I would like to show you the difference between planning your own itinerary and getting one from the travel agency on a real example. I have planned a trip to London with my friend a while ago.

To show you the difference, I took some itineraries form travel agencies, and all of them, including the ones I did are for the same dates.

Travel agency’s itinerary

includes a return airplane ticket (economy class), 3 nights in a 4 star hotel, bus transportation from airport to hotel and back, guides and travel agency fee for organizing the trip for you. Now, let’s look into it… I’m sure you’ve noticed that they usually take it as a day or two more if you depart late in the evening or if you’re flying back in the morning/noon. The reason why, is that sometimes it includes a work day, and technically it is another day. When you look at the flyers that you picked up in the travel agency, always knock down one day; especially if it’s a longer trip. So, here we had a morning departure and a flight back in the afternoon. That’s ok, 3 and a half days you are spending in London. (I’m not discussing now what you can do with 3 and a half days in London ) It said which 4 star hotel people would be staying in so I posted these pictures below.

The bar area is fine, but the rest just looks flashy and without a common thread. “We just put it all there…” But, you can rate it yourself… Usually, people stick to the fact that it’s a 4 star hotel and what you get is not really that different from a 3 star hotel; it’s not as the jump between 4 and 5 stars. Keep that in mind. And one more thing you should watch out for, when it says “hotel in the city center” you very often get this:

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It’s where this hotel is situated. The city center is Hyde park and on the right Picadilly, Bond Street… Zoom in the map if you can’t see it. No tube stations in sight, if you decide to go out at night, if you have different plans than the group you’re traveling with, you have to take a taxi.

The average price is €657. Additionally you have to pay for all tickets (a lot of it is free in London, but it depends what you want to see), airport fares and taxes and public transportation. 

My itinerary #1

includes a low cost return airplane ticket; and just to make something clear right off, know what you’re flying in. The airplane that was booked by the travel agency was Airbus 320 same as the one I found. Since I’ve flown in both of them, I can tell you that the only difference is the color of the seats (and the price). Further on, it included 5 nights at a fancy bed and breakfast (photos below).

Since both flights were early in the morning, you get 5 days in London. B&B is 5 minutes from Victoria tube station and 5-10 minutes to the heart of the city.

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I arranged transportation, to pick us up at the airport at a certain time and drive us to the b&b neighbourhood and the other way around. Moreover, I included the price of public transportation for 5 days and all the tickets (Tate, London Eye, Madame Tissauds, Design Museum, London Aquarium, Cartoon Museum and Brands Museum). Tickets range from £4-£25. The price of this trip is €537.

My itinerary #2

includes a low cost return airplane ticket, 7 nights at easyHotel Victoria (I already wrote about easyHotels, to see the review go here). Both flights are also early in the morning so you get 7 days in London. The second itinerary included also transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice versa, the price of public transportation for 7 days and all the tickets mentioned before.This hotel is practically as close to the station as b&b. The full price is €558.

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My point is that you can organize a far better trip for yourself, for the same price or lower. And you have all your time to spend how and where you want it.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

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