Travel Features

Just because you want freedom, flexibility and a keen price doesn't mean you should disregard the specialist help of online travel agents.

Over the last decade the travel industry has changed completely: customers who formerly relied on sitting in front of high street travel agents to book their holidays are now intent on saving money by going online to organise their own low-cost flight and travel packages.

The internet means that we've been able to cut out the middle man like never before. The rise in low-cost airlines who are only bookable direct through their website means that in many cases you've no choice but to take the DIY option.

And the current financial situation means that people wanting to escape the Irish rain have more reason than ever before to get the best possible deal when it comes to booking their escape.

But while this need for value and a willingness by people looking for holidays to go online has resulted in the demise of a number of tradtional high street travel agents, others have been better at moving with the times and have ramped up their presence on the net.

And then there are those travel companies who have actually flourished by offering reasonably priced packages that are flexible enough to meet the needs of a market that is all too aware of the deals that can be had online.

They know that they can't beat the flight deals offered online by the likes of Ryanair, so they create packages with added extras that can be combined with low-cost flights and which are specifically situated in the destinations on the Ryanair and Aer Lingus route map.

One travel company to have taken the online bull by the horns is ActivityBreaks.com who offer ski deals and multi-activity breaks across Europe. Currently they're offering ski breaks with any day arrival that include a ski pass and ski hire. The fact that you can arrive on any day means that their clients match their trip with whenever it's possible to get the cheapest flights.

"Our customers typically detest the idea of the stereotypical beach holiday synonymous with the 80s and 90s and instead prefer to use their holiday time to try out a new activity, practice a sport they enjoy or do 2 or 3 short breaks instead of one long holiday," says ActivityBreaks.com's Allan Halsall.

Allan says that his research shows that the independent traveller will happily book a weekend break on their iPhone the day before travelling while sitting in a coffee shop drinking a cappuccino and using the free Wi-Fi.

"They are not necessarily looking for a budget holidays but instead they are looking for holidays with added value that are unique and exciting. They don’t mind arranging their own flight as it works out cheaper, saving money that can be put to better use when they reach their destination."