In Reply to: Cost / Koris posted by anmajojo on Tuesday, 29. March 2005 at 04:33 Bali Time:
www.holidaysonsale.com.au did not recommended the hotel to me at all. My first enquiry/ request lasted for 2 minutes. After " hello" I said "I want a package for 3-4 days only and I can leave now until 13 or 14 March, coming back by 27 March. I just want any cheap one. Can you do it? " She asked me which hotel ? So I said "Bakung's" because it was on their website. I saw the hotel on the Qantas Airways travel booklet as well. I thought it could not be that bad. I trusted Qantas more than an individual agent.
When I went thorugh other agencies, some of them told me they had some hotels and airfares for instant confirmation. So they could issue me tickets at their office. So I thought choosing Bakuing's Beach ( on their website) would make things easier.
One agency offered me tickets from Air Royal Brunei for $700+ taxes but it would take me one day and half to get to Bali. ( sleep and actual flight). They thought this was a very good idea.
The week before my departure, I went to other travel agents mentioned and got all brochures and quotes etc. I wanted to leave Sydney by Monday 14 March latest, and came back by Sunday 27 March to have a long holiday ( rather than 5 night holiday).
The reasons for my recommendation were as follows:
1. All the travel agents I spoke to told me it was too late to get a package. They told me this on 9 and 10 March. They gave me two choices : pay $1300+taxes for airfare pp. or fly out on 16 March onwards
2. www. holidaysonsale.com.au did what I asked. Karen still advised me that the 4 day package was more expensive than 13 days' one. She was realistic and looked after me the best way she could under the circumstances. Shed did not have to mentioned it and I sounded very desperate.
We did not have any time to change our mind on hotels because Friday 11 March was a New Year day in Bali and the wholesaler could not get confirmation from any hotels in Bali on Friday.
3. Karen came into the office on Saturday around 2o'clock( I think) and waited for the confirmation until 4:30pm. After confirmation, She went home and waited for e-ticket.
She emailed me the e-ticket around 5:30pm. Sometimes when you go into office for just 2-3 hours, you lose the whole day.
4. She was able to do this but this was too hard for all the other agencies mentioned. They did not have time to physically delivered the tickets and hotel voucher to me. They all said it would take 3 days.
5. I mentioned e tickets to other agents but somehow they said it was not available for my package.
I am not saying www, holidaysonsale.com.au is the best travel agency in Sydney. The other agencies would be ok or may even offer better package deals under the normal circumstances.
I think Karen did very well with more like 8 hour notice with a New year day. She provided excellent service. Without her, my holiday would have been much shorter or expensive ( at least $600 for 2). The package was $1080 pp (including taxes, transfer and breakfast). I would have paid at least $1200 for airfare only. So I got the hotel for free and $200 for 2.
Th hotel choice was mine and I should not have stayed at the hotel for that long.