This should have been pointed out at time of booking Matt re transfers.

The 'all inclusive' part will be your food and drink etc within your hotel and will be a separate part of your booking. ie £1000 for hotel then they add on £50 airport surcharge £30 transfers etc. But on booking you should have been given your final figure of all parts.

Hi, thanks very much for your reply,

Do you think that I have a case? I am still yet to pay the transfer charge, I am still yet to phone them, and am trying to gain an understanding of what is best to do, what would you do?

Matt

I would assume that you were given a price on booking the holiday by the Travel Agent/Tour Operator. If this has since been added on and you weren't aware of it then you will have to decide whether you still want the holiday.

You wouldn't be able to make a claim against them though as the choice is still yours.

Matt,
how did you book the holiday - over the phone, internet or T.A. ?

Is it a Package you've booked. This normally comprises at least two of the following

a) Flights
b) Accommodation
c) Car Hire or Tours

If you've bought a package you shouyld look at this link http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19923288_en_1.htm

as it lists the regulations covering Package Tours. I've read it and cannot see anything particular about transfers but Clause 4 insists that the descriptive matter relating to Packages must not in any way be misleading. An "All-Inclusive" is deemed to refer typically to the meal plan. But you could argue, especially as you may be booking your first such all-inclusive package (and hence not an expert) that you considered this to include all aspects of the holiday being

flight, transfer to hotel, accommodation, food, maybe drinks, transfer back to airport and glight home.

The 'expert' seller of a product/service is expected to make such inclusions clear at the time the contract is made rather than the amateur 'purchaser' being expected to 'ask' the right questions.

When you did book, were you clearly informed of the extra transfer cost? If so, how - during the 'phone conversation ? If so, you will have accepted the condition but if you feel they did not explain this, demand a copy of the transcript of the recorded tape - they usually have one.

If you were first told of the extra transfer cost in writing, when - how long after the original booking. Most importantly, when do you fly as a tour op. is not permitted to make significant changes to the contract within 30 days prior to flying and I understand, not after the final balance has been paid.

There's a lot here I know but this is a complex issue. My experience dealing with T.O.'s is to be forwarned and forearmed (and if all else fails ring Ros Fernihough on 01922 621114 - a crackin' solicitor).

Mike

Hi Matt, I agree the all inc means meals and drinks not the cost of transfer fees these are always charged seperately. When you booked your holiday you should have been either asked or advised that the price was without transfer fees. Unless it stated at the time of booking the transfer fees were included you do not have a leg to stand on mate.

Nasher,
I would have thought that when purchasing a Package from a Tour Op. and in particular, where the package comprises flights and accommodation, the transfers to and from the resort airport would be included by default unless otherwise stated.

I would expect the absense of any discussion re. transfers would have strengthen Matt's case. If the T.O. is providing a package that includes the accommodation and flight, how can the accomm. be provided without the client being taken to the hotel ?

Mike

I think that this could depend on whether Matt booked this direct with the TO or through a Travel Agent. If he booked direct with the TO and they made no mention of an additional charge for the transfer then I agree he should take this up with them. But increasingly TOs aren't always including this in the basic cost knowing that some people do prefer to make their own arrangements and avoid the sometimes interminable trail around all the hotels in a resort. If he booked this trip through an agent then it was surely their responsibility to spell this out and he needs to take this up with them instead?

Also, I'm not clear whether the issue is that a hotel transfer service is available but is charged for separately or whether he is being expected to make his own arrangements, hence the reference to the cost of a taxi. Again, I think that what Matt should do next does depend on which applies here. Yes, a package holiday does usually include the availability of a transfer to the hotel but not, just like a meal on the plane, necessarily that the cost is included in the basic price. Whether we like it or not, more and more of what used to be included in the basic price of a package holiday is now costed separately and represents an additional cost and we all really do need to check exactly what is or isn't included in the 'package' we are paying for.

I remember the days when if you arrived at check-in early enough you could request an 'extra legroom' seat at no additional cost because they were allocated simply on a first-come-first-served basis. Now you have to pay extra and I've discovered as a lone traveller that if you are amongst the last to check-in you stand a good chance of being allocated one because not enough people have been prepared to shell-out to guarantee getting one but on a full plane those seats still need to be filled!

SM