travel agent shop v online

LianeB

Looking at booking a holiday to tunisia for 7/10 nights and have been given different prices (about £100) from TC and FC shops and their websites.
My last holiday abroad was a looooong time ago and have only ever gone on a holiday booked through their shops and I'm just wondering if there are any differences between the 2 same holidays apart from the price.
Thanks

claire16c

Ive found that TC were cheaper on their website too, but I did not want to book through it, because the website itself was always having problems - holidays/hotels would disappear then reappear etc, and I didnt want to have to speak to someone at a call centre if something went wrong. Because apparently if you book online you have to call through call centre and travel agent cant help you.

But obviously I didnt want to pay the travel agent price either. So I did what someone else I knew had done, and printed off the quote from their website and took it into the travel agents, asked them to match it. They matched it to within £30 so I booked it there and then.

The holidays are the same, its just that in the travel agents it costs more because there are more costs involved, i.e. staff, rent for the building etc.

mick_vandick

If it's a TC holiday, have a look at https://www.directholidays.co.uk as it's still part of TC but cheaper as they only sell directly to you, not via agents.

HXDave

have you had a look at a company called Just Sunshine?

http://www.justsunshine.com/

Not sure what you have been quoted, or for how long, however these guys have had some cracking deals. They are owned by the El Mouradi group of hotels in Tunisia, and can offer most hotels ob BB to AI.

Best thing is, the price you see on their direct website is the same price as throug most independant agents who sell them.

Let me know how prices compare to what you ahve been quoted, as always good to give feedback.

Cheers.

HXDave

nicolax

mick_vandick wrote: »

If it's a TC holiday, have a look at https://www.directholidays.co.uk as it's still part of TC but cheaper as they only sell directly to you, not via agents.

also if you book with direct holidays book it over the phone.
the prices for phone bookings and online are exactly the same. but over the phone you get 20kg luggage whereas online you get 15kg. something we learnt this year. and the extra 5kg is good, cause were always hovering around the 17 mark for a 2 week holiday

LianeB

Thanks for the advice so far

Departing 13May 2012 Manchester - Tunisia Sousse

TC Prices
7nts AI @ Hotel Marhaba Beach online £314 v shop £399
10nts AI @ Same hotel online £442 v shop £509

Really like the look of this hotel and would like 10nts as I haven't had a holiday for over 3 years plus I have some love2shop vouchers coming at the end of the year so can pay off a good chunk then with only a small amount left to pay in the new year
Liane

stephb34

Thomas cook shops don't take love to shop vouchers.

LianeB

stephb34 wrote: »

Thomas cook shops don't take love to shop vouchers.

Really thanks for that I was under the impression you could buy thomas cook vouchers with love to shop vouchers (does that make sense?) and then pay for the holiday with those.

On the list of retailers for them it says thomas cook

bagand96

Really thanks for that I was under the impression you could buy thomas cook vouchers with love to shop vouchers (does that make sense?) and then pay for the holiday with those.

On the list of retailers for them it says thomas cook

You seem to be correct. The love2shop vouchers website does state Thomas Cook:

Choose from a wide range of over 200 travel companies including Thomas Cook, Virgin Holidays, First Choice, Kuoni, Cosmos, Disneyland Resorts, Haven Holidays and many more. To use the Love2Shop voucher for holidays and travel just call 0845 077 4444

https://www.highstreetvouchers.com/gift-vouchers/redeemers/high-street-gift-voucher-redeemer-list.jsp

Probably worth you calling that number to check how it works before you book?

stephb34

Your both right you can buy Thomas Cook hols with the love to shop vouchers but not on your high street thats what the phone numbers for you book direct over the phone with the vouchers, but theres no negotiation on price so you could end up paying more for your holiday. The only vouchers Thomas cook shops take are worldwide travel vouchers and the vouchers you get at the reps meeting, all others have to be done direct over the phone.
This has been a good post Lianne cause i wonder how many others have been caught out by this.
As for your first question if its a TC hol print the quote off the TC website and take it to your local TC shop and 9 times out of 10 they'll match it, but unfortunately that won't help with your love to shop vouchers.

bagand96

On the High Street Vouchers website you can order Thomas Cook vouchers that can be spent at "all Thomas Cook locations in the UK". I presume these are the vouchers you are talking about Steph?

https://www.highstreetvouchers.com/gift-vouchers/thomas-cook

That information does relate to High Street Vouchers though, not sure if love2shop work the same (they seem to be one and the same?).

Definitely think te OP needs to ring that number to clarify the situation.