On The Beach - advice please

WickyWickyWa

Hi,
I booked a holiday last night through On The Beach. Its for two weeks abroad and the flight leaves on Monday the 18th. I was a bit dubious as I had never heard of them, but my wife said they had good reviews and I was limited for time so I didnt check myself. I then looked for some reviews myself and found that the vast majority are awful - mostly people complaining that they were either asked to pay more money after booking or when they got to their hotels, they were not booked. Now I'm stressing that something similar will happen to us. I paid by credit card and the payment has not gone through yet. I was thinking maybe I could call the card company and try to stop the payment - but then I might be liable for cancelation charges?
Has anybody heard of them or does anyone have advice about what I can do?

Chaserofdreams

If it helps, hunny and I went to Menorca last minute in June with OntheBeach and I couldn't fault it. We had been to the hotel 3 times before so knew what we were getting and had booked all inclusive so can't see where they could've added any extras. Everything went like clockwork. I printed all the vouchers that they sent through and used them for flights, transfer and the hotel.
Hope you managed to get something sorted out!

bagand96

Plenty of people will have heard of them on these forums and not for the right reasons.

That said. You've booked now and you won't be able to cancel it just because you've changed your mind. Their main problems seem to be be as you say:

a) asking for more money after booking. This is because their flights don't seem to be "live". They seem to take a booking then manually process it later at which point the airline price may have gone up so they ask you for more.

b) hotel issues such as no booking. This won't always be their fault as they use third party bed banks who may be the ones who let them down. However it seems OTB seem to be pretty bad at resolving such issues.

It's worth remembering they are a big internet travel brand though. And that people are far more likely to post complaints online rather than praise. Although their service obviously can be shoddy... There will be thousands who had no issue with them too.

To put your mind at rest have you had all your documentation? Like your airline reservation details? You could go to the airline website and try and log into your booking to check it's all ok. Likewise with the hotel. You'll have an accommodation voucher, but maybe email the hotel direct to confirm your booking exists?

SueDerbyshire

Bagand96 has given you some great advise here. If you have booked a hotel check with the hotel that you have a room reserved for you, check with the flight operator that you are booked on the flight, again easy to do via the internet. You should then be re-assured.

As explained, the problem is that I the beach website is not live and therefore out of date, hence them having to phone people up for more money. Also, there bookings are through agents and often it is their thought and not onthebeach but I'm guessing this doesn't happen that often, we only hear on here when things go wrong normally so it will seem worse than it actually is.

Having said all this, I am speaking from experience when I say I find them a little hit and miss. I have booked holidays with then 3 times and have had them phone me the next day to say the price has gone up so I have cancelled. Also, I have booked with them 3 other times and know family members that have and we have had a great time with no hiccups.

Now that you have booked, check you have all the relevant paperwork, email the relevant hotel and check the flight operator, if alls well, sit back, relax and look forward to your holiday, I am sure you will have a great time.

Sue

cherabelle

Hi,

I have used Onthebeach twice, including to book a hen party earlier this year and have had no problems with them at all. I have got friends who went out with them two days ago and they have had no problems either.

Enjoy your holiday, I am sure it will be brilliant.

arthurdick

hi WWW,
some great advice so far.
my experience with OTB up till now, has been very good.
over the last 23 months, i have had 6 great holidays booked through them, no probs yet, just about to check in online for my 7th trip through them, all going smoothly so far, no probs,touch wood and all that, but i think i will be ok.