Crystal Ski.....Problem Solved.

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Bode Swiller, I'd rather do that than have to deal with Crystal Customer Services (again)

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Shimmy Alcott, must feel roughly the same though eh?

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Bode Swiller, Laughing

in theory, yes; in practice...at least I'd have a slight chance of satisfaction from my engagement with the stool.

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Snapzzzisnotaliar, so you're happy now?

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Snapzzz - glad crystals have been in touch and I hope you get something sorted out, must admit I was surprised by your willingness to perserver with them even when there are plenty of other operators out there, but your tactics seem to have worked! Very Happy

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Sack the Juggler, Thanks, Yes there are other operators out there and i can indeed take my business elsewhere but i haven't as of yet and that seems to puzzle some members but i will explain why at some point.

But what i will say now, on a positive note, is that Crystal have been brilliant on all the other holidays i have had with them, i can't fault them one bit. It is just this one that has gone wrong. And as such i really would like to travel with them again if i can find a way to reach a suitable conclusion here.
I know some people think that once you have been let down you shouldn't offer second chances but i personally think that that is a bit harsh. Everybody makes mistakes but its how we deal with them that counts. Don't you think?

After all it is free

My last trip with crystal was in Feb 2011 and I had a great time and would definitely book with them again.

http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?p=1718037

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maggi,

It's only recently I've stopped using TOs, not because I've really been disappointed by any of them, but more that I've realised that I can save myself a small fortune by not using them.

Next year I've booked a DIY in Austria, 4* half board hotel for the family flying BA to Innsbruck, nearly £2000 cheaper that Inghams were offering the same holiday.

We get a small loyalty discount from the hotel as we are repeat offenders, and an early booking one as well, but that only adds up to 7% of the hotel costs. OK I have to get to Gatwick instead of Bristol, but because of the civilised BA flight times I think I can probably still leave home later that I would if going down the road to Bristol!

I’ve done :
• Crystal – not that impressed, but nothing to really complain about
• Inghams - one of the better in my experience, but again I wouldn’t shout their praises
• Neilson – probably between the first two somewhere, Thomson the same
• We did do Kuoni one year – as I remember it they were OK as well

As I see it, the only real advantage of a TO trip is that the transfers should be sorted and reasonably priced (some DIY options seem extortionate). The last TO trip I did the coach had to wait for the next two flights into Innsbruck to land before it could leave. As one of them was delayed on the way in, that led to a delay of about two hours between collecting our luggage and leaving the airport. Obviously also an unnecessarily early departure for many on the way back due to the one coach serving three flights.

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musher, we do both TO and DIY. TO tends to be late deals in early Jan or late March (not Easter) and they have some very good prices if you are on the ball on the net (so to speak Laughing

), are a couple and not too fussy about location. Also, they fly from regional airports. Since Easyjet pulled out of EMA and now so have BMIbaby, DIY is less of an attraction. For the snowHeads Arabba bash we are having to go from Gatwick which is a pain. There's nothing from up north to Venice without changing planes.

Like you said, sometimes you have to wait ages for transfers with TOs on the way there. OTOH, on the way back, if the transfer is late, at least the plane will wait! Swings and roundabouts ...

You know it makes sense.

maggi, Jet2 are now doing EMA/GVA with a v.good luggage allowance.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

maggi, Jet2 are now doing EMA/GVA with a v.good luggage allowance Cool

A snowHead

Having seen the choas Jet2 passengers were in at Chambery last year I was stood in the Crystal queue for Bristol thinking how lucky I was. Lots of grumbling about never flying Jet2 ever again.

A snowHead

[quote="maggi" For the snowHeads Arabba bash we are having to go from Gatwick which is a pain. There's nothing from up north to Venice without changing planes.[/quote]

Monarch fly direct from Birmingham, Much easier than the remote Gatwick.

See Sky Scanner.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

spyderjon, thanks, that's good to know.

Chris Wood741, yes, I saw that. But they were more than twice the price of the (then £75ish) BA flights. If I were going alone I would have coughed up but as OH is going too, it was much more economical to drive to Gatwick. Have you booked Monarch? I can't see your travel details on the list.

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Guys,

As a follow up i am pleased to say that my unfortunate situation has now been resolved to our satisfaction.
Crystal Ski have managed to find a suitable 2 bedroom apartment for us which is great news as our holiday is now back on track.

No other compensation was asked for again or received.

I would like to point out one thing before i sign this thread off and that is why i was reluctant to cancel my booking and take my business elsewhere as suggested by many members. This is simple. Cost.
Crystal have always been my first choice in TO because they do offer value for money and they fit my requirements 100%. We tend to Ski self catering and rely very little on the reps/child care and all other in resort services. We need flights, transfers and a half decent apartment and we have always found Crystal offer this cheaper than others.
When i booked it was early doors and there were great offers to be had that have now gone with most other TOs and we also had 2-4-1 on ski hire.
Sure i could have just waited until Dec and tried to grab a cheap deal but having a family means we are tied to certain weeks and we need to plan ahead with some certainty.

So i would to take this opportunity to thank Crystal for their help and say that unless something drastic happens we will continue to book with them in future. Although i am not sure that they would want us Embarassed

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Good news, Snapzzz.

I believe you should always support a business that tries its hardest to keep you happy. If they don't, then go elsewhere and find someone who appreciates your money.

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Snapzzz, Good to hear that Crystal have now resolved your problem satisfactorily, kudos to Simon Cross for getting involved. In fairness to Crystal perhaps you might care to edit the thread title to something like "Crystal Ski...problem, but now resolved"

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

Snapzzz, If you edit your first post (use the scissors icon) the thread title is displayed (as well as your original text) and the title can be edited.

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But, retrospectively changing the original thread heading makes it difficult for someone browsing later to understand a large proportion of the posts! They must think why would someone be so angry about something that is resolved?

Should all of the normal early December threads titled 'where is the snow?' be subsequently changed to 'here is the snow!' in about mid-December?

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Maybe the thread title should now read "Currently: Arguement about thread titles" Razz

rogg,

You know it makes sense.

Help!!

Crystal Ski.....Problem Solved.

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