FamilyHolidays would be yet another package holiday-focused website cluttering up the internet if it wasn’t for a rather nice twist on the user experience for searching and booking complicated products.
The site lets users search for flights and hotels as individual components on one side of its search screen while also allowing at the same time for tailor made deals to similar destinations and dates on the other side of the window.
The functionality keeps users on the same page as they add different elements into a trip such as car hire and transit, before heading off to the checkout section of the site.
The two search methods can be carried out simultaneously right up to booking point.
Regulatory issues for UK users – where the customer based is expected to be initially – are handled by an ATOL bond for package holidays (FamilyHolidays acts as an agent) and failure protection insurance for bundled deals.
Much of the functionality for the rest of the site is modelled on the standard search and booking process familiar with users across the internet, as well as pages for destinations guides and maps.
The site is the latest offering from Chris Clarkson and Chris Brown who, after making their fortune selling HolidayWatchdog to TripAdvisor in January 2008, have since launched Sunshine.co.uk and now Familyholidays.co.uk.
Hi,
thanks for the write up! We’re pretty chuffed with the side-by-side search, even if it is a bit “clunky” at the moment. Over the next few months we’ll take on-board feedback from customers and see how we can improve the UI.
Chris
Chris:
What I’d would like to see, not necessarily on FamilyHolidays.co.uk, is meta search for dynamic packaging.
the ability to search and view multiple prices based on bundling of deals.