On The Beach - Package or not???

Suzie_LPL

Hi everyone,
If i book flights and hotel through OTB is it classed as a package holiday?

Thanks:)

Pollycat

From the home page of their website:

Cheap Holidays from On the Beach

Here at On the Beach, our aim is to help you find your ideal cheap holidays by searching more than 30 million airline seats and 30,000 hotels worldwide. We don't sell package holidays; we let you choose the flight and hotel separately so that you get the best cheap holidays to suit your requirements and, more importantly, your budget.

Seems pretty clear to me.

Incidentally, OTB seem to get quite a few complaints, check out some of the threads here:

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewforum.php?f=49

r18rws

No it isn't.

Good luck

jackieblack

never heard a good word about OTB

Pollycat

r18rws wrote: »

No it isn't.

Good luck

"No it isn't" what?

A package holiday?

r18rws

Pollycat wrote: »

"No it isn't" what?

A package holiday?

Yes thats correct. It is not a package holiday.

Response was to the original question not your reply LOL (which was pretty clear as you say!)

Suzie_LPL

:embarasse I didnt see that on the website, should have read it properly:o

Are they really that bad? Their prices are really tempting........but with this ash blowing round dont wanna be standed in Turkey! On second thoughts that dosent sound too bad... :rotfl:

Back to the drawing board then.....Thanks everyone x

Pollycat

Suzie_LPL wrote: »

Are they really that bad?

It's natural for people to complain when things go wrong, they rarely say anything when things go right.

And the website link I gave you for holidaytruths IS the 'Complaints' sub forum.
All I was doing was pointing out that there does seem to be a lot of complaints about the company - I'm not sure about the exact nature of the complaints.

I guess they must have satisfied customers or they wouldn't still be in business.

It all depends whether you definitely want to book a package.
If you do, then OTB is out.

Suzie_LPL

It all depends whether you definitely want to book a package.
Couldnt find the thing to quote sorry!

Thats the thing I dont know if I do want a package:think: I can also get the hol I want with Thomas cook and First choice but I am going to book my own private transfers but by doing that is the holiday then not a "package"?

If we all this ash wasnt blowing about I would have just booked DIY!

Thanks for the holiday truths link, I love that site but have forgot my username and cant log in so cant search:o

Thanks again

Pollycat

Suzie_LPL wrote: »

Thats the thing I dont know if I do want a package:think: I can also get the hol I want with Thomas cook and First choice but I am going to book my own private transfers but by doing that is the holiday then not a "package"?

I may be wrong (in which case someone will be along soon to say so ) but I think by booking a private transfer it will not change a package holiday into DIY.

There are quite a few payable options within a package holiday that you can choose to pay for or not.
These include meals, pre-bookable seats, additional luggage allowance etc.

You'd need to be sure that it is a package holiday you'd be booking with First Choice/Thomas Cook.

r18rws

Suzie, by booking your own transfers you would still have a package for the holiday but the transfers woudl be seperate.

I.e, if you had the booking cancelled by the Tour Op due to the ash cloud, your transfers woudl be lost. Not the end fo the world but a nuisance.

If you did a DIY holiday or booked with a company that appears to be a package although is not (although the terms are clear its not a package), then you could be liable for the accommodation and transfers that you effectively did not turn up for. The flight didnt run, so you get a refund from the airline. The hotel and taxi was still expecting you and you didnt turn up so the terms and conditions would apply.

In times of uncertaintly, I would book a package myself but each to their own.

Other companies will but a package together for you, there are hundreds but be clear before booking that all of the booking is one transaction and it is all covered under one ATOL licence as a package holiday. Get them to confirm it in writing if you want to give peace of mind.