Travel Republic - Trustworthy? Wanting to cancel booking...

matrix2021

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has had any recent experience with Travel Republic? I feel a bit of a fool having rushed into a booking with them having seen a great price for the hotel Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas (it was 40% cheaper than any other provider through Trivago).

I have since read a few negative, if not outdated reviews about them not confirming the booking with hotels, or raising prices towards time of travel because their 'providers' are unable to confirm a booking with the hotel at the stated price, which obviously alarms me, because despite getting a booking confirmation, my hotel is technically not booked at the time of payment/deposit.

I have since found that they're basically a third-party agent for Hotels4u, which if I wasn't being so eager with the initial price, would have searched there and seen the price is £15 cheaper than Travel Republic (again, if I'd realised Hotels4u weren't coming up on the Trivago results page, I should have put two and two together to realise they're basically one and the same).

So apart from my question above, I have made the £1 deposit with TR for the booking, but I was wanting to cancel because I feel uneasy about the way they operate, but to do this I would incur a £40 cancellation charge - would they use my initial Credit Card to put this charge onto? Because I haven't paid off any of the balance so it's still sitting at £1 and I don't think my card details are saved on the site. I believe online payments regarding accommodation is not covered by the 'cooling off period', so I don't think I can go down that route, I just feel wary something will go wrong and I wont get the hotel I have my heart set on, and TR will pull this 'our travel provider was unable to confirm the booking' spiel.

I know it's a massive schoolboy error not doing my research first, but is there any way I can get out of this booking without paying the cancellation fee - unless of course I have nothing to worry about and people have positive things to say about them?

Thanks in advance.

nearlyrich

I have used Travel Republic loads and never had a problem, research first not after commitment otherwise you will always find something better.

richardw

How much is the £40 on a per person per night basis?

bagand96

Travel Republic aren't part of the same company as hotels4u. Travel Republic are an agent who use many different bed banks/accommodation providers one of which may be hotels4u.

When problems occur it'll often be because the accommodation provider can't fulfil the booking. You could contact the hotel and ask if your booking stands. However the hotel may not actually have your details yet. This in itself wouldn't be anything to be alarmed about yet; as the agents often have a block booking with the hotel and may not provide guest details until much nearer the time.

Do you have an accommodation voucher yet? This will state who your booking is through. You could then contact the hotel quoting that agent to see if they know about you!

Also bear in mind that for every booking TR have had that's gone wrong, there's probably thousands that are fine! I've used them a number of times no problem.

balletshoes

i agree with others here, i've booked accommodation through travelrepublic many times, never had a problem.

matrix2021

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it.

I have been emailed a hotel voucher and it states that the provider is Med Hotels? I think my concern stems from the fact Travel Republic were the cheapest by far, bearing in mind I only used Trivago to compare providers. Also the fact that the booking is for Sept 2015, and going direct to the hotel's site they don't allow bookings longer than 8 months - which again made me wary that the booking wasn't technically being made with the hotel.

So the fact I have a hotel voucher with the provider stated, means it is confirmed?

Thanks.

balletshoes

travelrepublic are often cheaper than any other site i look at - its why i book with them so often .

yes, if you have an accommodation voucher, thats a confirmed booking.

bagand96

Ok so your hotel provider is Med Hotels (they are part of hotels4u, and hotels4u are actually part of Thomas Cook, confused yet?!). They will have an agreement with Planet Hollywood for a block booking of rooms at a certain rate. They gave then sold to you (via Travel Republic). You can check at some point between now and Sep 2015 that Planet Hollywood have your booking but they probably won't have it yet. At the moment they probably just know they've contracted X amount of rooms to Med Hotels.

September 2015 is a long time away to be booking a hotel though!

matrix2021

bagand96 wrote: »

Ok so your hotel provider is Med Hotels (they are part of hotels4u, and hotels4u are actually part of Thomas Cook, confused yet?!). They will have an agreement with Planet Hollywood for a block booking of rooms at a certain rate. They gave then sold to you (via Travel Republic). You can check at some point between now and Sep 2015 that Planet Hollywood have your booking but they probably won't have it yet. At the moment they probably just know they've contracted X amount of rooms to Med Hotels.

September 2015 is a long time away to be booking a hotel though!

Thanks for the explanation - I think I understand! Like I said in my initial post, it was literally an impulse decision without any concern other than seeing the price (I know Planet Hollywood is usually priced in the £600's for a week), so when I seen the price at £320 I just went for it. Plus, I realise prices fluctuate massively in Vegas when conventions and events are announced, but more so around national holidays, such as Labor and Memorial days. So that factored into booking this early, because I didn't want to wait until a random 80,000 attendee convention is announced and see the prices shoot up.

Anyway, I think I'm a tad calmer now you've explained the block booking situation, so thanks for the assurance

jimmyR1

I booked & paid in full ( Via Paypal) for our holiday to Egypt with Travel Republic on the 25/07/14 which included Flights , Hotel , Transfers + a organized excursion (Quad Biking) departing on the 09/08/14 for 14 nights ..however I received a voicemail telling me to log on to my booking there is a Major change to my booking three days before (06/08/14) They told me there is a misprice & they are changing my Hotel of equal standard (not according to tripadvisor it wasn't) or I could cancel (not the Flights the transfers or excursions I may have booked)
or pay the extra monies required to stay in the Hotel I had already paid for in full. under protest & several phone calls to travel republic and price negotiations I had to pay £456.00 extra I am trying to claim this money back through Paypal at this time of writing .I will never use Travel republic again. It seems that they can do whatever they like under their T & C's .I will post an outcome soon .I would like to let other people know the pitfalls of booking a holiday with agents even if they are Atol & Abta Bonded Like travel republic are ..you basically have no rights as a consumer unless it is sold as " A package Holiday " comments welcome thankyou

Alan_Bowen

Stop repeating the same story, this is the third time I have seen it.