we really did have a holiday from hell, every thing about the holiday was a nightmare, Our holiday could of been resolved and made better if the rep was as stated in the brochure and not like the one we had. In all our years of travel, we have never endure this. There are some great company's with wonderful reps as we know from all our past travels.
Yet it only takes that one bad experience and one bad rep to have, then you no longer trust nor wish to ever use the company again.

I have travelled with Kosmar several times and although we've had the odd glitch with flights (fingers crossed for 3 weeks time) (including last year 6 hours sat on the tarmac at Brindisi on the way to Corfu!), we've never had a problem with the accommodation or rep. In fact on one occasion we had a 12 hour delay on our return from Crete - (should have flown at 5.30 am on a Saturday morning and eventually flew at 18.30 pm) - the whole planeload (Air 2000), was taken to a 4 star hotel at Anissaras (OK it was beside the power station - but excellent accommodation and as much food as you wanted (had to pay for drinks - which made some passengers VERY angry)). We were advised from about 9.00 to report back to reception every 2 hours for an update -(again fine - we went for a swim, a walk, had lunch). However, certain passengers got more and more aggressive as the day went on...to the point that ONLY the Kosmar reps continued to try and keep everyone informed - the others just gave up, it wwas nearly the end of the season and they'd had enough. The Kosmar reps though, were professional and calm throughout.

The point of this was that I was so impressed with the standard of rep they employed that I applied to be one (unfortunately due to a change in personal circumstance, I couldn't take up the position). As you say a bad rep can ruin a package holiday, but Kosmar's selection process normally seems to eke them out.

I`ve only travelled once with Kosmar, 2 years ago to Kefalonia, and had no reason at all to complain. The flights in both directions took off more or less on time, the apartments were delightful, as was the beach, and the rep, Michael, was really great. I would definitely travel with Kosmar again, given the chance.

We went to Stoupa last year with First Choice and the Kosmar rep was so good in our accomodation we decided to go with them this year.

So we booked for Alikanas in Zakynthos, the flights were changed twice, eventually we flew from Manchester at 0620 on Sunday morning, to be honest I didnt mind too much because we were in the resort for lunch time.

The holiday was just as Kosmar said in their brochure, so no complaints there.

The return flight was again an early start, but we were home for the football on Sky on Sunday afternoon.

All in all, we have no complaints with Kosmar, at the end of the day if a flight is delayed there isnt much else to do but chill and get on with it.

I was in Stoupa this summer with Kosmar and the reps were lovely. I can understand the comment about only finding out how good they are when there is a problem but all the kosmar reps seemed very busy all the time checking up on how people were and offering advice which probably prevented some problems anyway.
You probably encounter more problems in larger, more developed (or developing) places, check first on sites like this about the accomodation you have booked!

Hi Chrisp, We did look at this web site and had some great reviews, and we also looked on holidaysuncovered.co.uk. and got mixed views on that site about the accomodation.

sorry, realised that sounded a bit abrupt, didn't mean to! Don't really know what you could do with a bad rep, apart from report them when you get home. and like you say, take your money elsewhere, making sure the company know exactly why.

for your reply Chrisp. We have wrote to the company, and so have many other holiday makers who were staying at the same complex as us.
We are looking to go to Menorca for next year, and yet again we will be looking at the resort forums first. :D. If you have any good info to share about Menorca it would be gladly welcome.

Hi Nicci, When did you go? We have also been to the same complex with Kosmar in August and had the worst time ever, Our Rep Julie was so rude and not helpful at all with our complaints. The apts where filthy and had cockroaches in all the rooms, this scared the children. Building works both at the front and back of the apts, and again Julie would not move us. We are very upset and like you have wrote to the company. We have been put off using Kosmar ever again.

hi, we have just returned from skiathos, stayed at the bourtzi hotel in town, we booked through kosmar, it was our 2nd visit there, we went same place 2 years ago, last year we were at alexandros studios in paxos and have been to galaxy hotel in samos through kosmar and totally recommend kosmar, no flight problems and cant beat their prices, we booked this april to go next august to go to naxos , antonina apartments, which has been highly recommended by friends who have been there 3 times. can't wait...

No, never.
Would recommend them, you get what you pay for.

DIFFERENT accommodation, different holiday reps different airlines can add to many complaints & recommendations.... i have been with KOSMAR many times since 1987, some good some bad but the final crunch came in LEFKAS when after 4 days i asked if the loo bin could be emptied & was told by the KOSMAR rep that if "I" would like to empty it, there was a rubbish bin in the high street where i could dispose of it myself... i told her that i was on holiday and that if it wasnt done everything would be flushed down the loo.,,risk of blocked plumbing or not....needless to say it was done.. Also KOSMAR are one of the worlds worse for getting satisfaction to a complaint ... so dont hold your breath (unless your loo bin isn't emptied)

Thank you for all your replys, we are waiting for a reply from Kosmar, and I will let you all know the out come.

From what I heard of Kosmar this year, they are getting worse.. We were treated very badly last year, after 10 years of loyalty to them and recommending them to others and we will never travel with them again. OK we go to Parga, but travel anywhere these days can be arranged cheaply and "tailor made" through the internet
I will always go independantly in future and save money!

Kelvin, I'd also be quite happy to book independantly - the only problem is that you still end up booking with the same charter airlines (like Excel) who are part of Kosmar's problems! Our delay problem this year was all down to Excerl's failure. Unfortunately they often price the flight-only options in such as way that it's sometimes cheaper to go for the package.

Hi Kelvin, sorry to hear you also had a bad time with Kosmar, like you we are booking our own holiday for next year. the shame of it is, when everyone no longer wishes to use any of the travel companies, but arrange their own holidays on line etc:
We got a letter back only this morning from Kosmar, they are looking into our case and will reply to us as soon as they can.(but they also wrote that this could talke up to six months)
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I have travelled to Lesbos and Kos with Kosmar and have had no problems at all. I appreciated the fact that the reps are not in your face all time but you can reach them if you need them!!
Flights- well small company in the scheme of things so got what we paid for.
Perfectly okay all round.

Mariah......
booking independantly we flew with Astraeus...they were brilliant! (yes we had a delay on the outward flight, due to a technical problem, but they kept us informed all the way and couldn't be faulted for customer care (including free drinks on board)
And the scheduled flight times were brilliant.... no having to heave yourself out of bed for an early departure.... we had a morning on the beach before we left!

Hi Kelvin, having just had a look for Astraeus on the web, they don't do many Greek routes from Manchester, unfortunately. I'll have to keep looking.