On the beach - yay or nay?

starrybee

Looking to book a relatively last minute (next couple of months) summer holiday...on the beach seems to have some good deals but I've seen some posts on here recently about things going wrong with them so I'm a little put off!

Am I best off avoiding them?

Archergirl

I wouldn't book with them.

littlereddevil

Me neither

Mr_Wang

starrybee wrote: »

Looking to book a relatively last minute (next couple of months) summer holiday...on the beach seems to have some good deals but I've seen some posts on here recently about things going wrong with them so I'm a little put off!

Am I best off avoiding them?

You're best avoiding all travel agents.

mandi

Mr_Wang wrote: »

You're best avoiding all travel agents.

Hi Mr Wang ,

I've read loads of your posts here in MSE.. You say " You're best avoiding all travel agents.[/QUOTE]

May I ask how you book your holidays? or do you shack upon a very exotic island with Bob The Saver

duchy

Actually he has a point ......

For certain holidays I wouldn't touch a travel agency with a barge pole (and I'm an ex travel agent) however for short break holidays where spending an awful lot of time researching isn't time or cost effective the on-line travel agents are on the whole decent and offer really good deals. The high street agents generally now are nothing more than holiday shops -there was a time you'd walk into a high street agent and they could talk inteligently about most destinations -now days you're more likely to be told "It's all in the brochure".

In the last year I've booked ONE thing through my local agent - a short break that was exactly the same price through the agent as on-line -and the only reason I booked with them was because I was waiting for a new debit card to arrive so couldn't book online.

A trip to the Canaries was booked direct (flight and all inclusive hotel) with an on-line agent and was dirt cheap (cheapholidays.com). My next trip will be to the US -flights will be researched on-line using https://www.kayak.com -amongst others and hotels will be booked seperately (last time we did this particular trip I asked my high street agent to quote the exact same dates and hotel - they quoted £300 pp more). Next year we have a wedding abroad in planning stages - with a honeymoon (probably a cruise) afterwards -again I'll save hundreds spending the time researching on-line.

So depending on your definition of travel agent (eg is an on-line tour operator a travel agent?) and where you want to go -and your willingness to research yourself-travel agents often have little usefulness to a MSEer IMO.

jackieblack

starrybee wrote: »

Looking to book a relatively last minute (next couple of months) summer holiday...on the beach seems to have some good deals but I've seen some posts on here recently about things going wrong with them so I'm a little put off!

Am I best off avoiding them?

It's not just recently.......
There are regular posts on here from people who've had problems with them (along with other TAs/TOs, to be fair)

I would avoid them.

tamiami

If you want to use a travel agent then use a reputable one that has been in business for many years. And I don't mean Thomas Cook unless you want to be on hold for 6 hours if you have a problem with you booking afterwards!!

I wouldn't bother with OTB - they usually call you back to say the holiday wasn't available and ask for more money.

worried_jim

I've used these sites before and now I just go to my local Co-Op when I want a holiday- so much less hassle and tons more reliable even if it costs a few pounds more at the end of the day it's worth it- I learnt the hard way with icelolly a few years ago.

Obviously_the_best

If you get a quote you like from onthebeach, go book the flights direct with airline, the hotel on trivago or direct with the hotel, an the transfers with SunTransfers or a local company. Simples.

markwilkinson

We booked with them once, oblivious to other people's experiences of the company. We had no trouble at all! I'd probably think twice now though, having started reading this part of the board.