Flight, hotel and transfer in one package, or each part booked separately? Both have their advantages. For a week on the beach the package holiday is often the most convenient and not rarely the cheapest choice. If you are planning a tour or want to combine several cities, doing it yourself gives you more freedom. In Germany package holidays are very common, and the law protects them well. The biggest difference is therefore not the price but the rights you have when something goes wrong.
The two options compared
| Point | Package holiday | Booked yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | one contract, one total price | one contract per part |
| Contact | the tour operator for everything | airline, hotel and car hire separately |
| A provider goes bust | money protected, journey home organised | often no protection, depending on the provider |
| Flight cancelled | operator arranges a replacement for the whole trip | flight rebooked, the hotel keeps charging |
| Problems on site | remedy or price reduction | complaint directly to the hotel |
| Freedom | fixed parts and dates | free choice of everything |
What speaks for a package holiday
With a package holiday you have one contractual partner, the tour operator. It is responsible for the whole trip, from the flight and transfer to the hotel. If there is a problem, you contact the operator or its local representative.
Your money is protected. Before you pay a deposit you receive a security certificate, the Sicherungsschein. If the tour operator goes bust, you get your money back, and if you are already on holiday, you are brought home. Flights and hotels booked separately usually do not have this protection.
You are also well protected if something is wrong. If the room is not as described or the pool is closed for weeks, the operator has to fix it. If it does not, you can reduce the holiday price. Always report problems right away on site, ideally in writing.
What speaks for planning it yourself
If you book yourself, you decide everything. You pick the flight at the time that suits you, stay three nights in the city and four by the sea, and stay as long as you like. For tours, city breaks and trips with several stops this is often the better way.
There can be price advantages too. Outside the school holidays, for small guesthouses or holiday flats and for destinations that tour operators hardly offer, booking yourself is sometimes cheaper. And if you already know a place to stay, you simply book it directly.
The risk of separate bookings
The downside shows when something goes wrong. If your flight is cancelled or moved by a day, the airline does have to rebook or refund you. But it is not responsible for your hotel. You usually still pay for the missed night if the room could not be cancelled free of charge.
So when you plan yourself, look for flexible conditions. Hotels with free cancellation until shortly before arrival give you room to manoeuvre. Good cancellation insurance adds protection if you cannot travel yourself.
What suits which trip
- One or two weeks on the beach: the package holiday is convenient, well protected and often cheap.
- Family holiday in the school holidays: package, as fixed children’s prices and transfers are often included.
- First long-haul trip: package, or with a tour operator who helps on site.
- City break for a weekend: booking yourself is usually more flexible.
- Tour by hire car: plan it yourself, or book a tour operator’s modular trip with a security certificate.
A middle way
Many tour operators now also sell trips that you put together from individual parts, with a free choice of flight, hotel and length of stay. If this is booked as a package holiday, you have all the rights of a package holiday despite the freedom. When you book, check whether you receive a security certificate. That is the surest sign.
flug-123.de editorial team, updated 9 November 2026. We review our guides regularly. Rules can change. If in doubt, the details in your booking apply.
