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dolly
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18-02-2005 04:54 PM
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Joined: 21 Sep 2004
Posts: 44
My Profile
| We have never been to a welcome meeting as we like to keep away from the reps as much as possible. They are usually only trying to sell you expensive excursions anyway. Has anyone ever benefitted from a welcome meeting or are you of the same opinion as me waste of time. I would rather ask a local
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Mal 54
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18-02-2005 09:42 PM
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Joined: 20 Aug 2004
Posts: 1690
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| Our main holiday in the summer is booked by us independantly, having done this for the last 10 years. So, we don't have anything to do with the reps. Our winter holiday is a package, and yes the reps are a waste of time, they are only interested in selling you trips, and if you don't book any trips, then say goodbye, to any other information you may need! Locals are the best reps. plus other holiday makers. We dont do welcome meetings!
Some years ago we had the experience of a rep telling us the wrong information, we booked with Lunn Poly, Our son was rushed into hospital the second day of our 2 week holiday, and had to have surgery, they let him out the next day, but we had to take him back to the clinic every day, even the day of departure for his dressing to be changed. The rep. met us at the clinic and told us if we had a taxi every day keep the receipts and send them with the forms to the insurance, insurance was with Lunn Poly taxi fares for 14 days came to over £100. After we arrived home I sent off all the information to the insurance people plus receipts, only to have a letter back telling us that the insurance does not cover taxi fares! I phoned the London office and they told me the same! I went into Lunn Poly in our town, they said it was nothing to do with them. It would be nice if holiday Reps. New what was what, £100 was a big chunk out of our holiday money then. We were lucky, the receptionist at the hotel phoned for the taxi every day, and didnt bill us for the phone call, otherwise we would have had that to pay as well. Holiday reps. need to learn more than just selling trips. Sorry, but they really do get up my nose.
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Blue Crane Aparthotel, Limassol (10/10)
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CarolG
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19-02-2005 10:18 AM
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Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 864
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| Glad to see this subject brought up! Checking to see if this posts as I wrote a long reply and it didnt post. Checking!
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My Latest Review: Oct 2006 Sultan's Inn Hotel, Istanbul (8/10)
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CarolG
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19-02-2005 10:29 AM
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Joined: 05 Jan 2005
Posts: 864
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| Yes now working. Good!
Our local travel agency in Icmeler, Turkey has a problem with representatives from package holiday companies giving wrong information with regard to insurance.
In order to sell their inflated tours, they tell guests that on no account should they book with local travel agencies as they are all illegal, bucket shops, unprofessional and dont have any insurance. They also tell guests that their holiday insurance will not cover them for ANY tours unless they are booked through them. This is absolute rubbish!!
Firstly, travel agencies must be registered with the Country's travel association. For example in Turkey the association is called Tursab and all travel agencies are governed by the rules of Tursab, equivalent in UK is Abta. Holiday insurance covers you for whatever you wish to do on holiday with certain exclusions, such as Extreme Sports and Dangerous tours. Diving, White Water Rafting, Parasailing extra are classed as Extreme Sports. If you decide to do any of the above extra can be paid to your premium to cover you for dangerous sports. This can be done before you leave the UK or it can be added to your policy in the resort by telephoning and upgrading. Alternatively check with the travel agency you are making your booking with that extra insurance cover is included in the price.
Always book your tours through a travel agency and not through a restaurant waiter, someone on the beach or a hotel worker, who happens to have 'a brother who owns a boat'!! You will have no comeback if anything goes wrong with the tour if you book in this way, not to mention that it will probably not be a registered tour. Listen to other tourists who have experience of the area or have been on tours with a local agent. Word of mouth is the best information you will get.
REMEBER DONT BE CONNED BY THESE REPRESENTATIVES. Please note it is not the travel company giving out this false information but the some representatives in the resorts, not all representatives.
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My Latest Review: Oct 2006 Sultan's Inn Hotel, Istanbul (8/10)
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kimbo
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19-02-2005 09:02 PM
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Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 44
My Profile
| i actually agree with u on this one dolly
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dolly
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21-02-2005 11:05 AM
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Joined: 21 Sep 2004
Posts: 44
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| dont bother you are very rude
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PARTON
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21-02-2005 01:09 PM
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Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 13
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| They usually tell you some useful info like kids club times and what activities are available,but i dont usually turn up to them as i prefer my children to stay where i can see them or at least hear them.
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HW Bex
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21-02-2005 09:02 PM
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Joined: 03 Feb 2005
Posts: 1879
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| erm...I go to these things...only to get a look at the rep so I can find her/him for my complaint if I have one.Although I did meet a nice one who was more than interested in my point about certain other international guests slipping the bar staff a couple of euros to be served before me... not that I didn't get my point across to the poor soul who I caught doing it!!! Language barrier or not I think he got my point.The British reserve was not with me that day! :explosiv:
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My Latest Review: May 2008 Express By Holiday Inn Derby Pride Park, Derby (8/10)
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kimbo
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23-02-2005 11:03 AM
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Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 44
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| im not rude, im just very direct, there is a big difference :D
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Pink
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23-02-2005 05:01 PM
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Joined: 01 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
| In Tunisia last year I booked all my excursions through the Reps.
