package holidays or DIY?

budgetflyer

Very well put Barron.
How much out of interest would you add on for the likes of Ryanair,easyjet etc flights per person to cover yourself with ATOL etc.
Im thinking,say I get a deal ie flights,accom +maybe transfers.Sure you could match or better the hotel +transfers but penny(+taxes) flights? Surely youd need to add something on to make the hassle worth your while?

barron_2

Hi Budget,
Depending on the client and supplier,with Air Belin,which we use quite a lot,as STN is one of our"locals" and we do a lot of business in Mallorca,Nothing, as we get payment from them,for each booking.
Ryan Air ,Easy jet etc etc,Normally we just use the clients C/Card and book their flights,adding them to our back office as cost,therefore enabling the ATOL,takes aprox 5 mins.
We dont earn on the flights,but we get the repeat business,as good as!!
There's also the benefit of knowing the flight pricings 1/2 days before the general public.and the points for free flights!.

Good Flight service,Good Hotels = Happy Customer = Happy (mrs)Barron!!= More than Happy ME!!
Hope this answered your question,
I know i run on a bit!!
Happy Hols

tobys_mummy_2

dogrose wrote:

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....

so do all visa cards cover you in the event of something going wrong?

tobys_mummy_2

and i didn't think travel insurance covered you if say the company you booked with went bust and you couldn't get home.

diddydi

barron wrote:

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.

I have lurked in the background on this forum and was so incensed yesterday that I felt I had to post. As an extremely efficient Independent Agent with 38years travel experience my clients receive the most professional service/ the best prices and I get to use Companies I know well and trust. I dont book the bucket & spade type holiday why would I? Take a £200 TUI holiday as an example. I would earn £14 commission from which I then have to pay staff/pay overheads/pay line rental/pay bonding/pay rent/ pay rates etc etc. Do I make money on this? The simple answer is NO NO NO. How on earth do people expect me to discount the price. Good Independent Agents are well worth their salt. To suggest people walk into an Agency to pick their brains is an insult. Do you get Solicitors or Accountants giving their service for free. All I am trying to do is make an honest living and I have hundreds of loyal clients.

barron_2

Hi diddydi ,
I hope i did not incense you,I was sticking up for us Indies.
Although I havnt got as much experiance as you,it looks like we are on the same wavelength.
Totally agree with the TUI comment,
It is a point that had to be made,as you said,how can we work for nothing,I am annoyed that MY clients are being cajoled by the Biguns,I am no threat to them,but and its a BIG BUT,if we as a whole can make a stand it may make some differance.
If our trade associations stood up and listened maybe we could get somewhere.
I have written a letter to the company concerned,their initial action was to deny it,but the client gave me their letter which has been passed to my solicitor.
I shall try and keep you posted on the outcome.
Anyway diddy,I hope your business goes from strengh to strengh,you never know we may cross paths one day.
Happy Selling.
Barron.

MIGHT55

;beer;
If Your Drunk Do You Notice At All
:BEER:

:icotbaske

diddydi

Morning barron

No it was not you that incensed me - I am afraid it was a greater being!
Morning has started well with 2x 1st class flights to New Zealand, 2 cruise bookings, a walking holiday to Madeira and a cheapie to Portugal using no frills airline.
I too hope we may meet up and tell the world how good us independents really are!

Mint1955

We have always done the safe thing and booked package holidays but would love some help in DIY ing. Maybe old hands could post any pitfalls on what to watch for or even links to good sites to get us started.
Hate spending loads of money to be bombarded with irish pubs and sky tv football nights.
We went to majorca admitidly it was a allocate on arrival last minute but we had asked for a small and friendly appt. We were upgraded to a huge 3 hotel complex all inclusive and it was horrendous.
Sheila