Beat My Quote! Travel Agents Thread

lightning15uk

Incapuppy wrote: »

Hi, there has been some recent discussion as to how useful this thread really is.

People will help you if they can and also if they are inclined to. If you don't hear anything it is impossible to say if you either already have the best quote or if no one has looked for you.

I find that on average, one in ten people that I try and help out will actually bother to thank me for my time and trouble so I am reluctant to bother at all now. People are also supposed to update their posts when they have booked their holidays so that people trying to help are not wasting their time, but again, most people posting on here seem too lazy to bother doing so.

I'm sorry if that is not what you wanted to hear - this thread can and probably does help some people, but again, because the majority of people are too lazy to update their posts there is really no way of knowing how many people are helped.

I see that you have a quote from First Choice - have you tried looking at the Eclipse Direct website? They are the direct sell operation of First Choice and their prices are often slightly cheaper.

thank you for replying i will have a look and i appreciate the fact that you took the time to read and reply thankyou:T

Incapuppy

lightning15uk wrote: »

thank you for replying i will have a look and i appreciate the fact that you took the time to read and reply thankyou:T

Lightning, have PM'd you

SarahLouise_2

Hi Just wondered if anyone cn beat this quote, would really like to go to Laganas, Zante but this is the cheapest we could find, and it's really over our budget ;-(.
Can fly out between 29/06-02/07 Glasgow or Edinburgh, Newcastle if much cheaper


The Quote itself: £341 (pp)

• Who the quote is from: Thoomas Cook
• Is there a booking fee: ?
• The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel: Thomas Cook airlines, Savvas
• The departure Airport/Post: Glasgow to Zante
• The Holiday Dates: 29/06/08-07/07/08
• The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
• The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Savvas
• The Board (self catering/half board etc): S/c
• Any specific requirements: No
• Is an in-flight meal included:No

Thanks Sarah xx

joe06

Side / Turkey

The Quote itself: £216 (pp)

• Who the quote is from: internet
• Is there a booking fee: £0
• The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel: Cats Garden Hotel
• The departure Airport/Post: Gatwick -> Turkey
• The Holiday Dates: 4/07/08 - 18/07/08
• The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
• The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Cats Garden Hotel
• The Board (self catering/half board etc): S/c
• Any specific requirements: No
• Is an in-flight meal included:Yes

tpresto3

MSE_Martin wrote: »

What’s this about?

This is a special thread where you can ask all the Travel Agents and MoneySavers who frequent this board to beat a holiday quote you have and get personalised replies.

The idea is to see if someone can beat a quote for a specific holiday; not just a general price. So you need an exact quote. E.g.

"I've been quoted £507 per person, all-in for 2 people to Hotel Martino, half-board in the Dominican Republic leaving Gatwick on 3rd of the month returning on the 17th with Tour Operator Airtours.

Can anyone beat it?"

If you haven’t got a quote, then first go to the Package Holidays: Undercut the cheapest prices and Cheap Flight and Hotel Finding article.

IMPORTANT. To protect you, the rules are very strict

Please read this in detail before making a request.

Why does this exist?

Many travel agents regularly add information in this Travel Board, and MoneySavers often request their help. Yet the Forum has strict rules against advertising/posting for commercial gain, so this thread has been designed to allow MoneySavers to ask for the Travel Agents help without breaking the rules; so both the agents who help and the MoneySavers can benefit. As part of this Travel agents have been given a Travel Agents Code of Conduct.

STEP 1 Find the best quote before you post.

As you need to start with a quote before it can be beaten, first head to either the Cheap Flight and Hotel Finding or Cheap Packages: Haggle 15% off the cost articles. Once you’ve been through that and have a decent price, then you’re ready for this thread.

STEP 2. Post your quote here to see if it can be beaten

Click reply to this post (you must be registered to do this, it’s totally free, and is only necessary to stop spammers) and then post the best quote you have received so far, but don’t include your e-mail or any personal details (other than holiday details).
Include the following:

• The Quote itself:
• Who the quote is from:
• Is there a booking fee:
• The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel:
• The departure Airport/Post:
• The Holiday Dates:
• The number of people travelling (inc kids ages):
• The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival):
• The Board (self catering/half board etc):
• Any specific requirements:
• Is an in-flight meal included:

STEP 3: Now Travel Agents/MoneySavers will PM you

Travel agents and any other MoneySavers who want to help; will then send you a private message with their best possible deal in it if they can beat your current quote (this may take hours or days or you may not get any replies, keep checking).

When you have messages, you will see this noted in the personal message note at the top of the page; though you need to be logged in to see it.

Never include your e-mail or any personal details until you are sure it is the deal you want; and then always check the legitimacy of the agent before continuing.


STEP 4: Responding to the Private Messages

If someone has sent you a decent quote, simply reply to the private message and start the communication. If anyone sends you an inappropriate Private Message (PM) or one that breaks the rules, please report it to [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]


STEP 5: Always check out who you’re dealing with before sending money

This thread is here for your convenience, MoneySavingExpert has no connection with any of the travel agents that post and cannot vouch for the legitimacy of quotes. Many non-travel agent MoneySavers who know the travel market may also send you their suggestions.

Remember, MoneySavingExpert does not check the legitimacy of those saying they’re travel agents, that’s a check you must make yourself - you book and pay at your own risk.

STEP 6: Once you’ve got the holiday you want

If you find a deal or no longer require the quote, please go back to your post and click “edit” and then add “Holiday now booked” to it. If you don’t then it’s unfair on those who are doing work to find you the best deal.

