Travel Republic

[Scunner]

It reminds me of a story from back in 2005ish where one of the big tour operators in the UK (I can't remember which) contacted several people to say that a small, basic but much loved hotel in Ovacik was overbooked, and telling them they had been moved to another. To most people this was fine but to a few, the hotel owners felt like family, and they were disappointed to not be going there.

One couple decided to pop in to say hello to their old friends the owners. And found them in a very worried state - and an entirely empty hotel. Tour operators are absolute ba5tards - I could tell you dozens of stories of their dirty tricks.

[Ray1951]

After catching TR, telling lies, I gave them an ultimatum to sort my reservation out within 15 minutes of my call, this morning.  |I'm happy to report that they saw the error of their ways and offered me and upgrade to half board for the original price quoted.  They told me that they had been speaking to the hotel and had to call them back today at 3pm.  When I asked who they had spoken to, they couldn't answer.  I told the guy not to dig himself any deeper in the hole he was in, because I had spoken to the manager yesterday and this morning and TR had NOT been in touch.  Up until, yesterday, they wanted a further £165 from me.  I got a result but it concerns me that other people may not have had the determination that I had.  May I also add that by booking three separate weeks, the price came down because the supplier will only allow people to book half board for anything more than a week, whilst if you book for a week, you can book BB.

[Christie]

We have the same problem Ray.   We booked through Sunshine though.   We lost our booking for the Aymes in June and could not rebook that hotel so have now rebooked for the Nevada Boutique - which is obviously more expensive.   Now we have to rebook our September holiday, which also was booked for the Aymes.   Sunshine have advised us today we can have our original booking for the Aymes in September, but we need to pay an additional £216.   It is not a good situation and we are actually thinking this might be our last year in Calis  (after nearly 20 years).  We cannot understand how some people are lucky enough to get rebooked at no extra cost, yet others (us) have to pay much more than the original booking amount.   However, glad to hear you got your booking sorted out, and hopefully we will all enjoy our holiday. 

[Ray1951]

Ramazan at the Aymes told me that it is more expensive to book  direct, he says it is cheaper to go through an 'agent'.  Lowcostholidays - check out booking week by week instead of a fortnight.  I found that it made a big difference.  Travel Republic wanted £285  2 - 16 June.  I checked 2 - 9 and 9 - 16  TOTAL £188 (one week BB & the other only allowing HB).  Almost £100 cheaper.

[jacqtay]

 We returned from Crete on Tuesday and had our apartment booking with Travel Republic, a few weeks before leaving for Crete we phoned TR to check all was ok and they said our booking had been affected by a company going bust but they had re-booked the same apartment at no extra cost. When speaking to our apartment owners in Crete the were amazed at the price we paid for our rooms ( 2x3 bedded apartments) at £120 for both rooms for 1 week, his reply was that booking direct with him would have cost  just over double that price.
We also have a booking with TR this September in Dalyan for 4 nights and again this was affected with the same holiday company going bust but again TR have re-booked at no extra cost.
My heart goes out to all who are having problems just now and I know I would be well p****d off if this happened to me. Good luck folks.

[puma]

i have just had a great holiday at the majestic tuana booked through TR and no problems

[johntaylor49]

Well, as had been said before, the Hotel operators in Turkey are by and large a little lazy and inefficient hence are quite happy to hand off to a booking company who book on behalf of a booking company who book on behalf of a Tour Operator who sells on behalf of the Hotel! So many things can go wrong! The alternative is book with a large Tour Operator who work direct and have much higher overheads and therefore you pay a lot more money! Difficult one isn't it!

They could do well themselves having their own booking/Holiday Company based in Calis but that would mean working 12 months of the year and not just the "season" -- who wants to do that?  

Always wise to pay by Credit Card for Holidays/Flights/Hotels as that way you not only have insurance but usually get paid out almost immediately!

If only Turkey did not have its work visa and Company legal restrictions, then a reasonable Tour Company could operate locally and direct I hear you say, but then the Hotel Owners/managers suddenly dump the booking because someone else has offered them more money!  No way out I am afraid!

I suppose there is always Cleethorpes -- or Jail!

Aged Burbler