Hays travel or Love holidays 2021 booking

[Bebbanburger]

We are starting to look at holidays for May 2021. Not sure if it is a good idea but I was worrying that if we waited the prices might go up and i like to be in advance to spread the cost. We don't usually book packages but with everything that has happened this year we thought a package deal might give us more protection. I have found the exact same holiday with Love Holidays for £1800 that Hays have quoted us at £2400. I wanted to use Hays because they seem really nice when they're on the TV and they have been rated highly on Martin Lewis for how they've helped customers with the current crisis, but it seems like a huge amount more to spend. Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts on either company? An added bit of jeopardy is that the flights are with Ryanair, this makes me.think that we need a good agent in case anything goes wrong there. Any advice would be gratefully received. We are probably crazy for thinking about booking at the moment aren't we?

I work for a Tour Operator and you're not crazy (I've just booked myself a week in Majorca for THIS July, although I can cancel it) but I would definitely 100% recommend booking a package with an ATOL operator. We sell both packages and flights, and our clients with packages have just had to sit back and wait while I've fought their corner for airline and hotel refunds, those that have booked everything separately are struggling with all sorts of issues.

I don't just say the above because I'm in the trade; most often I do all my own bookings separately too, but certainly in this climate I wouldn't.

Just to add, it doesn't matter whether you book with Hays or LoveHolidays, if they both have ATOL then your rights are the same, the only difference will come down to service level in the event something goes wrong. If the £600 difference is worth you maybe having to wait longer for a refund if you need one, then take the cheaper option.

I booked what I thought was a package deal with Love Holidays, but the flight was with Ryanair. I apparently have to go direct to Ryanair for a refund (flight was March and they are still not doing refunds despite my requesting on) and have only got a voucher back from Love Holidays. But I have travelled with them in the past and have been happy with them, so probably will use the voucher to travel next year (but book my flight seperately as will have more control over it then, but still the same rights).

I’d book with Hays you would be booking a package rather than separately like
love holidays do. I’d pay the extra.

We normally always book things separately to get a good deal and save money, next year we haven’t. Weve paid more to book with Jet 2. They also offer a low deposit and balance not due till 10 weeks before travel. Jsut in case!!

My apologies having read the above, I had a quick glance at Love Holidays before my original post and saw they were ATOL protected so can't fathom why they're sending people to get their own flight refunds and giving vouchers? They're breaking their ATOL and ABTA terms all over the shop in that case!

Yes, I paid for it all together with one payment, I can't understand why I need to go directly to Ryanair - surely my contract is with Love Holidays?

(Sorry to derail your thread OP)

I enjoy going to Disney - and am involved in lots of Facebook chat groups....

Boy in this crisis am I glad I book direct - those that have are in far far better situation than those with packages. Virgin, Tui, Hayes, Ocean and others are withholding refunds and basically stalling. I've had far better with separate bookings direct.

I wouldn't assume package=better.... In the cases I've seen the pros are to spread out the payments and "it's all done in one go". Con's are lack of cancellability, terrible customer service and the fact it's more expensive than booking separately.

Thanks all for your thoughts.You are not.derailing at all Liz.. This is the sort of stuff I need to know. I thought it would be a package too. I'm.considering an Easyjet package holiday now. I'm all over the place with it. Loveholidays are incredibly cheap it has to be said.

I went away with Love Holidays last year, was all fine. It's s bit like expedia where they out together hotels and flights but they don't have their own airline and don't seen to block book hotels like the big tour operators.

Our flight was with Ryanair and we had a huge delay. Got compensation from them pretty quickly but yes I did go to Ryanair rather than Love Holidays for the compensation.

No transfer either so I booked this separately but it was fine.

@Bakeachocolatecaketoday

I enjoy going to Disney - and am involved in lots of Facebook chat groups....

Boy in this crisis am I glad I book direct - those that have are in far far better situation than those with packages. Virgin, Tui, Hayes, Ocean and others are withholding refunds and basically stalling. I've had far better with separate bookings direct.

I wouldn't assume package=better.... In the cases I've seen the pros are to spread out the payments and "it's all done in one go". Con's are lack of cancellability, terrible customer service and the fact it's more expensive than booking separately.

The problems arise when only part of your holiday is cancelled though. I have clients who have booked just flights with me whose £4000 hotel is open for business, but our borders are still closed so they can't get there. The hotel is well within their rights to say 'sorry, not our fault you can't get here'.

I also have a family whose hotel is closed for the whole summer. The hotel will only give them credit for next year but since our flights are going to be operating they will lose all their money if they cancel them, because we'll have to pay for their seats.

Lots of other examples where we've refunded in full but villas/hotels/car hires etc etc aren't doing the same. If they're not bonded they don't have to offer a cash refund. Fine if you plan to go away next year, but some people are desperately in need of the cash now.

You need to read their terms and conditions

Love holidays act as an agent and nothing more, your contract is therefore with the airline and hotel directly.

See if Hays will match the lower price.

But also check that you're comparing like for like - does the lower price include all taxes, fuel surcharge, exact same category of room, same board basis, same time flight, transfer, etc.

I've never used Love Holidays, and that does seem like a big difference BUT, Hays Travel have been superb in communicating with us and refunding the full cost of our holiday, before we were due to travel, without the slightest quibble this year.
I would definitely recommend them , but obviously don't know how much that difference in price means to you vs that security blanket.

DO NOT BOOK WITH LOVEHOLIDAYS....they are awful. Check out trust pilot, all the fake 5 reviews and all the real 1 reviews.
Look on facebook groups such as Love holiday refund or screwed by Loveholidays. Check out Twitter.
They have stopped customers being able to contact via telephone, their live chat is impossible to get on and they do not respond to emails or messages.
They are breaking the law by trying to move the goals posts, they have changed their t&c's, they lie to customers, keep monies that have been refunded to them via the airlines and deny it.
Honestly please do not use them. There is a reason they are cheap.
I just hope they go bust so I will get my money back!