

[Brockas]

http://www.antilag.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?165-Wendy-Brockbank-Travel-Consultant

Contact details are in that thread :)

[180SXTCY]

some good website for booking a holiday: expedia, webjet, wotif

[mr_rotary]

^^Expedia is generally more expensive than other website. Shop around. use Tripadvisor to see what I mean.

I used this website when doing research for a Villa in Bali. Helpful and quick to answer e-mails.

http://www.balivillaholidays.com/

I also use Tripadvisor as a back-up for searching for cheaper websites. Also search the hotels website as many times I have found it's cheaper to book straight through the hotel or they have more room options than the website.

I use the following website when searching for carriers to and from destinations. Covers EVERY airline in and out plus surrounding airport searches. Only issue is you can't book through them so then I usually go to the airlines website and book straight through them. Also has an app which proved invaluable when I was in the US and American Airlines filed for chapter 11. I also use Webjet as a back-up as they have improved considerably the past 18 months in the amount of airlines they now show. They have also dropped their fees to 'reasonable' prices.

http://matrix.itasoftware.com/

[S85FI]

Disney luxuary Villas. 2k for 7 nights. 200sqm. Pool 6x4 private. Will do the trick. 50 m walk from main strip.

I stay here. Its in seminyak. Actually im here now.

Food and good shopping. Make taxi run the meter. It will work out half of what you think is a good deal.

Get a nanny organised by villa. Do one hour build up to 2 then 3 then 4. Then for some adult time go to Ku De Ta (means over throw of government by means of violence) It's fine dining but starts off like a sunday session. It has heavy security. Armed security as in riffles and sniffer dogs. Dont let that put you off. Its how the owner runs all his venues all over the world. If your a drunk and want to punch on it will end badly for you. Enjoy the atmosphere and you will have the best time with your misses. Western prices on food and drinks.

Go to Bintang supermarket for cheap food bottled water. Carton of 12 x1.5lt bottles will cost about $5. Its like a target/iga. 2 floors worth.

Used Agoda for accomodation in asia district. Put your self on email list as often they do 50% off.

[S85FI]

Ps you can take infant there too. Tunes are soft mood music around 7. Sunday session style during arvo and if your discreet breast feeding is no problems and a nanny can be present with you there to rock the pram etc.

Staff will jump hudles to ensure you are 100% happy with service.

[TJ]

Potato Head > Ku De Ta :)

[S85FI]

^^^^^ heading there for my 12 lunch...

[adrenalin]

I used STA travel for my trip coming up to China. Was heaps cheaper then Flight Center. Guy was pretty nice about it all as well.

Was the one at Garden City.

[westy]

Been to Bali twice already, know what to expect. Just don't like bogan hot spots. 20 years ago I stayed in Legion, was OK, but I was only 10. Went last year, shit changed big (as you would expect in 20 years), stayed in Seminyak, was relaxing for my wife.

Not really a fan of noisy eateries/Sunday Session style things. If anything, I am a happy drunk but never get drunk in public, one drink tops (and that is rare).

More looking for housing options for so many and when the air lines throw out cheap fares. But will start searching. Wife's cousin wanted to go in December but the 5th kid is trashing my holidays for this year so planning for next year instead.

Alsa, I am pretty safe to assume school holidays are the priciest/busiest?

[SimonR32]

Have a look at Amadea Villas in Semiyak... You can get a 2 or 4 bedroom villla which are awesome for $450-650 a night (prices are from memory)

http://www.amadeabali.com/

We went there recently and stayed in a 2 bedroom one... Big private pool, one seperate bedroom with king bed, another bedroom with 2 singles and another room with a queen sized lounge sofa. Plus there is lots of other room for an extra fold out bed.

[Torquen]

www.lemonparty.org /thread.

[A360]

Any idea of when these sales spring up?

Get on the air asia site and sign up as a memeber get advance notifications of any upcoming sale's on fares

[Faz]

i went to bali with the missus year before last, first time so wanted to relax and also experience the hustle and bustle of it all. Firstly we stayed at the Pita Maha in Ubud, absolutley stunning as its in the mountains and probably the most relaxing hotel i've been to each had it's own private villa with its own courtyard with pool overlooking this massive valley, absolutley loved it however it did cost a fair bit more then when we stayed in kuta, however worth every cent. only thing is, is that it is about 30min for Kuta.