package holidays or DIY?

barron_2

I think the point is ,that the Big 4 have got people fed up with Agents,and we are all being tarred with the same brush.
Its the indies who give the personel attention,I had one large supplier emailing MY clients to book direct with them.
All us Indies are asking is the public fight back,before you all become "TUIBOTS"
Happy Hols.

richardw

TRAVELMAN wrote:

Barron,

Yup-agree completely. At least if an ATOL Agent does it its completely covered & bonded. Sava/sloppy get some brill prices but they are not protected ATOL packages as there are 2 components.

Sometimes it might cost the punter £10/£15 pp more than a 'diy'-but what price peace of mind? What would you do if you were 'bumped' (ie overbooked-& in Spain/greece Hotels are ROUTINELY overbooked by 10%!) at 2 in the morning-with 2 hot & fed up kids-& no rep/emergency contact number & either NO accommodation or moved somewhere inferior??

Sometimes I think the 'monesaving' message just blinds people to the pitfalls-as you said-what about EU jet....a prime example.

An arrival 'at 2 in the morning' above. They wouldn't arrive at that time unless they'd taken afternoon or later flights.

barron_2

Hi Richard,
Sometimes you cant help those flights and 9 out of 10,they are the flights by THE BIG 4.!!.
We try and get early morning flights and late back,so that the client has more time in resort,BUT a booking the other day could only be done with stupid flight times IN & OUT.ie LGW-DLM.(and at stupid prices)!!.

TRAVELMAN_2

With you now! Just highlighting what can happen....could even happen in the day but obviously at night when all offices, etc are closed it would be even more distressing for a family!

budgetflyer

Thing is,the ones who get bumped from their rooms are normally with a tour opp. The tour opps squeeze the hotels so much on prices. Theres more money in it for the hotel to give the room to an independant traveler.
Much of this ABTA stuff is just scaremongering.The sky is always falling in.

richardw

Depends on what the deal is with the tour op and hotelier. Sometimes the tour op will buy 20 double rooms for 26 weeks and will also pick the rooms the tour op would then be the overbooker.

nearlyrich

I would only ever use an independant TA if I was using one, our local village independant did our flights to NZ for the same price as one of the big specialists and threw in airport transfers which are worth at least £50 in a taxi, we got a lovely Merc saloon which was a nice way to start and end our hols.

Going back to the subject of dealing with problems in resort I have always been more than capable of getting a room change or whatever, most of the travel op reps are inexperienced and don't know the first thig about customer service. We had an off peak week in Minorca, the hotel was used by one of the big 4 and the reps played disco music around the pool from 10am till 12 and then 3 till 6pm. There were about six of us asked them to turn it down or off as it wasn't ideal for relaxing, The response was "No we can't turn it off because clients like it" the only clients there were the six of us who wanted it turned off!:mad:

barron_2

budgetflyer wrote:

Thing is,the ones who get bumped from their rooms are normally with a tour opp. The tour opps squeeze the hotels so much on prices. Theres more money in it for the hotel to give the room to an independant traveler.
Much of this ABTA stuff is just scaremongering.The sky is always falling in.

Exactly, what were saying,the tour op,normally the Big 4,has there allocation,they over book,someone gets bumped.
Now, an independant agent can source the rooms,as we do,from the hotels direct or the agents in the country who represent the hotels.
That is why you will find the big accom only suppliers cutting their rates nearer the time of arrival,they have bought these rooms already.
We give ours back 4 weeks before arrival,if any left,then we deal with the hotel/agent to see if availability after.
Also using the other suppliers when needed.
As for scaremongering,ABTA is just an association,union if you like, of travel agents,an agent does NOT have to belong to them.
As was said earlier,good indies will have the insurances and trusts in place,ATOL is run by the CAA(Goverment)to protect British travellers abroad in case of Airline collapse and Hotel failure,if the two elements are booked together through an ATOL agent.
The BIG 4 are trying to put pressure on the goverment,by opting ,possibly,out of ATOL,you will then pay extra on your travel arrangements to cover the BIG 4 from collapse.
Cosmos and Going Places are having a rough time of it at the moment,as is Air Berlin,Easy Jet and your favourite Ryan Air,(all this from the trade press)if the shareholders want the plug pulled,no ones going to stop them.
As Chris (travelman)said earlier,in so many words,"better to have,than have not."(sorry Chris, just abreviating a bit!)
Most people take out travel insurance,ATOL is your inbuilt failure insurance,so dont knock it. If I could run a business whithout the ATOL and insurances,that cost thousands of pounds per year,then i would,but i am protecting the customer and myself(family) by having it.
Apologies again for going on,(and spelling mistakes)
HAPPY HOLS.

Dumyat

to be honest i would do DIY if it was dearer.....I like to pick where I want to go...and the fewer irish pubs and all day breakfasts the better!
However I find I can do a villa for the same price as an package deal appartment...and with two teenagers the more space the better.

and I realise in general there is risk involved...but thats what visa cards and insurance are for Done it for years now and wouldnt do it any other way now....

barron_2

Agreed again.
Without going on,I still think that people are missing the point.
DIY yes,but what about DIFY(doing it for you.)The indie finds WHAT you want,from normaly the same supply chain as you spend hours looking for,.
The supplier pays the agent % not the client.
Example Client DIY's Lowcost flights and villa and transfers,cost = say £1000.
Indie finds same Cost =£1000(possibly cheaper).
MSE(diyer)hasnt saved anything(possibly),but it hasnt cost them anymore either(except the time hunting!).
But the indie has earnt his%,and covered your holiday at the same time,no extra insurances etc.
If it goes wrong ,you have comeback.
Please Guys do you all see the point now.
Us indies are on here to save us and sometimes you money,if business comes along,all well and good.
We are as fed up as everyone with the Bigun's snatching and doing people over.Thats why we are independants.
So all i have left to say(thank goodness i hear you say!!).IS.
Give your LOCAL INDEPENDANT(ATOL)a CHANCE,if they cant beat your DIY price 9/10 they will tell you.(But dont B******* them cause they will know).
Come on MSE Martin give us a break and a big SHOUT.
Happy Hols.(Gone on Again!)xxx