Just booked flights for Xmas and New Year in the Phils

[DaveyWallis]

After several years of Xmas and New Year over here we thought it only fair to experience it over there. It'll be Grace's first one with her family since 2007.

The flight prices have been steep, the flight times bad or the stopovers at airports too long but the prices seem to have dropped in the last 24 hours so have taken the plunge.

The flights are with Etihad and PAL, we leave from Heathrow at 9.15 am, have a 3 hour stopover at Abu Dhabi and then land in Manila just after noon.

Coming back we leave Manila at 4.30 pm, have a hotel overnight at Abu Dhabi (approx £100 extra) and then land back at Heathrow at 12.30 pm. We could have skipped the hotel and landed 6 hours earlier but I fancy a good sleep before driving back home. The airport hotel reviews are pretty good and you don't have to leave the airport.

Price works out at £514 each for the 3 of us, booked through lastminute.com. Mega pleased as it's over the festive season. From memory I think that's the cheapest I've ever flown.

Just the accommodation to book now. I'd like to stay for a week or so at the new Park Inn in Davao as well as one or two other places.

Looking forward to 3 weeks of drinking Red Horse!!!

Andy

[grahamw48]

That's a brilliant price.

Xmas and New Year is my favourite time to be there.

Oh, and my trip last year was on Etihad. Not a bad airline.

[Ako Si Jamie]

That is a fantastic price at that time of year. Nice one.

[irishman12]

hi ,have a look at eden nature park-we stayed there last april -there was promo at the time -only paid around 3000 peso for 4 rooms -good for 12 pax which incl buffet breakfast http://edennaturepark.com.ph/main/ if visiting samal can give you some contacts for places to stay there.

[Jamesey]

That's a great price!

We're also going at Xmas and New Year, but we're paying more like £800 each. But the flights are at good times, allowing to maximise my time off work. The only downside is an 8 hour stopover on the way back. It's with Asiana, which will be a new experience for us.