Booking online with Thomson

[stevedeccaman]

Times may be changing,however I always search for a Thomson Cruise or land holiday online. When we get the best price my beloved always goes into Thomson shop, showing the internet price. They always match it or even better.Alas today she went into ye Thomson shop and they said it would be extra £20 for two to match the price online ? The lady said this is company policy since May 2013

not bothered will do online, but for peeps who are not into computers ? :p

 

Yours Stevie confused .com :confused:

 

they do keep increasing things (or reducing) safes,drinks on AI extra

next will be a charge for chocs on ye pillow:cool:

 

Stevie

[gillhalfpint]

We booked a cruise with one TA who charged us £20 to match it. Went to a different TA for our May 14 cruise when the brochure came out in April, and they matched the internet price without charging extra.

 

Trouble is, so many places to shop around, but I would try a different TA as they all want the business!

[geomagot]

My strategy has several prongs and has gotton quite complicated over the last couple of years, however...its fresh inmy mind as I have been thru this a few times today already

 

I will start by saying it does take some time and effort...if you have the time, it is worth taking some time over

 

i track the price online....sometimes for weeks.....I make a notes on the (fluctuating) cost of the most basic of cabins over several departure dates (deck 4/5 inside on dream) and I note the price of each cabin upgrade plus any specials ai/obc and factor all that in

 

I checkout prices for any travelable to airports (sometimes its worth the cost of a train journey and an overnight in an airport hotel)

 

ie....anyone in manchester at the moment thinking of booking the dream for christmas & n/y....you can save a grand by travelling down to gatwick (checkitout)

 

that gives me my benchmark

 

when I think (that the price is not going to drop any further) I start making calls ....I know the online prices....so a few ta's get crossed of the list quite quickly....I then play those remaining off against each other....the goal being to get some upgrades thrown in free/cheap or cheaper than the online cost

 

if I have missed the deadline for ai specials or obc I factor that into the current online price (actually....often ends up the same or cheaper anyway)

 

if none of them are giving anything away...I simply book online (with thoms)....to start I book the most basic available and add on upgrades later

 

I will say that cabin upgrades rarely change in price but flight upgrades (long haul) do, so i track them and if they come down I get on the phone direct to thoms and bag one

 

no upgrade needs to be booked at time of booking....better to wait and mull it over...but watch the availability

 

I will also add that when I am travelling with family and require 2 cabins....I book each cabin separately the cost ends up the same....that enables me to be flexible with upgrades....and its also a useful bargaining chip

 

couple of rules of thumb....I never book at weekends...I never book directly after new year…if a particular itinerary is looking popular (as evidenced by the availability) you have to jump in regardless or risk being disappointed….same if you need a 3 or 4 berth cabin or extra legroom on aircraft

 

I never plan on bagging a last minute bargain....I have had some nice last minute bargains but only because they were a genuine last minute decision

 

most of my cruises are planned as I like to cruise at the same times of year

 

thoms have a best price website, for shareholders only....but if you have a friend that can look thatup for you???;);)

 

hope this helps

[kalos]

Just rang two of our local Thomson shops up Stevie

 

and they both say the same .............

 

"it's now £10 per person on the booking for them to match it"

 

One said .."it's down to peeps on the Internet who book, make a mistake and then expect the shops to put things right.

Just because were a Thomson shop and they book a Thomson holiday,they think we should put it right.

We are trying to make a living by selling holidays not putting faults in bookings right that they have done."

Which to me is fair comment really . How many come on this site and and ask about an internet booking and then we say.....

"Nip into yer local Tom's shop they will sort it for you ."

 

Having said all that .I have always lifted my holiday off the net and then taken it to the shop and all they have done is put it

into their system and taken my money. Never had a problem doing my last few on the net either.

Will just have to triple check everything is in order before I click "buy" and if in any doubt e-mail Thomson -cares first for advice .

Finally ,should push come to shove ..cough up £20 for me and the Mrs and go to local tommy travels up road :( Oh Well ! :rolleyes:

[kruzseeka]

Very good advice geo especially for those who are fairly new to the mysteries of cruise pricing- it's a comprehensive guide to checking out the best prices taking into account the 'add-ons' which can make a big difference to the over-all cost. As you say, it takes a bit of commitment but I'm sure you reap the rewards of getting the best deal for you whenever you choose to book.

[Sheila49]

I have found that local independent TAs will always beat the Thomsons price. Used to be by quite a bit but much less last couple of years. This year I think it was about £40 (can't find the paperwork!) but the first time I tried phoning round in 2009 the local TA took £400 off Ocean Village's online price!

