Holiday Complaints

Do you have a holiday complaint? For help and advice post in here.
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why didn't you just pick another hotel from their site?? Your flights, hotel and transfers are all booked separately with
different companies so of course they could not refund your flight when their supplier let them down for
the hotel. They offered you to either pay more for the hotel, book another hotel or a refund on your hotel. What
more did you want them to do when their supplier let them down?
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The reason we booked with travel republic was solely for this hotel as we stayed there last year , we could have booked with others for less on the flights.
The fact the additional i had to pay was not £299.50 but exactly £300 and that the hotel was not available 14hrs after i booked it on their site, makes it very questionable ! But was available for an additional £300. Would you not question this ?
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Sorry to be pernickity, but please could you post without using capital letters all the time as I have problems with the type dancing around the screen ........ oh and it's also in the T&C for this site ...
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sorry I had it on capitals for something I was doing at work
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I think some companies are coming unstuck with downturn in travel selling under market value etc just to get a booking also errors can happen with online systems.They all have to request from suppliers in the various resorts wherever they are sending their client so different suppliers can have different prices but at the same time the hoteliers overbook rooms on their own booking systems,if a major tour operator comes in and wants more rooms they get them.The companies can offer a refund or an alternative but generally this would be of the same value or higher priced accommodation.This seems to be where a problem can occur when it's put together like this in some case's you can have the accommodation but no flight if it's been booked with a lowcost carrier and there is reason to cancel the flight.
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You are spot on what you are saying, what made it so obvious and upsetting to me was the fact that 14hrs after booking on line the hotel cost increased by exactly £300. I go on 3+ holidays a year and have never been a victim of this before, I was reading that on one forum that some poor lady who had booked through the same travel agent had to pay an additional £450 for her family.
What a disaster that would have been for them if they could not afford the extra payment
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I have just returned from Venice booking the Westin Europa Regina hotel with Travel Republic. I had wanted to book the Bauer Hotel where my friend had stayed previously.
When I tried to book the price for the Bauer was £165 but when I tried to book 2 rooms the price went to £235.
I then thought I will do a one room for single occupancy which went through at £165 when I then tried to book the 2nd room it was £235.
I had already completed the booking for the first room. I called asking whether they would be able to buy further rooms at a lower price as all these companies ebookers etc etc all buy their rooms through a company who in fact deal directly with the Hotel I only found this out by looking my booking I had made through another Active Hotels.
They at first suggested that I could either book the 2nd room and share the difference or that they would cancel the booking I had made and refund the money immediately to my account.
I was able to look at my booking on their web site and see that this had in fact happened.

I went back to the drawing board and booked the Westin which is next door to the Bauer was in fact in my opinion a superior hotel and I paid £135 each so £30 less than I would have paid for the Bauer.
I found Travel Republic excellent to deal with. The night I made the booking with just a deposit and had the receipt and I then made the booking at which time I got the Hotel Voucher.
I always call the Hotel direct to make sure I have a reservation and the names for rooms are not in any of the ebookers Expedia or TR until a week or so prior to arrival. I called the hotel and asked to call back 7 days before arrival. Did so requested a non smoking room 2 adjacent rooms and with a view.
I was told that Travel Republic or the company who book the rooms are not Grand Canal View and I knew from the hotel web site etc that there is a huge supplement for a Grand Canal view. I asked them to make a note on my reservation and it was also on the voucher but no guarantee it is at the Hotel discretion.

We arrived by Water taxi from the Airport were met at their own landing pier by a Porter to take our baggage and a Receptionist who walked us to their Reception area. We were then escorted by Laura the Receptionist who dealt with us and taken to our beautiful huge rooms with double aspect windows with that to die for view. The walls were silk lined and we were told that we had been given a complementary upgrade. Beautiful bathrooms and huge room with beautiful painted and antique furniture. June's room was the same size could have had a dance in it but different decor.

We had breakfast included in our deal (if on room only as many of the other deals were Breakfast was 52 euro each) It was a glorious breakfast with everything you could think of including smoked salmon and we sat on the restaurant overlooking the Canal with a view of St Mark's Cathedral and the Gondola's passing as well as small boats etc. The rooms themselves were very quiet and the entrance from the front was very quiet tucked in a little side just 2 minutes walk to St Mark's Square.

I have had a questionnaire today from T/R asking for my opinion on the hotel and their service and I can only say that it was absolutely first class.
I think your problem was that you wanted that hotel and at almost any cost. They offered you a refund and they also gave you the alternative of booking a different hotel. What more could they have done? They could not buy the hotel at the price they offered as beds are booked and it takes some time for the info to be processed which is why if I see something I want then I don't wait I strike when the iron is hot. In my case they only had one room at that price same room bought from a different source was sky high. This is what will have happened in your case they have tried to be as fair as they could with you but you have decided that they were perhaps being devious and that they were out to make more money out of you.
Look at all the Companies going bust as well as Airlines as this Credit Crunch bites even harder. You pay your money and you take your chance and I do hope that all of you out there use a credit card or as they say some switch cards which are from Visa may also get their refund. We are in very stormy water and the fuel cost less people able to afford holidays and everyone is being squeezed at every angle.

Despite the cost to sit and drink coffee and listen to the various Orchestra's at Cafe in St Mark's Square we did it despite the price! We also really enjoyed the water taxi to the hotel and to the Ship felt like James Bond. Cost from Airport 95e costly ++ and 70e to the ship even more costly ++ given the distance but what a way to arrive in Venice. The alternative was to drag baggage over cobbles and up over I think only one bridge but women of our age etc are not particularly able or willing to do this so for us it was the only/ We knew the price but we did it anyway.