I think Tunisia is one of the only places where you can do this, there is no difference in price and all the Reps were lovely.
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DollyDayDream
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24-02-2005 11:30 AM
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Joined: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
| Kimbo,
just for the record, you dont come across as rude to me :)
I prefer direct, straight talking people, who have something useul to say... its the one's who rant, rave and whinge about trivialities ( cant put what i really wanna say or it will get edited AGAIN ;) )...
travellers who do not take advantage of any local knowledge from any source are just fools to themselves.
I'd rather spend twenty minutes listening to a rep than getting into difficulty at a later date. (although its about 15yrs since i have holidayed where a rep's involved).
Ah well, live life, make love not war ;) :cool:
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kimbo
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24-02-2005 11:33 AM
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Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 44
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| thank uou very much dollydaydream (u got to give respect to earn respect) i can be polite if ppl dont take me as they find me then i dont care :D
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kimbo
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24-02-2005 11:34 AM
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Joined: 17 Apr 2004
Posts: 44
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| oops spelling error then but i can spell you ;)
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Andrea
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17-03-2005 11:30 AM
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Joined: 06 May 2004
Posts: 24
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| I ususally go to the reps meetings as most of the time there is something useful to be heard. Never book trips with them though prices tend to be overinflated. Although did last year in Algarve only cos the price was same as agents on the main street. Plus you can sometimes get quite good reps which again we had in the Algarve, no question to big small or stupid. But again you can have one who you never see anyway, had them too. So I basically go to be nosey.
Andrea
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My Latest Review: Sep 2006 Mitos Apartments, Icmeler (10/10)
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Airtours
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01-04-2005 06:12 PM
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Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 2
| Hi there :D ,
I think it depends sometimes on the Rep. Sometimes Reps are very helpful and informative, and are happy to sell excursions, but other times, the Reps are only really interested if you are booking or asking for information on an excursion.
Cheers, Ryan
Airtours :flag198:
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Sydney
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07-04-2005 03:34 PM
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
Posts: 334
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| I feel that welcome meetings eat into my holiday I know it may only be an hour but that is precious time I have paid for. Instead a little booklet popped under my door would be better where to go what to see etc..
But of course that would never happen as the reps have too many excursions to sell. you get a sheet in you property with the excursions on so really if you were interested you would book there and then. If you were given a brochure on say Portinax-Ibiza then a list of excursions then if you are interested you can pop into the reps office leave a note etc of what you wanted to go on. instead of being made to go to a place you dont want to go to a a time that does not suit you and listen to someone droaning on about excursions that you could get cheaper locally anyway. :thumleft:
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My Latest Review: May 2005 Ajuda Madeira Hotel, Funchal (6/10)
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Rooose
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17-12-2007 01:42 PM
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Joined: 17 Dec 2007
Posts: 1
| i am currently at somerset college now studying travel services,& when i pass i would like to be a holiday rep..
i personally think you are very rude as holiday reps are there to look after there customers not just to sell excursions..
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turkey babe
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17-12-2007 04:33 PM
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Joined: 29 Jul 2007
Posts: 91
My Profile
| Hi all
I worked for Thomson as a holiday rep a few years ago, I only worked one season as I was in a very quiet resort and it didnt suit me.
As a rep you are targeted on your sales more than anything else so unfortunately some reps can be a bit pushy. I think this is down to the training they receive and the fact that if you dont sell many excursions you a) dont receive any commission to bump up your paltry wage and b) will prob get called into a meeting to discuss your fututre with the company.
I had one weeks training in the uk and 2 weeks in resort and most of this was sales based. with a little bit of customer care thrown in!!
I agree that reps should be there to look after customers needs and provide information and be helpful, courteous and polite but they also need to hit targets their managers give them, work very long hours for little money or worry about not having their contract renewed for the next season.
Welcome meetings were the worst part of the job for me as you could tell when people weren't interested in what you're saying. Imagine standing up there in front of 50+ people trying to give background on the resort but knowing that you are really being marked on your sales skills, you dont want to come across as pushy but sometimes you cant help it, especially if the resort manager is sat there listening!!
Please try not to be too hard on the reps, they're only doing what they're told. If they;re rude and unhelpful I dont blame you for your comments but most will just be trying to do their job the way they were trained :-)
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My Latest Review: May 2008 Club Orient Apartments, Marmaris (10/10)
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iaintwoeyes
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17-12-2007 07:50 PM
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Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2318
My Profile
| Rooose...there are good reps out there as well!!
However, when opinions are made public, they are usually due to bad experiences.
Personally, the rep that dealt with myself in Egypt two years ago was awful. He was only interested in himself and couldn't give a stuff about his guests. He was even a really bad salesman and so no one that I knew actually bought any trips from him.
On the other hand a caring rep that really goes that extra mile will not only make lots of money but chances are they may get tips as well!!
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My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
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