Booking a Greek hotel directly - risky?

borob

Hi all

Looking to book a holiday in Crete and we've settled on a specific hotel that we'd like to stay at so we are looking to book flights and hotel separately.

The hotel deal that we were looking at was on loveholidays.com which doesn't have the best of reviews. I've E-Mailed the hotel directly to ask for a price for a similar stay.

If I pay the hotel directly on a credit card, would I have a decent level of protection or is this risky?

Thanks!

Ganga

If it has such bad reviews why do you want to stay there?

borob

The booking site had bad reviews, not the hotel.

tacpot12

I've booked direct with hotels via their websites and not had any problems. I don't see any reason why Greece should be especially risky.

borob

Thanks tacpot12 - I didn't think Greece was especially risky, I was talking about booking hotels outside of the UK in general outside of a tour operator.

I realise that I won't have ABTA/ATOL protection and wondered if Section 75 would some overall protection.

tacpot12

Yes, section 75 would offer some protection, mainly if you arrive and the room isn't fit for purpose, or not as described. Even paying the deposit by credit card and the balance when you arrive at the hotel will benefit from Section 75 protection.

The main issue with booking the hotel direct is that you don't get the ABTA/ATOL protection that you get with a packaged holidays. This can leave you somewhat exposed, e.g. the airline cancels the flight, but you still have the room booked at the hotel. Also with a package tour, if the flight is delayed, the transfer will wait for the flight. If you have arranged the transfer separately, it might not. Last year I booked a hotel in Spain direct, and used their offer to arrange a transfer. This worked out really well, as we had a small airconditioned minibus that took us direct to the hotel. Travel insurance can offer some protection, but read the policy carefully (ideally before buying) to check that you can claim for the cost of the room that you can't use if the flight is cancelled.

borob

tacpot12 wrote: »

Yes, section 75 would offer some protection, mainly if you arrive and the room isn't fit for purpose, or not as described. Even paying the deposit by credit card and the balance when you arrive at the hotel will benefit from Section 75 protection.

The main issue with booking the hotel direct is that you don't get the ABTA/ATOL protection that you get with a packaged holidays. This can leave you somewhat exposed, e.g. the airline cancels the flight, but you still have the room booked at the hotel. Also with a package tour, if the flight is delayed, the transfer will wait for the flight. If you have arranged the transfer separately, it might not. Last year I booked a hotel in Spain direct, and used their offer to arrange a transfer. This worked out really well, as we had a small airconditioned minibus that took us direct to the hotel. Travel insurance can offer some protection, but read the policy carefully (ideally before buying) to check that you can claim for the cost of the room that you can't use if the flight is cancelled.

Thanks for such a comprehensive answer. I'll pay the deposit on a credit card and get decent travel insurance.

Thanks again for the advice, really appreciate it

zagfles

I wouldn't worry about it - I've had to change travel plans last minute several times due to flight/transport/weather problems, even changing pre-booked non-refundable hotel rooms, and every time the hotels have been understanding and not charged me when they were perfectly entitled to under their booking terms.

And if they do, insurance should cover it, and if not, you'll take a small financial loss, it's really not worth worrying about.

basill

If you book direct the hotel is likely to include nice things like air con or breakfast that people who booked through a tour operator pay extra for.

sillygoose

I book one in Greece, Corfu directly quite often, paying a deposit on credit card and the balance shortly before arrival. Its always worked out well and the hotel appreciate it as they don't lose the operators cut and companies like Thomas Cook often don't pay them for months after.

As mentioned above, we get some bonus out of it, preferential rooms, free safe, cheap transfer arranged locally by the hotel for us and a special welcome. Also flexible arrival/departure days so can pick the cheap flight days and have a non standard holiday length.

foxylacey

Sorry to jump on your thread, but I noticed that my travel insurance for european travel won't cover me for cancellation if I've booked the hotel or holiday with a company outside of the UK. So how would you claim then ? Or does anyone one know of a specific insurance that covers for this ? Ive looked into supplier/end failure etc but again they all seem to say only if booked in the UK. I know credit cards can help for insolvency but can they for simply cancellation ? TIA