Re: Package or independent travel?
Always book independently unless a discounted offer or city break that's to good to miss.
Just had a three week hols in the Far East, part of which 14 days was a cruise around Thailand and Malaysia, I booked flights from Cyprus with Emirates, spent a night in a hotel in Singapore booked online, did the cruise which I booked over the phone with the Cruiseline themselves, then at embarking we spent the day in Singapore before going to the airport and flying with Air Asia to Bali for a few days, return flight booked online and coincided with the flight back from Singapore to where I live in Cyprus. Booked a two bed apt for £50 per night for two people in Bali direct with the Australian owner.
Lovely holiday and everything went smoothly but it's a long old flight even from here!
Planning a holiday of a lifetime in our 60th year which is in 2013 don't know where yet but it will be independently done!