Secret Escapes - experiences good and bad please

[PissPotPourri]

Hi,
DH is turning 40 in October and I’ve secured sitters so we can take a few days away just us.
I’m looking at all sorts of options but thought it might be worth looking at some Secret Escapes deals seeing as we can go in school term time.
However, acquaintances just had a bad time on a Secret Escapes trip with the hotel still being under construction and therefore being moved to something very substandard and not getting much refund.
The reviews are not bad for the site so I’m thinking it is possible to get a good deal through them… has anyone managed or should I stay away?
Any tips?
Thank you!

sorry i haven't been with them but i have a friend who books every holiday with them and seems happy.

I've done a few spa days / spa weekends and everything has always been perfect.
Sorry your friend had a bad experience, I think it was an isolated incident

I've booked several trips with them.. always UK though.. just read reviews of the hotel to make sure you are happy with it 😊

Thanks for this. I think if I do it, I will brave one of their abroad packages with flights included. Just seems really easy for a short break

let us know how you get on please

Research out of Secret Escapes rather than just the information given.

Sometimes hotels are cheaper because the hotel is newly opened and you are the first guests, they want to fill the hotel quickly, but not all staff are fully trained, not all facilities fully open.

Sometimes, the hotels advertised on SE have poor trip advisor reviews too, for all sorts of other reasons. I wonder if by selling ‘cheap’ they can change the reviews and perception of the hotel.

Can be some great bargains as long as you know what you are going to.

We've done a few trips including a tour of Vietnam and Cambodia. Although advertised through SE it was actually through a separate travel agent and we liaised directly with them to upgrade our flights and add on an extra night. All ent smoothly. Obviously for the bargain package deal the rooms we had were the cheaper ones in the hotels, but the whole experience was very good.

Sometimes they have deals for hotels we've already been to and liked, e.g. the Cliff Bay in Madeira. We have also done some London hotels when on a good deal.

Voyage Prive do similar deals and are worth a look.

Booked a trip to Lapland with Secret Escapes in December with our 2 young kids for trip of a lifetime. did the 2 part payment, but missed the 2nd payment date by day and half due to mix up on dates and emails going to my spam. Immediately called as soon as I realised. After them emailing to say they can re-instate the booking and after many calls over the past days. i've now received another email to say they cant instate the booking due to flights being cancelled. This is a holiday booking company who cant rebook flights...really!??

No idea if we can take kids away to see santa now

And I have no idea what's going to happen with my £1600 initial payment

Update: called and managed to speak with someone...they're keeping the majority of the first instalment (around £1000)!!