Not sure where you are getting the 6 weeks for payment of balance from. Thos Cook state balance due 14 weeks before departure. Not sure/can't remember (and I have had 2 holidays with them this year) about Thomson but it is more than 6 weeks.

fwh

Like fwh says, most TOs these days will expect you to pay in full for a holiday booked for only 3 months away. I have had a couple of holidays with smaller operators where I've only had to apy the balance off 6 weeks before departure but these were both with smaller, independent specialist and where comparatively expensive in the first place.

But either way, sometimes if you contact them about it before the balance is due, TOs will give you a few days grace (for example if it's about needing a few days for money to clear between accounts) but it is likely to be only a few days - they are extremely unlikely to allow you any longer an extension on paying of the balance and so not likely to make much difference in your situation. The best suggestion I can come up with is that you shop around and think about taking out a new credit card with an opening offer of an interest free period on purchases. That way you could then use the card to pay for the holiday in full now and then pay the card balance off in 3 monthly instalments as you save the extra before you actually go.

SM

If you're hell bent on getting this holiday whether you can pay for it now or not I think the only way forward will to be as Sma suggests about the credit card.

Thanks, I've called thompsons today an they said Its 8 weeks before departure it has to be paid, when I said 6 weeks it was just a rough guess from memory lol I thought it was around then. still not decided what we will do, I've never applied for a credit card before, is it easy an does it take long to set up? we might end up doing self catering otherwise, I think you can upgrade at the hotel but don't know the details of doing that and if it might be dearer. Thanks for your help :-)

getting a CC could take a little while, unless you do it through your current bank. that may be quickest, but i think you are probably looking at 2 weeks minimum, and probably nearer 4
i doubt if the TO would give you an extension on the final payment much beyond a week
it may make more sense to just save the money and book at the last minute. you can sometimes get a reasonble deal doing that.

I agree with jimd-f. Wait until about 4 weeks before you want to go and look to see what deals are available. If you are not hell bent on one particular resort you could get a good deal and delay when you pay. I'm sure you would have to pay it all on booking though. We have often booked last minute holidays and got good deals.

Depends on the shop and the person dealing with your holiday, normaly payment should be paid in full with in 12 weeks, but on occassions I have had this extended to 8 weeks, and my reason, it was tied into my wages, and agreed form the very beginning, if they didnt agree, I would have gone elsewhere, and the person knows I book my holidays evry year with them

Every 4 weeks, paid up my holiday with a £70 payment, and with 8 weeks to go made the final payment of £100

I am paying as I go along, I could pay it all off on one, but just paying it off little by little, not got much more to pay off anyway