This is way off topic!

In June this year I booked with ebookers to go to Dublin. Their web site said free Irish Breakfast from ebookers.
When printed off the voucher no mention of breakfast Email sent and then I followed up with a phone call. They sent me an email to say that yes I would have the breakfast. Called hotel prior to leaving and the booking was for room only. email to ebookers and again they confirmed this. Arrived at the hotel room only booked. Showed the email to the Receptionist who made a copy of it. Called their reservations. Told me that I could pay for the breakfast and then send the bill to ebookers.
Called from reception to say that as I was their guest in their hotel I would have complementary breakfast. Told to go out and enjoy Dublin.
When I got back I emailed ebookers who said that Academy Hotel should send the bill and they would pay it. I emailed the Academy Hotel and had 2 responses the 2nd from the Hotel Manager who was very pleased to hear that I had enjoyed my time with them and would welcome me back if I should choose to return. Whether they ever sent the bill or not I don't know!

I always email any hotel I am staying in and put in a request for what I want even though it may be on my booking form with the TO.

This may not be of any help to you but I do hope it will encourage some of you to double check things out and reiterate what your requests it has never failed me.

Sue
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My parents and my 19 year-pld daughter went to Gran Canaria for a two-week holiday. She booked the holiday thru TRAVEL REPUBLIC for two weeks costing £300 p/p flight and accomodation. My daughter have sent me emails saying that they had to moved from one hotel to another, for whatever reasons she wouldn't tell me!!! All she did say in her emails was that the former hotel they were supposed to stay didn't have a proper bathroom let alone a decent one and no reception and manager. IT sounds that she had a miserable two weeks and dying to get back home within days she arrived!!! She will reveal all when she comes back on the 15th of this month......
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Have to speak up in favour of Travel Republic. We had a great holiday in Costa Del Sol last Easter booked bargain accomodation (eventhough it was Easter hols) with them and had no probs, the hotel was definitely Value for money.

3 weeks ago I booked separate flights and accomodation for a hol for my parents next Jan. Unfortunately, the flights were with XL but to TR's credit, there was an e-mail waiting for me at dinner time yesterday, informing me of the collapse of the airline and advising me what to do. So far their service has been first class.
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I've booked accommodation for my parents at a hotel in Limassol, Cyprus for 4wks in November when they come out to visit us on their annual holiday.

Have been reading this thread with interest but we would always contact the accommodation in any event to see if we can find out where in the hotel they will be accommodated.

I made their reservation with a deposit of £180 and final balance was taken from my dad's credit card at end of August. So far, we've had no problems with TR.

CwB
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hi ..all.........i booked a flight and hotel with travel republic..
going to sharm at christmas time.flying with xl airlines.......
have i a package booked with travel republic.
i spoke to them to-day to try and get other flights at the same dates ......no joy .....
i then asked if i could cancel my hotel booking with them as they cant supply a flight .
and i was told i would have to pay 50/% of the hotel charges we were due to go on the 16/12/08 returning on the 06/01/09 .
can they apply that charge .its not my fault there are no flights...
please advise.........
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If you look at the Airlines thread, there are useful suggestions about how to get help with the XL fiasco. I have received an email from Thomson offering to take over XL flights - I believe the text is quoted on the above thread. They may be able to help - but get in touch with them as soon as you can.
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JohnDoe,
You do not say where you are/were flying from. Travel Republic are showing flights departing London Gatwick on 16/12 returning 06/01 - cost £500 pp. These look like easyjet flights.
As regards the accommodation you have booked, that is still a valid booking and is not "packaged" with the flights, therefore any cancellation charges as per their T&Cs will apply. Travel Republic simply act as an agent for the accommodation provider named on your booking confirmation and likewise as a ticket provider for the airline.

Bad news, but this is a down-side of booking with the likes of TR - you have quite limited protection but the prices are good if you are willing to take the risk.

Cheers,
Jet
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Hi John,

Looking at the FAQ section on TR it would appear that you should only have to forfeit your deposit if you cancel the hotel now. The amount you lose goes up the nearer you get to your holiday.

Easyjet have flights from London but they are around £500 per person.

Pippa
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thanks you nice people for your replies.........
i had booked from manchester .on the 16th of dec.......cost of £418 each .......
pippa .have tried to get in touch again with travel republic.but cant get through...will have to keep trying .its doing my head in......lol......
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HI Johndoe,
I was in a similar predicament to you. I booked flight and hotel with TR but it is not classed as a Package holiday, therefore your accomodation stands as a separate booking. I checked TR's website for alternative flights on the same day but they wee far too expensive. However, on trawling the web found flights with Monarch airlines for the same day, although I had to change the airport. It actually worked out cheaper. I'm now claiming a refund for the xl flights as they were booked with Freedom flights who are Atol bonded. Have a look at Monarch airlines to see what flights they can offer you. I found they had some reasonably priced flights. Good luck!
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hi....shirley.......thank you for your input...i will try that.......
have tried since yesterday to speak with t.r.........but to no avail.the phones are always busy....
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HI again Johndoe,
Have you received any e-mail communication from TR since the XL fiasco? I've received several updated e-mails from them regarding what to do. The latest I received yesterday, providing a link to input my new flight details as the Hotel will now have to be informed of the new arrival time. Good Luck!
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We had the same problem, we booked to go to Turkey and they emailed us the following day asking for an extra £50 each person. But we asked them why, they had already taken our money so they agreed to leave it at the original price!
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