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Consumer Advice August 2009

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How to get a great late holiday deal

So you thought you probably wouldn't go abroad this year due to the credit crunch and the poor value of the pound. But now you've realised you really need that week in the sun. Here's how to get the best deal possible...

• Be flexible You need to put specific requirements to one side and just go with what's available - dates and destinations. At http://www.teletextholidays.co.uk/ you can put in specific destinations or choose the 'bestsellers' option. You can also put in specific dates or search up to two weeks either side of any given date. It then gives you all the relevant options and contact details for you to phone and book. On http://www.expedia.co.uk/ go to Last minute deals, click the region you want to travel from and possible dates and it comes up with availability wherever. We found a week in a three-star hotel in the Algarve for a family of four travelling a week after our search from Gatwick for £885 - plus 1000 Nectar points!
• DIY it You may find you get a better deal if you book the different elements separately. For instance we looked on http://www.skyscanner.net/ for flights. You can be specific with where you want to travel to and from or leave it blank. Just pop in your dates and it will scan 600 airlines on 200,000 routes to 5,000 airports. We found flights for two adults and two children from Bournemouth to Reus in Spain, departing a week after our search for £68.32 returning a week later. You'll get great hotel deals on http://www.booking.com/ so we gave it a go and found an eight out of ten rated apartment in nearby Cap Salou for up to six for £627.24, making a total of £695.56. We found the same holiday at the same time for over £1200 on a tour operator's site.

You can also book direct with propery owners on sites like http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/, which offers good prices all year round. We found a lovely barn conversion for five near Perpignan in the south of France for £249 in high season. Back to Skyscanner for flights at £403.24 from Manchester in mid-July - that's £652.24 for the week. And you're self-catering - the budget way to holiday.

• Have a haggle Find the holiday you want on one of the sites, note the tour operator and other details then call two or three travel agents to see if they can do a better price. Quote the per person price rather than the total as you're likely to get more of a discount.
• Check where you're going Find out more about holiday destinations and specific accommodation from real people at http://www.tripadvisor.com/ and http://www.holidays-uncovered.co.uk/.
• Get cashback Sign up to http://www.giveortake.com/ and you can get up to six per cent cashback by clicking through to its partner holiday sites. You can then keep the dosh or donate it.

Amazing Amazon

Q: If I buy through Amazon's Marketplace, what are my rights if there's a problem with my purchase?

A: Just like eBay, the Amazon Marketplace is simply a facility that puts private sellers in touch with customers so Amazon would rather you sorted it out between you. Indeed, if there is a problem its policy is that in the first instance you contact the seller. You may need your order number and details so keep these handy. Allow them three working days before making a claim through Amazon, see below.

If the seller contacts you but won't help even after you've returned your purchase, you can make a claim through Amazon using its 'A-Z guarantee' - just go to the order on your account page and click on 'problem with this order'. You can make a claim 30 days, but no later than 90 days, after your order. Strangely, Amazon only allows a maximum of five claims per buyer through this policy but at least it gives you some peace of mind.

Fuel use in hire cars

Q: We're hiring a car when we travel abroad this year but my husband and I are confused about fuel, do we have to return the car with the tank full or is it okay if it's nearly empty?

A: There are three options available from hire car companies:

1. Buy a tankful of fuel from the company and return the car empty. It's convenient but you'll be charged the hire company's high price for fuel and you won't get refunded on any that you leave in the tank.
2. Drive away with a full tank and pay for what you use. Again it's handy, it just depends how much the hire company is going to charge.
3. The best option is where you drive the car away with a full tank and return it full. But make sure it's completely full - locate a nearby petrol station when you pick the car up and make sure it will be open on your return - or you could be hit with an expensive refuelling charge.

So do check the company's fuel policy before you book.

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