I wondered if others have had as bad experience as some of us at the Guaryarmina Princess in the last week.
The Guayarmina Princess has a Platinum Lounge. However, the lounge is locked most of the time. This, to some extent, is understandable. The lounge is at the front of the hotel next to a bikini shop, and I can understand they might want to keep it locked at night, but not outside rep visiting times during the day. The hotel has security staff. All other guests could read their tour operators' books whenever they liked. We couldn't.
The Thomson welcome pack states that you will be notified 2 to 3 days before departure as to your return flight times and pick-up details. Nothing was posted under our door, nor of other people we had talked to.
We, like many others, were leaving on the Friday. On the Wednesday the lounge was closed for "Training". We spoke to some people on the flight home, and they told us what I had suspected, that the training was really just a night on the raz for all the reps. On Thursday the lounge was simply closed.
Thomson might answer back, well hey, it is only open on the morning of a Thursday. Yes, I know. Until 1 o'clock supposedly. We were there at 12:30. We met a couple whose flight left Friday morning, before visiting times. You can see the times they visit listed on a board in the window. If you want to see the flight times...no luck there, it's on the other side and you can't.
We spoke to the reps on Friday who, of course had an answer, and said we don't get any notification of return flights because we are expected to check the latest details in the lounge 24-48 hours before departure as we were told at the welcome meeting. And how did they think that was possible, then? Not to mention, how attending the welcome meeting became an obligation for the holidaymaker. Have these truants forfeited the right to their journey home?
As I sat at the front of the hotel, waiting for the bus for the airport, twice a rep passed us. Both times she ignored me and everyone else waiting. They should really check we were on the right bus. Luckily, I was careful. I knew most people were not going to Los Rodeos. Our driver was careful also and checked people's tickets before letting them board.
Our friends, staying at another hotel, caught the wrong bus and went to the southern airport by mistake. They saw the rep at the airport. Not that we saw any reps at all at ours. They were told that it was just tough and they would have to get a taxi. The taxi cost 70 euros. Let the UK's number one look after you, eh?
Result..I haven't used any tour operator since and have had six years of DIY holidays to Tenerife..I reckon I've saved myself about 3,000 pounds in the process..
Unfortunately you have learned the hard way that they are very good at taking your money but basically after that will do the bare minimum and get away with what they can..
I am sorry to hear you had such a raw deal with Thomson, but I have to agree with Hotel Stayer. We have DIY'd for 23 years and I wouldn't do it any other way.
Regards Jackie
You wouldnt get into a taxi or bus at home and pay somebody to sit next to the driver and make sure you arrive safely at your destination. Thats all the travel reps do and charge you hundreds of pounds for doing it. You can get into a taxi or bus at the airport and save loads of money and get exactly the same holiday as the reps would have given you. Not only that but they also get first crack at you on the welcome meeting and steer you to their organised excursions and charge you about €10 per person extra than you would get at any of the thousand excursion shops round town for the same trip. Half the time they don't even accompany you just put you on a subcontracted excursion with a local tour operator. DIY is the only way
I'd say some destinations, particularly long haul, are still better booked as a package, but you will always save money going DIY to Spain and the Canaries.
particularly long haul, are still better booked as a package
Thats true. Reason being the further and more exotic places you go to the less likely it is to have been commercialised. Spain,Canaries and the other major tourist centres have loads of tourist information centres and excursion offices who are glad to help and nearly always offer more useful advice and help than your 18 year old "here for a working party summer" travel rep will.
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