So how much can you save by doing all the holiday legwork yourself?
Where:Two nights in Barcelona
When:March 21st-23rd
With a travel agent
The Club Travel website is offering a weekend break for two to the coolest city in Spain for €656 per person including taxes and (some) charges. Accommodation is in the four star Cristal Palace Hotel, situated within minutes walk of what the agency describes as "one of the most enviable locations in Barcelona", Passieg di Gracia, off the Plaza de Catalunya. Flights with Aer Lingus depart Dublin on Friday evening at 17.50 and leave Barcelona on the Sunday at 21.50.
How much:€1,312 per couple (excluding cost of baggage, charged, the Club Travel website says, at €18 per checked-in bag).
On your own
The Aer Lingus website is selling seats on exactly the same flights for €350.32 pp. On www.booking.com, two nights in the 4 star Acevi Villaroel, just two minutes walk from the Plaza de Catalunya and Las Ramblas and just 5 minutes from the "enviable" Passieg di Gracia can be had for €299.60.
How much: €1,000.24. (excluding cost of baggage, charged at €9/12 per checked-in bag).
Independent savings:€311.76 - Conor Pope