Fact - HT has a membership of 49,252 - a small percentage post on a regular basis giving help, advice and information. Some of those people have specialised knowledge of the travel industry, insurance and other items that relate to holidays. Some members actually live in other countries and again use their expertise to assist.

Everyone who posts here on HT has one thing in common. They have taken a holiday abroad and so are aware of what it is like when someone asks about a problem. There are many sites similar to HT and it is a matter of choice which one you frequent. I personally have found those others I have visited lacking the friendly helpful membership here on HT.

I said that a small percentage of members post on a regular basis, and that is the downside. Whilst members try to assist anyone who has a problem, many who ask for help and advice fail to tell us the outcome or having had a successful conclusion because of the advice they have been given cannot bother to try to assist when someone else has a problem.

TOs and travel agents are in the business of selling holidays, just as, for example; your local car dealer who is there to sell cars. Not every car is perfect and neither are holidays. Unfortunately when someone has a problem with a holiday the only contact you have with the TO is by telephone or in writing. You can go into your car dealer and confront them face to face.

Anyone who spends time reading through the various posts will quickly see that all TOs fail badly when it comes to after sales service. There is not one TO who can honestly claim the title for the best - they all fall down at sometime and that is what HT is here for.

People who post for help or advice often claim that what they are told is no help. They do not like the answer that they are sometime given. If those people took time to think rather than complain at the answers given they could save themselves time and money.

Not every problem can be blamed on the TO, agent, airline etc. I remember one complaint was because a plane was diverted when someone was taken ill. They considered it should not have been. They were not happy when it was pointed that it could have been them and were asked how they would have felt if it had been them and their illness had been ignored and their life been put in danger.

Sometimes life is like that. S**t happens.

fwh

The combined help of everyone here means far better info than you'll get from any TA

What a load of twaddle
This is the worst site for impartial advise ever.

Who owns it?

So why do you persist in coming back under your many guises?

luci

The best information on a destination or a particular hotel/apartment surely comes from someone who has been there? I do realise that what is treasure to one person is rubbish to another but if you read all the reviews you can and then make up your own mind on what would suit you.

I use this site (and others) to review where I am going. We now only do diy holidays abroad and have not used a travel agent/tour operator for a number of years. I spend ages looking before booking.

Travel agents can be very good but you should most certainly not leave it entirely to them - you do need to do a little bit of work yourself and be very, very clear in what you do and most importantly do not want.

Pippa

As well as the Gazateer, all TA's have access to Property Information Forms (PIFS) online.
These contain the nitty gritty details about every accom/resort and are completed in resort, at the beginning of every season by the reps who will be working there.

They are excrutiatingly tedious to fill in and the reps hate them. But, they are necessary to ensure that TA's have all the info they need.

Many is the time I have heard that a TA has told a guest that there is a bus service and nightlife to match Agia Napa in a small resort here in Cyprus when there certainly is no such thing. A quick look at the PIF would tell them that.

Louby

So why do you persist in coming back under your many guises?

Because he/she is a Troll.

fwh

Troll!
I love that word. It speaks volumes........

I think it's sad that Laura's thread has been hijacked by 3 posts from 'newbies' who may possibly be the same person.

I've seen this happen on other websites, and as fwh says, it's not normally something that happens on here.

Laura is also a newbie and I hope this digression from the real problem has not put her off.
The last we heard, she is (or was) still waiting to hear back from the TO.

It would be good to know the outcome of this.

Everyone has an opinion of how much value Travel Agents can add to a holiday, maybe on this particular thread we can keep that opinion to ourselves to avoid other 'newbies' popping up to sing the praises of TAs.

Excellent couple of posts fwh - as usual!
I really don't understand people who try to downgrade an excellent forum like HT. They must be really sad.
So many people, including myself, have learnt so much about DIY - and saved thousands of pounds in the process - and long may it continue.
I don't post a lot, but try to do so if I feel that I can be helpful and it is always good to hear the results and any feedback. All best - Jenny x

There's always the one isn't there. Fortunately Laura, most people on here are here to help in any way then can. I would certinly believe people on here who have first hand experience of a resort that TA's who have possibly nefer been to the place. You will get good and bad reviews and it's up to you to make your own mind up in the end. I've found if I ask the right questions (even if there are 20 of them), then I'll get the information I need.

jennyfrank wrote:

I really don't understand people who try to downgrade an excellent forum like HT. They must be really sad.

Prettypollycat wrote:

I think it's sad that Laura's thread has been hijacked by 3 posts from 'newbies' who may possibly be the same person.

Yes, 3 people disagree with comments on here - we MUST be the same person, and obviously none of us have lives..

I simply made a comment that not all agents will tell lies - im sure some will do, but nobody in my branch, nor our local branches would. After all, whats the point?

If i was to tell somebody that Kavos was ideal for an ederly couple during the summer, they would soon find out otherwise - there would then be a customer service issue, which would take time to sort out, along with a ticking off from both manager, customer service team and customers!

Well worth it eh!!

loubychew wrote:

As well as the Gazateer, all TA's have access to Property Information Forms (PIFS) online.

Not too sure what agents you mean, but they certainly dont all have that.

So what is your vested interested gr123? It's always suspicious when someone's first post on the day they joined is in support of the dubious and dishonest practices of some in the travel industry.

So as I suspected, you are in the travel industry and thus do have a vested interest. As long as we know.

Peter

gr123 I would be glad to PM the info so you can see the PIF's for the company I work for.
They are online for ALL agents to see.

Louby

Well I have nothing but praise for this site and haven't used a travel agent for the past 3 holidays and haven't been dissappointed once and I'm about to orgainse my 4th

Yes, 3 people disagree with comments on here - we MUST be the same person, and obviously none of us have lives..

Suspicious though when all three are new members and it being their first post

Just a though but could it be that this poster is getting upset BECAUSE someone with a problem has taken advice from HT and is giving them some grief?

I can see no other reason for them to post in the way they have - particularly as they seem to be trying out several identities.

We are a friendly bunch here - except when we get someone trying to make trouble.

fwh

There is nothing to suggest that the new members are connected.

luci