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WARNING: LoveHolidays, left hotel-less and on the streets at midnight

6 replies

BugBugTheTornado · 20/08/2024 13:28

Just wanted to pop a warning post up for anyone looking to book a break with LoveHolidays.

I have just got back from 3 days in Greece (flew out to surprise a parent on their birthday, they were there for a week)m in a location they travel to often and I've been to many times). I'm more than happy travelling alone, husband and kids left at home.

Booked flight and hotel package through LoveHolidays. EasyJet flight, which was simple, and a local hotel that we've used before.

Late flight out Friday evening, turn up at my hotel at 11pm on Friday night to find that despite my money being taken, no booking had been made.

Considering it's mid-August in a high tourist area of Greece, there was no room at the inn... and I was ushered out into the street at 11.30pm on my own, with no hotel, and £650 down.

I ended up on a sun lounger cushion on my dad's hotel room floor. I'm so lucky that they were there, plenty of people wouldn't have had their family just across the road! It ruined the surprise for his 70th, but I was safe and had somewhere to lay my head (calling it a bed would be a stretch).

Their hotel (which family are regulars at) sorted me out with staff accommodation for the remaining two nights, unsurprisingly their actual rooms were also full.

Spoke to LH complaints line the following morning. The SECOND option on their automated get-through-to-someone thing is 'have you arrived at your accommodation and found it hasn't been booked?' So seems this isn't an unusual thing.

I was super lucky to have my family there, and it only be me travelling. If I'd had my husband and children with me, we'd have been in trouble (teens and toddlers aren't super easy to accommodate!)

So, just a warning to all, LH talk the talk and the prices are comparable - but clearly it's not a safe bet if you actually want to rely on the VITAL components of a holiday!

(I have since got the refund for the hotels, so that's something!)

OP posts:
Harvesthome · 20/08/2024 13:34

I had an almost identical experience with Travel Republic and have only ever booked package holidays since.

BrigadierEtienneGerard · 20/08/2024 13:43

Booking direct with the hotel is the only safe way IME.

rosydreams · 20/08/2024 13:49

i guess in future ring hotel and check booking before flight ,i used love holidays before it was fine.But i will air on the side of caution in future

BugBugTheTornado · 21/08/2024 10:49

It was an unexpected glitch... you just don't expect it do you?

It has reinforced the need to pack nightwear for EVERY trip too, had to sleep in my travelling clothes and was a sweaty, grumpy mess in the morning lol

OP posts:
CeeJay81 · 21/08/2024 11:03

Love Holidays aren't proper tour operators. They book the holiday components separately, so at least if you do it yourself, yiu kmow its done properly, rather than with them. Tui and Jet 2 are the only tour operators I go with. They have reps in the resorts and wouldn't leave you in the lurch like that. They are properly abta covered for a package holiday.

Harvesthome · 21/08/2024 11:07

CeeJay81 · 21/08/2024 11:03

Love Holidays aren't proper tour operators. They book the holiday components separately, so at least if you do it yourself, yiu kmow its done properly, rather than with them. Tui and Jet 2 are the only tour operators I go with. They have reps in the resorts and wouldn't leave you in the lurch like that. They are properly abta covered for a package holiday.

That’s exactly what I do - Jet2, TUI or Thomas Cook.

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