TravelBird

PompeyPete

They've been mentioned in a couple of threads recently. Some of the itineraries, especially the long haul ones look very enticing for anyone wanting to travel as part of a tour group.

They're an intermediary, so don't have ABTA or ATOL protection, so booking with a credit card is essential.

This is their website...

http://travelbird.co.uk/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=uk_b_travelbird&gclid=CLDxt7CT78gCFQVuGwodiqwMEg

...and their FAQs...

http://travelbird.co.uk/faq/

Has anyone used them? To where? Do you recommend them, and if so, Why?

DUKE

I've not traveled with them Pete, but I've certainly had my eye on them for a while now. They do reply to emails almost immediately. I've queried the ATOL with them & they are in the process, but it take a long time apparently. It's been some months since I queried this, see below. I almost booked a few times with them but the dates weren't suitable for me, or they were places I'd been already. They were doing a 12 night Sri Lanka for just £650 at one time! Getting their email is the highlight of my life, I wait up til midnight for it sometimes

PompeyPete

Hi Duke, I've been getting their e-mails for a few weeks, but treated them as spam. It's only since you posted a link the other day that I've become a bit more curious, and their prices do look vfm.

I like their Sri Lanka itinerary too.

northwest1965

Thanks for the heads up on these. Have some really good deals. Great reviews too!
https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/travelbird.co.uk

SW17

DUKE wrote: »

I've queried the ATOL with them & they are in the process, but it take a long time apparently.

Only UK companies can be ATOL-holders, so as a Dutch company they would have to set up a UK subsidiary in order to get an ATOL.

I'm not familiar with them, but I did note that while their T&Cs state that they are an intermediary (or mediator as they call it), the website also states that they are members of SGR, and that British consumers are covered by the SGR guarantee. SGR is approximately the Dutch equivalent of ATOL, covering financial failure of providers. No idea how easy it would be for a foreigner to make a claim on that though, and I don't know if it only applies to holidays including air, as is the case with ATOL.

DUKE

Pete - The hotels (I usually check them out on TA) ain't bad either, even if it's a bit of a minger they have views to die for to compensate.

SW17 - thanks for that, that's the equivalent of ATOL they promised then. I just had this email from them when I asked - As a Dutch company TravelBird B.V. is registered under the Dutch Chamber of Commerce registration number 32169836. TravelBird B.V. is a registered participant of SGR, the Dutch travel guarantee fund. You can verify this on https://www.sgr.nl/guaranteescheme. British customers who book holidays listed on this website are covered by SGR’s guarantee, within the terms of the SGR guarantee scheme. Under SGR’s guarantee, consumers shall have their prepaid travel sum refunded if their counterparty is unable to fulfill its contractual obligations due to financial inability. Insofar as the agreement includes the transport and the destination has already been reached, the return trip will be arranged.
This has been on our website for a couple of months now, so it is all still fairly new!
And no worries! If there is anything else we can assist you with, please let us know!
Kind Regards,
Laura
Travel Advisor - Client Services UK
Keizersgracht 281, 1016ED Amsterdam, The Netherlands

northwest1965 - Yeah I googled them as I thought they were too good to be true, reviews are really good.

No credit card charge either, just a booking fee of £4.95. It took Laura just 2 minutes to reply to my email.

I can see us all going on holiday together soon