Had not taken into consideration the cost to hoteliers, so I guess the charge is justified, however it does rub people up the wrong way sometimes with all these extra charges.....Caz
When you break down the costings, it does make financial sense for them to charge extra for the air conditioning. As Helen said we knew about this before hand and I did have an e-mail with the cost when I made early enquiries about booking direct with the hotel. Armed with the facts, we can budget accordingly.
Wheras I know most TOs state in their brochures/on their websites, that there will be a local charge for air conditioning, it would be handy if the cost was also shown as charges vary considerably and the cost could come as a sharp shock when you arrive at your hotel.
Wheras I know most TOs state in their brochures/on their websites, that there will be a local charge for air conditioning, it would be handy if the cost was also shown as charges vary considerably and the cost could come as a sharp shock when you arrive at your hotel.
Ideally the TOs would pay the accommodation owners the going rate for the rooms, with everything then included. BUT that would put the cost of holidays up & mean you were paying for aircon/fridge/safe whether you used (or wanted) them or not. At least this way you choose which facilities to have & pay for. I think the idea of sharing a safe & fridge when there are several of you going is a good compromise!
If you hire a car fitted with a/c it's covered in the price - they don't charge extra for switching it on.
Not really a like for like comparison - it doesn't cost the hire company anything if you us the aircon in a car because you will be paying for the increased petrol consumption when you fill up the tank whereas it does cost a hotel or apartment owner quite a bit every time you switch the aircon on unless the power supply is metered and you are paying for any electricity used separately.
SM
We never used to bother about aircon, and just used to leave the balcony doors open, until one year we were on the ground floor and this wasn't an option. Being a lady of a certain age I find it is a neccessity now. I only switch it on when I'm getting resady to go out in the evening, and have it on for a couple of hours to get to sleep. One of us will always get up in the night to go to the bathroom and switch it off.
sanji wrote:It's the same in Spain and I often wonder just how these hotels manage to keep operating, if you take the price of £750 and deduct approx £200 off for the flight, you're paying £275 per week per person, divided by 7 days is roughly £39 per person per night and that's before the TO takes their cut, so can you imagine what the hotel is getting.?No, you haven't, but what the TO pays for the rooms will be! This is always a big problem here in Greece, the amount the accommodation owners get per night from the TO is pitiful, so charging for the extras is essential.
They couldn't do it, they couldn't cover their operation costs of providing free safes, fridges and air conditioning and paying the chamber maid's wages alone, plus all the cleaning stuff they have to buy, the laundry bills, etc.
But at least these things are optional, although IMO hiring a safe is one of the main priorities and whilst paying €4 a day for a fridge seems a lot, which is less than £4, you can save that by buying drinks cheaper from the supermarket to put inside it.
Air conditioning is a luxury and it's expensive to run it, IMO if you go to a hot country, then it's going to be hot and if you want the luxury of air conditioning, then you'll have to pay the price.
Just my opinion.
My opinion too ! if these extras were included then the package price would be higher, they are all optional but they do enhance your holiday , and to be fair you would be doing your bit to help the greek economy
We paid €70 for air conditioning last year in Crete, and about the same for a safe - we had 2 rooms, so 2x aircon, but we made do with only 1 safe
Helen- Im going to that certain hotel nxt year in July for 2 weeks (£927 for the two of us B+B).
If we were to have booked the flights and accommodation seperate it would have cost us a couple of hundred more.- so on this occassion I dont mind paying for the fridge, air con, and safe (Although very expensive- in my opinion)- but like one poster pointed out- the tour operator will pay them peanuts- I suppose they will have to make money in other areas.
Having said that I do think the prices are higher than anywhere else we stayed in greece- example sidari corfu 60E for 2 weeks air con, and 28e for the safe for two weeks, and the fridge has always been free (Even b+b).
Belly.
If we were to have booked the flights and accommodation seperate it would have cost us a couple of hundred more.- so on this occassion I dont mind paying for the fridge, air con, and safe (Although very expensive- in my opinion)- but like one poster pointed out- the tour operator will pay them peanuts- I suppose they will have to make money in other areas.
Having said that I do think the prices are higher than anywhere else we stayed in greece- example sidari corfu 60E for 2 weeks air con, and 28e for the safe for two weeks, and the fridge has always been free (Even b+b).
Belly.
This is the first time we've stayed in a hotel over 8 years as we are moving house in September we have to stay in a hotel for this summer. We are very lucky though, Mr Andreas Tsokkos has given me and the 2 girls 3 weeks 5 days in the Anastasia in Pernera, Cyprus for free with AC, free gym pass etc. but if we had to pay for a hotel I don't think we would pay for AC as it is bearable when your used to the climate however a fridge would be a deffo! I don't think I could go without a fridge for even a day! 
CourtneeLouisexx.
CourtneeLouisexx.
Mr Andreas Tsokkos has given me and the 2 girls 3 weeks 5 days in the Anastasia in Pernera, Cyprus for free with AC, free gym pass etc.
How come you've managed to get a free hotel package for 3 weeks, 5 days. Is your name Mrs Tsokkos by any chance?
Hahaha! My dad is 70 and he's known Andreas for atleast 40 of those years
Happy hols
CourtneeLouise x
Happy hols
CourtneeLouise x
I think it is very expensive and can see Why the holiday industry is struggling with extras like that.Maybe the aircon is an exception but I have never been to a hotel that charges extra for it, I certainly hope it doesn't catch on everywhere. The safe price is now getting a stupid price, it wouldnt take too many weeks to pay for one but they know a lot of people will pay as they are in a strange country and feel vulnerable .
shrimper - we've often had to pay for air con in B & B's or when S catering, just not this much!
We have stayed in allot of European countries around the Med and always had air conditioning if it is a hot country as in Spain etc but have never been ask to pay for it, but we have not been to Turkey or Greece where I believe it is normal to pay. I know customer numbers are down but making the ones that are still coming pay extra isn't the way to go.
But you generally only pay in the 2 or 3 * hotels in Greece (I think?) and its totally the norm- so I think it's fair enough.
You go into it with your eyes open and know before you book what is and isnt included so you can do the maths. It probably seems odd if you holiday in a destination where its included as standard but honestly, in Greece I am more shocked if it IS included. You pay for it one way or another whether it is included or not- believe me, even with an AI you are not getting anything 'free'
You go into it with your eyes open and know before you book what is and isnt included so you can do the maths. It probably seems odd if you holiday in a destination where its included as standard but honestly, in Greece I am more shocked if it IS included. You pay for it one way or another whether it is included or not- believe me, even with an AI you are not getting anything 'free'
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