42244 3 3 econsultancy_xml <p>As well as finding differences in pricing between the four travel agents and ‘costly extras’ added to the price quoted in the brochure, <a href="http://www.holidaywhichfreetrial.co.uk/">Holiday Which?</a> found that, in every case, identical holidays were cheaper online. </p> <p>In one example, a holiday at the Sol Magaluff Park Hotel was quoted in Thomas Cook’s brochure at £2,165, while the equivalent holiday was £1,697 when booked online – a saving of £468. </p> <p>With such savings on offer, it’s no wonder that the internet is becoming the most important channel for researching and booking holidays. </p> <p>According to recent Nielsen//NetRatings figures, <a href="http://econsultancy.com/press-releases/1842-research-from-nielsen-netratings-adviva-and-harvest-digital-into-the-online-travel-habits-of-uk-consumers">55% of UK internet users book their holidays online</a>, while a further 17% research online then buy over the telephone. Only 7% of internet users research and buy holidays from high street travel agents.</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph>As well as finding differences in pricing between the four travel agents and ‘costly extras’ added to the price quoted in the brochure, <Link URL="http://www.holidaywhichfreetrial.co.uk/" Window="New">Holiday Which?</Link> found that, in every case, identical holidays were cheaper online. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>In one example, a holiday at the Sol Magaluff Park Hotel was quoted in Thomas Cook’s brochure at £2,165, while the equivalent holiday was £1,697 when booked online – a saving of £468. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>With such savings on offer, it’s no wonder that the internet is becoming the most important channel for researching and booking holidays. </Paragraph> <Paragraph>According to recent Nielsen//NetRatings figures, <Link URL="http://econsultancy.com/press-releases/1842-research-from-nielsen-netratings-adviva-and-harvest-digital-into-the-online-travel-habits-of-uk-consumers" Window="New">55% of UK internet users book their holidays online</Link>, while a further 17% research online then buy over the telephone. Only 7% of internet users research and buy holidays from high street travel agents.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> 2007-01-09T11:02:00+00:00 0 1 econsultancy_xml <p> <strong>A new study from Holiday Which? has found that people who book their holidays through a high street travel agent are paying over the odds when compared to the deals available online.</strong> </p> <p>The group investigated four tour operators, <a href="http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/">First Choice</a>, <a href="http://www.mytravel.com/">MyTravel Group</a>, <a href="http://www.thomascook.com/home/home_sun.asp">Thomas Cook</a>, and <a href="http://www.thomson.co.uk/">Thomson</a>, basing its research on a two-week holiday for two adults and one child in Majorca.</p> <FormattedContent xmlns="http://www.e-consultancy.com/schema/formattedContent/"> <Paragraph> <Emphasis>A new study from Holiday Which? has found that people who book their holidays through a high street travel agent are paying over the odds when compared to the deals available online.</Emphasis> </Paragraph> <Paragraph>The group investigated four tour operators, <Link URL="http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/" Window="New">First Choice</Link>, <Link URL="http://www.mytravel.com/" Window="New">MyTravel Group</Link>, <Link URL="http://www.thomascook.com/home/home_sun.asp" Window="New">Thomas Cook</Link>, and <Link URL="http://www.thomson.co.uk/" Window="New">Thomson</Link>, basing its research on a two-week holiday for two adults and one child in Majorca.</Paragraph> </FormattedContent> false 691 362435 Offline holiday shoppers paying over the odds false 2007-01-09T13:48:00+00:00 offline-holiday-shoppers-paying-over-the-odds 2009-04-28T22:41:01+01:00 2009-04-28T22:41:01+01:00 253