Miss sold holiday on star rating

Westin

Sadly I don't think legal action and a court case will get you very far. This would likely be a fruitless mission.

Most of the deposit money paid will likely be covering the flight element. As you have separate contracts you will not be due back money for the flights.

If you are unhappy with the accommodation it is this part you need to ask about changing with Loveholidays. Take a look at what else they offer in the area, research each option in advance and then approach them to see if you can cancel the original hotel and rebook the alternative you have chosen. You need to be prepared to pay the difference.

I have actually booked with Loveholidays and we had a good holiday. All elements were delivered. We had a small issue upon arrival at the hotel with the room type and AI package booked but it was quickly sorted between the hotel and myself. It was an excellent price and cheaper than I could achieve if I booked the elements separately myself. That said I do think you have to be careful and caution when booking with them. Make sure you read their T&C's, understand exactly what you are booking and how the separate elements of the holiday don't offer you the full protection you might have when booking with the larger tour operators (like First Choice). Do your own research on the hotel you are booking - and importantly just keep in mind the price being paid to the advertised hotel. A cheap advertised 5* is unlikely to be a Ritz Carlton.

I think you have probably learnt a lesson from this experience. Research well in advance, particularly if tempted to use these cheaper OTA's. Check what you are buying and what the consequences are if things go wrong. Your options and consumer rights are not the same as if you booked via someone like First Choice.

Finally, and sadly, you may become more frustrated with the post-sale customer service experience. Many cheaper OTA's cut back in this area as they work on thin margins. I suspect you will be sometime waiting to connect on the phone. Another reason to look ahead at some options of new hotels you wish to change to.

I do hope you get things sorted out and your accommodation changed.

Westin

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

I used first choice numerous times and would never use them again as they are terrible, I would think the best bet here rather than seeking the refund straight away is as suggested above tell them straight that you want another hotel as opposed to a 3* one. If they fail to play ball then use your section 75 if paid for by credit card and or for Visa use the Visa debit chargeback.

This won't work as you have separate holiday elements.

There is no problem with the flights and so a section 75 chargeback is not appropriate.

Superflyfox

Thank you all for the comments.

Yes in hindsight it was pretty insane booking without extensive research, lesson definitely learnt there. Never expected the star rating of a hotel to be different, didn't cross my mind but will in the future. If anyone else can learn from this, hope it will help.

The flights are with Thompson.

Since had an email from the hotel saying it is a 5 star - yet Thomas Cook gives it a 3... and now, to top it all, got 6 others who want to come with us (they not seen the hotel and are easy going!)

leylandsunaddict

They're not official ratings. Agents and tour operators use their own ratings. What one will say is 3 another will say 2 or 4.

Does it matter if it's a 5 star or a 3 star as long as the hotel offers what you want? Presumably it does or you wouldn't have booked it in the first place. They're rated on services. Sticking a trouser press in a room would give it an extra star rating, but it's meaningless if you don't want the uses of one.

They have the ATOL / ABTA slapped all over their site, thought this stood for some safety and honesty when booking

It stands for financial protection in the event of company failure.

Just cancel the hotel and book a different one, but book it direct.

photome

Superflyfox wrote: »

Thank you all for the comments.

Yes in hindsight it was pretty insane booking without extensive research, lesson definitely learnt there. Never expected the star rating of a hotel to be different, didn't cross my mind but will in the future. If anyone else can learn from this, hope it will help.

The flights are with Thompson.

Since had an email from the hotel saying it is a 5 star - yet Thomas Cook gives it a 3... and now, to top it all, got 6 others who want to come with us (they not seen the hotel and are easy going!

I am at a bit of a loss as to why you are so incensed about the star rating.

If the hotel has everything you want at a price you are happy with (you were happy or you wouldnt have booked) then what difference do the star ratings make.

takman

Superflyfox wrote: »

They have the ATOL / ABTA slapped all over their site, thought this stood for some safety and honesty when booking. Allways been a First Choice customer in the past, where things tend to be pretty straight forward and are what they state.

So is it OK for them to advertise what the hell they want (5 stars in this case)? Surely that is a trade description? I'm up for a court session, to be honest. It can go both ways, them coming for the cancellation fee and me to get the deposit back. Pretty sure I've got a strong case for miss selling, along with almost immediate cancellation.

So you have paid £5k for a holiday when you don't even have a basic understanding of how the star system works or what ATOL / ABTA are. You didn't even look at any reviews at all?


This isn't a case of hindsight that is just uttery stupidity!. The first thing you should do before booking any holiday is read some reviews on TripAdvisor and other independant sites. That's the only way that you will know how good a hotel is.


Also there is nothing wrong with them saying they are 5 stars considering there is no standard rating system. How do you know they don't use a star system of 10 and rate it 5 out of 10?.


But if your interested i rate your holiday research skills 0 Stars.

jackieblack

photome wrote: »

I am at a bit of a loss as to why you are so incensed about the star rating.

If the hotel has everything you want at a price you are happy with (you were happy or you wouldnt have booked) then what difference do the star ratings make.

I agree. I can never understand why some people get so hung up on star ratings

Unless it's a snobbery thing :huh:

bagand96

As others have said you won't have a leg to stand on in court as they are operating well within their T&Cs to which you agreed.

You haven't booked a package holiday like you might be used to with First Choice/Thomson etc. You've booked flights, a hotel, transfers, airport parking under separate bookings, but through the same website.

You need to make the best of it now. Your flights aren't refundable and other things like transfers and airport parking may not be either, so they are booked.

You can cancel the hotel without penalty. Do some more research as to whether you are happy with the hotel or not. If you decide not, then cancel it and research alternatives. Either through loveholidays, or another website or directly.

All is not lost!

Blue264

leylandsunaddict wrote: »

Does it matter if it's a 5 star or a 3 star as long as the hotel offers what you want? Presumably it does or you wouldn't have booked it in the first place. They're rated on services. Sticking a trouser press in a room would give it an extra star rating, but it's meaningless if you don't want the uses of one.

Exactly. Conference facilities can increase a star rating, but you won't use them either. There are wonderful hotels out there that have only 2 or 3 stars because they don't have a gym, beauty salon, sauna or conference facilities, and what's the point paying for things that you won't use.

Westin

Superflyfox wrote: »

Thank you all for the comments.

Yes in hindsight it was pretty insane booking without extensive research, lesson definitely learnt there. Never expected the star rating of a hotel to be different, didn't cross my mind but will in the future. If anyone else can learn from this, hope it will help.

The flights are with Thompson.

Since had an email from the hotel saying it is a 5 star - yet Thomas Cook gives it a 3... and now, to top it all, got 6 others who want to come with us (they not seen the hotel and are easy going!)

Might also be worth double checking if your LoveHolidays booking has a check in baggage allowance on Thomson. Their base fares I believe exclude luggage and you get a measly 5kgs as hand lugggage included. If LoveHolidays left this off there will be potentially more to shell out.

Which hotel is it? Perhaps MSE members will have views to other hotel options in the region.