Onthebeach/Love Holidays

Potbellypig

I've always booked with Jet2 for my holidays but there has been some great prices come up for us using Onthebeach and Love Holidays, which has caught my eye. It's flying with Ryanair which I haven't used before too. What are peoples thoughts on booking with these sort of companies please?

Caz3121

you would not be getting the same sort of package with the same protection
worth a read here https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/09/love-holidays-follows-on-the-beach-in-quitting-travel-trade-asso/
have you compared booking Ryanair direct and the accommodation direct also

Westin

Have you done the full price comparison?  Very often once you add on the extras there is no difference of they come out more expensive.  Jet2 Holidays will be giving you 22kgs check baggage, rep service, coach transfers and if anything goes wrong much better support.  All the add ons for bags, transfers etc will soon add up.

NoodleDoodleMan

The last two posts are spot on.

LH and OTB gained an unenviable reputation a couple of years ago as reported in the highlighted link.

In reality you could just as easily concoct a DIY package with Ryanair, a hotel of your choice and arrange transfers - but as already said, that is not a recognised package.

When you add on luggage and transfers etc. any price savings are unlikely to be significant.

These online travel agent deals are OK - until someting goes wrong.

In my view, based on experience, a bona fide package with Jet2 or TUI is a better option, as explained by Westin.

Just my opinion.

eskbanker

NoodleDoodleMan said:

In reality you could just as easily concoct a DIY package with Ryanair, a hotel of your choice and arrange transfers - but as already said, that is not a recognised package.

I don't see that being said as such, but perhaps worth noting that there are effectively three different types of booking being discussed here:

1. Off-the-shelf package from a tour operator, e.g. TUI, Jet2
2. Bespoke package constructed by agents such as Loveholidays and Onthebeach
3. DIY bookings assembled by the traveller/booker

OP's question was really about the difference between 1 and 2, both of which will generally be 'recognised packages', in the sense of the protections afforded by the Package Travel Regulations, whereas OP didn't appear to be considering DIY bookings, which do have less legal protection.

The agents constructing these bespoke packages certainly have a poor reputation on this forum, in terms of actually complying with their legal responsibilities, so there is undoubtedly a difference between having rights and being able to enforce them....

bagand96

As eskbanker points out booking with OTB/LoveHolidays will get you a Package Holiday under the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. It will also get you ATOL protection in case either go bust.

It isn't the same as a Jet2/TUI package though as OTB/LoveHolidays are just combining flights/hotels to form a package whereas the traditional tour operators have overall control of each element.

Millions travel with these companies each year and I'm sure the vast majority have trouble free holidays. However if something happens before or after travel then their customer service reviews are not good. And although you're protected by the Package Travel Regulations, some OTA's need a lot of persuading to actually meet their obligations.

If it was me and the savings were significant I'd probably go with it. Although to be honest I might just DIY it if that was the case. 

NoodleDoodleMan

Well observed - I should have differentiated between options 1 and 2, as clarified in eskbanker's response.

Potbellypig

Thanks all.

elsien

Westin said:

Have you done the full price comparison?  Very often once you add on the extras there is no difference of they come out more expensive.  Jet2 Holidays will be giving you 22kgs check baggage, rep service, coach transfers and if anything goes wrong much better support.  All the add ons for bags, transfers etc will soon add up.

Transfers are not included with my Jet2 holiday, although the hold luggage is. Always worth checking to make sure. 

Pollycat

elsien said:

Westin said:

Have you done the full price comparison?  Very often once you add on the extras there is no difference of they come out more expensive.  Jet2 Holidays will be giving you 22kgs check baggage, rep service, coach transfers and if anything goes wrong much better support.  All the add ons for bags, transfers etc will soon add up.

Transfers are not included with my Jet2 holiday, although the hold luggage is. Always worth checking to make sure. 

I would be querying that.

From Jet2 website:

Our transfers

All our Jet2holidays include transfers to and from your hotel for added convenience. You’ll be met at the airport by our friendly Red Team who’ll then show you to your coach. You’ll travel to your resort with other holidaymakers, before being dropped off at your hotel. On return, a coach will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight home.

elsien

“City break” as opposed to a “holiday.” That’s the difference although in my head they are both Jet2 holidays, Jet2 would appear to disagree.