Problem with Travel Republic and Lowcostbeds

budgetflyer

We used Sunshine, who then used Low Cost Beds without any issue this year.

cjalynch

After several phone conversations and emails we have been told that the room is probably not available but will have to wait up to 24 hours for lowcostbeds to confirm this before the change control team at travelrepublic can offer us an alternative- we can accept this or go for a full refund. Disappointing but so far Daniel at travelrepublic has been polite and helpful so hopefully we will be able to work something out.

cjalynch

Just to update on what has happened with this booking. After 48 hours waiting, being passed around and told many different things about what is happening with lowcostbeds, I have cancelled the booking. I was told I would be called back and was not, told the agent was on lunch and then she was made available, told the providers were finding an alternate and then asked to look at their website to see if there was anything I could see.

My final conversation with them ended with them telling me they were negotiating with the original hotel owner through lowcostbeds but it 'may take a few days'. At this point I asked for a full refund and have made my own arrangements through a (hopefully) more reliable company. The refund will take 4-5 business days. I am just thankful we did not turn up on Naxos on the 29th July to find there was no hotel for us- yes this has happened with lowcostbeds.

I would never book through this agency again and will always check my reservations with a hotel- every time!

cjalynch

Just to add that one of the new bookings we made has now also been refused by the hotel. Spent two hours on the phone with expedia/hotels.com last night fixing and am now chasing down our other two bookings to make absolutely sure we will have a room when we arrive- starting to wonder seriously whether a) there is a problem with the islands hotel system and b) if I should be going somewhere else........

lea2012

The issue could be that as Naxos is a relatively small island, there's likely to not be many accommodation suppliers. Even though there are lots of people selling rooms in the UK, they're likely to all be booked by the same company in Naxos.
Are you trying to book the same hotel as you had booked with Travel Republic? If so why, when the hotelier already advised they were fully booked? If you're trying for other accommodation I would suggest now maybe finding one you like and then calling the hotel direct to see if they have availability and what there price would be to book direct.

Obviously_the_best

Why keep using agents? If you are going to contact the hotel directly straight afterwards anyway, why not just book with them in the first place and avoid the fuss?

Saint_Chris

So really it's a bit unfair to slate lowcost, because it's just gone to prove that there all as bad as each other.


hope you get something sorted.

cjalynch

Thanks for the replies- no we are not trying to book the same accommodation, that would be pointless since the hotel owner told me he is full. We have been trying to split the nights so we can get something (a lot of people island hop and take rooms for a few nights so it is less of a traditional week or 2 week booking place). Low cost are under fire with me because I feel misled by them and after 48 hours they were still trying to tell me a lot of different stories about the booking and clearly had no idea what was going on. Hotels.com have been much, much better with their customer service.
Still not completely sorted but we will get there eventually. If I do this kind of holiday again I would definitely book direct with a hotel owner and would not leave it this late but circumstances with work this year meant we had to make a decision quite late on and I had not anticipated this much trouble after seeing accommodation available online.