If you can add how much you paid in the end and whether this system worked or not, that’d be great. However please do not mention the name or any details about which individual travel agent/poster was cheapest as that would break the site's advertising rules.

Rules for Travel Agents responding to this thread

• Please reply by PM. Very strictly do not reply in this thread.
• You must have the Travel Agents Code of Conduct signature if you are going to respond in this thread.
• Do not send your phone number or e-mail in the initial PM, only do it if it is requested in successive PMs.
• Only respond with an actual quote of a real holiday or deal. Responses such as “I can often do prices for around £xxx” is not acceptable, it must be an actual holiday quote.
• If the details are not sufficient it is permitted to ask any clarification questions such as “can you confirm what board level you want?” but bear in mind rule 4. above for such matters. Also please do suggest that the person alters their post if there an obvious omission in the details.
• It is hoped this system will allow helpful travel agents to earn money by providing the very lowest prices, but to ensure no one is trying to dupe MoneySavers; MoneySavingExpert will blind test this on a regular basis – any agents breaking these rules will be permanently barred from using the Forums.

Rules for Non-Travel Agents responding to this thread

Providing you have no commercial link to any of the companies you are suggesting, then the rules are much less strict. If you just have a good idea of what people can do and want to share it – feel free to PM them; but do inform them you are not a travel agent and are just trying to help.




Dear all. I am planning on taking my family ( 2 adults, one child at 15, one at 14 and one at 9 on holiday for Christmas. I am happy to fly from Manchester, or any where close to Sheffield. The holiday I have found is first choice. The holiday is to the Fun Royal /tropicale on playa dorada puerto plata. The dates are 15th to the 29th ( we want Christmas day in this hotel but not new years eve).

I am happy to travel on different dates, that allow us to be there for Christmas, and home for the new year.

I have chosen first choice because of the comfort of their flights, but would consider other companies whom will offer the same levels of comfort.

The price is from the first choice web site and is £5121 for two weeks. I know that Thomas cook do a holiday on the 13th from Manchester that is cheaper, but the seats are not as comfortable, and this does make a difference. I am going to book this holiday by the 26th of June, but I have notg decided who to book with..Please email me with prices and offers. [EMAIL="tpresto3@hotmail.com"]tpresto3@hotmail.com[/EMAIL]

Kind regards

Tony

heskpesk

Hello,

I have been quoted £388 per person for 7 days in Playa Blanca in Lanza.

The Quote itself: £776
Who the quote is from: Teletext holidays
Is there a booking fee: no
The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel:Iberostar La Bocayna Resort 4 star
The departure Airport/Post: Bristol
The Holiday Dates: 24/07/08 - 31/07/08
The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Iberostar La Bocayna Resort, Playa Blanca, Lanzorote
The Board (self catering/half board etc): Half Board
Any specific requirements: Happy to consider other Hotels in Playa Blanca or even different destination with 3star min.


Thank you . You are welcome to send me a private message and I will respond if only to say thank you

an1179

• Quote Firstchoice Doncaster £ 2758.96 or East Midlands £2783.36
• Desired destination(s) Turkey
• Which airport/ports? Humberside, East Midlands, Doncaster
  
• Holiday Travel Dates Leave 25th/26th October
  
• Duration of holiday 7 days
• Number of people travelling 2 adults 4 children 15, 15, 13, 8
• Type of holiday? family
• Board basis? all-inclusive
  
• What your price range is up to £3000
  
• Whether you require an in-flight meal yes
  
• Are night-flights or stopovers acceptable? no
  
• Any specific requirements None

Destination Holiday Village Sarigerme Turkey - Sorry

Would ideally like to travel on 25th 26th October but could not find anything for those dates

Emma2994

Hello,

I have been quoted £1,184.91 for 2 people for 14 days in Portinatx, Ibiza.

The Quote itself:
Who the quote is from: Travel Republic
Is there a booking fee: no
The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel:Span Air/Club Vista Bahia Hotel
The departure Airport/Post: East Mids
The Holiday Dates: 13 Sep 2008 - 27 Sep 2008
The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Club Vista Bahia Hotel, Portinatx
The Board (self catering/half board etc): All inclusive
Any specific requirements: Happy to consider other Hotels in Portinatx or surrounding area with 3star min.


Thank you all

lilac_sparkles

The Quote itself: 495pp (Dawson & Sanderson), 485pp (Hays Travel)
Who the quote is from: see above
Is there a booking fee: don't know, don't think so?
The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel: Libra/ don't know / Plaza Pallas
The departure Airport/Post: Newcastle
The Holiday Dates: 10 Aug 2008 - 24 Aug 2008
The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Plaza Pallas
The Board (self catering/half board etc): SC

Can anyone beat this? I'm in a hurry to book. Thanks!




UPDATE: HAVE NOW GONE AHEAD AND BOOKED FOR 470 PP. WAS IN A HURRY TO GET IT BOOKED TODAY :-)

JJNR

JJNR wrote: »

• The Quote itself: £978.12
• Who the quote is from: first choice
• Is there a booking fee: unsure
• The Tour Operator/Airline/Hotel: first choice/ first choice/Atrium Hotel in Platanias , Skiathos
• The departure Airport/Post: gatwick
• The Holiday Dates: 19th sept - 26th sept '08
• The number of people travelling (inc kids ages): 2 adults
• The Hotel (or * if it’s allocate on arrival): Atrium Hotel in Platanias , Skiathos
• The Board (self catering/half board etc): BB
• Any specific requirements: sit together on plane
• Is an in-flight meal included: no

many thanks in advance

Just got it down to £958.12. Thanks Incapuppy for the Eclipse Direct tip!