 Poster: A snowHead
|
 Is there any discussion of late offers here? In mid-December I booked a week mid-Jan in the French Alps for a specific station and hotel, but apart from confirming my booking number when I telephoned the company (who shall be nameless at present but is reasonably well-known in UK), I have heard nothing at all from them. Are they all like this? Do they shuffle accomodation around between themselves and only let the client know at the last minute?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
If you've booke a specific location and hotel then that is what you should get, the only people who should be shuffled are those who book AOA or Allocation On Arrivele, if you do not get what you have booked you are entitled to compensation as the holiday would have been sold incorrectly, you could always contact the hotel in resort and see if th etour op has booked you in already, most hotels recieve all but the last second bookings details in advance so they can allocate rooms
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
drachir, Welcome to Snowheads.
Feel free to name and shame - eye-witness information is (partly) what this site's about! 
If it's Crystal or Thomson or the like, then I've consistently found their telephone customer service less than serviceable (I find I usually need to tell them how to do their job....)
Yes, as D G Orf, says, booking specific location/hotels means you get what you ask for.
In practical terms, there are a number of things you "should" be doing.
If you've paid a deposit, you should at least have received a receipt for it. Sometimes your booking number doubles as your proof of deposit.
You should also be paying the holiday price in full before the due date (usually 6 weeks before departure or, if you've booked within 6 weeks of departure, then you would normally have to pay in full).
You should then, usually, receive from the Tour Operator no later than 2 weeks of your departure date the following: a receipt for the full price, together with an itinerary that includes your flight tickets (or flight details if ticketless), transfer details, and accomodation information (including hotel name).
If you haven't received this yet, then chase chase chase the Tour Operator until you do. The least of your worries is that you might be left wondering until arrival in resort as to whether you've got the hotel you thought you'd booked. At worse you might turn up at the airport without the Tour Op having any record of you having paid for the flight!!!!
The name of the game is Chase, Chase, Chase until you get the pieces of paper you need.
NB I dissagree with D G Orf about ringing the hotel. Tour Ops sometimes don't forward to the hotel any information of later bookings until about 14 days before your arrival (coincides their contractual deadline for handing back to the hotel any unsold beds). The hotel is expecting to deal with the Tour Op so your ringing the hotel may simply confuse matters (they may in fact misunderstand the purpose of your call, and book you in as an independent at rack price). Anyway, your Tour Op is obligated to deal with the hotel on your behalf, and to provide you with confirmation of your accomodation booking, so make the Tour Op do the job you're paying them for!
Happy holidays!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Thanks for these replies: I have e-mailed the co. twice with 'Request Read Receipt' tags during the last two weeks (OK it's festive season but...) but still no reply. I have checked on their website (they provided me with ref. and P/W for this purpose when I booked) and the booking is there all right showing paid in full, but still no paperwork nor actual confirmation. I had paid in full when booking since it was within the specified notice period. What is concerning me is that they may not have name details to match passport -- I have told them in the e-mails. I'm getting to the "you might turn up at the airport without the Tour OP. having any record" stage 
9 days to go now before I'm due to depart! Best wishes to all for '05 and here's wishing lots more snow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
Manda, it was the fact that he had less than 2 weeks to go that made me suggest checking with the hotel, however you are right that he should be careful that they do not misunderstand and book him in privately
However Manda is correct keep chasing them until you get the correct paperwork
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
drachir, have fun and I'm glad that they sorted you out eventually
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
drachir, Another SlushNut for BSM/Arcs/Vallandry third week in Jan! Flying Squirell's going to be busy. Goatee and bad haircut's me and more than likely horizontal
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
drachir, Monday 24th 1pm in Flying Squirrels pub near the Vanoise Express terminal in Plan Peisey if you want to say Hello. You wouldn't be female by any chance - we could do with same girls in the gathering.
Short grey beard and probably a Columbia jacket coloured duck-crap green is me (unless I buy a new one). On the other hand it is unique - only got that way in an overheated tumble drier. Fortunately, I'd put the hood in too. Looks a bit like boarder gear. 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| kuwait_ian wrote: |
| drachir, Columbia jacket coloured duck-crap green is me (unless I buy a new one). On the other hand it is unique - only got that way in an overheated tumble drier. Fortunately, I'd put the hood in too. Looks a bit like boarder gear. |
Stick it on Ebay with a 'unique, one off special design' comment and it'll probably go for more than new price.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
paperwork arrived Saturday a.m., 7 days before departure. That's what I call a tight schedule. The company, Rocketski - just so that readers know - has changed my initial for the flight ticket to the correct one, so they must have read my e-mails. What hacks me off is that they couldn't bother to reply. All I need now is lots of snow at Arc. See you on the slopes. 
