Love Holiday booking problem

bflare

Firstly I am new to booking holidays abroad so I have spent a few days looking on different websites. I found Love Holidays & booked a packaged holiday to Barcelona, Spain. After I had booked it said it was pending. I then received an email with the following & I am not sure what to do next? Maybe I am been a touch cynical here but it appears they are trying to pull one over on me?



Thank you for making your holiday booking request through loveholidays.
 
Unfortunately, upon receiving your request, we have been unable to confirm some of your chosen elements.  This is because the service provider(s) work with live systems and booking availability, meaning pricing can change at any point until it is confirmed.  As a booking agent that relies on our service providers this is something we cannot avoid.
 
Having reviewed your booking, I can confirm that the following has not been confirmed by the service provider during your booking request. Please see below:
   

Accommodation – ******** Hotel, we have been unable to confirm due to availability of the hotel chosen please take a look at our website and advise us of any other hotels that may be suitable.
Please be aware that there may be a price increase for alternative Hotels/Room types.

If we do not hear from you 48 hours and we are still unable to secure this booking for you, we may be required to cancel your booking request and refund to you all monies paid. We want to ensure that your booking gets confirmed as soon as possible, so we kindly request that you call us as soon as you can on our Booking Support number 0203 870 6838, or if you are calling from the Republic of Ireland +353 (01) 513 8696.



Any advice please?

Westin

Fairly normal I am afraid. Many of these OTA’s (online travel agencies) do not have live pricing on all of the holiday elements. When they try to book them the availability may have gone or the price changed. I wouldn’t necessarily say they are trying it on, just that that is what can happen with their business model.

BTW, you are not buying a traditional package holiday. They are instead picking the individual travel elements from different third party suppliers and cobbling together a holiday. Beware of what you are buying.

I would do as they say, see if another hotel you like is available on their website and then call them. If you can not see anything you like or do not like the new price then ask for a full refund.

photome

What’s the betting , that the only thing available is a lot more money.

If it is I would do as westin says and cancel for a full refund

bflare

Westin wrote: »

Fairly normal I am afraid. Many of these OTA’s (online travel agencies) do not have live pricing on all of the holiday elements. When they try to book them the availability may have gone or the price changed. I wouldn’t necessarily say they are trying it on, just that that is what can happen with their business model.

BTW, you are not buying a traditional package holiday. They are instead picking the individual travel elements from different third party suppliers and cobbling together a holiday. Beware of what you are buying.

I would do as they say, see if another hotel you like is available on their website and then call them. If you can not see anything you like or do not like the new price then ask for a full refund.

Ah right ok thanks. What I did do was go to the hotel website directly and picked the dates i wanted it it appeared that there were rooms available so I'm not sure why love holidays said there was an issue unless there's some other problem.

Is it best not to use this type of website and book the hotel and flights separately?

bflare

photome wrote: »

What’s the betting , that the only thing available is a lot more money.

If it is I would do as westin says and cancel for a full refund

Yes exactly. Like i said maybe I'm been a little suspicious.:rotfl:

They take my deposit then tell me the chosen holiday isn't available so I have to phone them and then they have me on the phone where they can try to haggle with me until I chose a more expensive deal. I specifically booked that deal because of the low price and I already know that any other hotel will be more expensive.

Westin

bflare wrote: »

Ah right ok thanks. What I did do was go to the hotel website directly and picked the dates i wanted it it appeared that there were rooms available so I'm not sure why love holidays said there was an issue unless there's some other problem.

Is it best not to use this type of website and book the hotel and flights separately?

They want you to look on the LoveHolidays.com website for an alternative.

The hotel may well have availability but not at the rate that LoveHolidays can secure for you inline with your original booking request/price.

daveyjp

Cancel, full refund and as its Barcelona which is easy to DIY book flights yourself and sort a hotel directly.

comeandgo

Can you not cancel with Lve Holiday and book direct with the hotel and book your own flights? It's very easy and you have control over your holiday.

bflare

comeandgo wrote: »

Can you not cancel with Lve Holiday and book direct with the hotel and book your own flights? It's very easy and you have control over your holiday.

I have sent them an email and said if they can't fulfil my original requirements then I would like a refund. I will probably book the hotel and flights separately as you day although I'm not sure how to go about the transfer booking.

budgetflyer

You can either use public transport, bus/train, a taxi outside arrivals or prebook either a shared or private transfer.
We use https://www.suntransfers.com or https://www.airporttransfers.co.uk

Be aware shared shuttle transfers often require a wait for other passengers who may be on another flight.

bflare

budgetflyer wrote: »

You can either use public transport, bus/train, a taxi outside arrivals or prebook either a shared or private transfer.
We use https://www.suntransfers.com or https://www.airporttransfers.co.uk

Be aware shared shuttle transfers often require a wait for other passengers who may be on another flight.

Thanks for that!