[davetrucker]

I just think Thomson are just trying to get every pound they can out of us.They do not seem to care about loyal customers

[charlottemorg]

Was joking with Mum whilst we were on our cruise that they might start letting you have a reserved sunbed for a charge!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Was joking with Mum whilst we were on our cruise that they might start letting you have a reserved sunbed for a charge!!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

:eek::eek: Don't put ideas in their head :D

[thomsonfirsttimer]

;) We generally found as recently as 8 weeks ago that local Thomson TAs have their district targets to meet and if they really want the business they will match the online price at no extra charge.

[Grez]

As far as I am aware the £20 to price match has been in operation for a while, but it is discretionary. At the end of the day, as thomsonfirsttimer says, if they want your business they will not charge you. If they don't want your business there will be plenty that do.

[WeeCountyMan]

As far as I am aware the £20 to price match has been in operation for a while, but it is discretionary. At the end of the day, as thomsonfirsttimer says, if they want your business they will not charge you. If they don't want your business there will be plenty that do.

 

Correct - if you say No Thanks to the "discretionary" £20 charge and walk away the shop will soon change their attitude.

 

Incidentally, I've found that Cruise Deals will match Thomsons online deals and are sometimes cheaper. If I take the better of the two prices quoted to out local TA they will price match.

Edited August 13, 2013 by WeeCountyMan

[CRUISIN LINDA]

Last year we went to book a cruise at our local Thomson TA armed with our quote from their website. The girl quoted me £20 more and said it was an admin fee or something like that. DH said OK (if I had been on my own, I would have said no thanks, I'll book it on line) then another girl came over and said the first girl was wanted on the phone. She then took over our booking and said that it would be the same price as the internet and implied that the first girl had already done this :rolleyes: So we snapped it up before the other girl came back :D:D

 

BTW why do people go in to the TA to sort out their on-line mistakes? After I had booked our week in Majorca, I noticed that I had made a mistake with the email address and couldn't see how to change it, so phoned next day and got it changed and then received the confirmation email.

 

I have once, paid my balance at the TA, but they said it was OK to do it.

 

I have tried to use the TA, because as the saying goes, Use it or Lose it, but TBH, they are not very knowledgeable, especially about cruises, as we all know. When we first went abroad about 20 years ago, you could go in to the TA, not knowing where you wanted to go and they would be able to advise you, but no more :(

[Malch_uk]

Don't forget to check with the specialist Cruise booking firms when pricing up a cruise. They can beat the Thomson web price and still give you a Travel Agent service for things such as booking cabins and arranging coach travel/car parking included with ex UK cruises.

Edited August 13, 2013 by Malch_uk

[geomagot]

so guys...I'm booked on dream (thumbup)

 

after all that work i've booked direct online....none of the ta's (i spoke to) were really playing ball much...(probably because I always book basic and then add on later....unless they offer me an upgrade cheap...which they didnt?)

 

it is interesting that thoms shops will match the online price for a £20 fee (allegedly because...online bookers are coming into the shops to have various errors sorted?)

 

surely this should be the other way around? why should those that book in store have to pay for the online bookers errors?

 

I've triple checked everything....I hope:confused:

 

they should make the in store booking £20 cheaper than online in the first place....so that if you do book online and need some error sorted you have already contributed the fee to cover the shops costs? (probably wouldn’t look good for thoms online presence?....but you would have thought that thoms would want people to use their shops?)

 

anyway...I'm a happy bunny....I can relax now (apart from the relentless counting of the days/hours/minutes):(:);)

[Grez]

so guys...I'm booked on dream (thumbup)

 

after all that work i've booked direct online....none of the ta's (i spoke to) were really playing ball much...(probably because I always book basic and then add on later....unless they offer me an upgrade cheap...which they didnt?)

 

it is interesting that thoms shops will match the online price for a £20 fee (allegedly because...online bookers are coming into the shops to have various errors sorted?)

 

surely this should be the other way around? why should those that book in store have to pay for the online bookers errors?

 

I've triple checked everything....I hope:confused:

 

they should make the in store booking £20 cheaper than online in the first place....so that if you do book online and need some error sorted you have already contributed the fee to cover the shops costs? (probably wouldn’t look good for thoms online presence?....but you would have thought that thoms would want people to use their shops?)

 

anyway...I'm a happy bunny....I can relax now (apart from the relentless counting of the days/hours/minutes):(:);)

I know Geo, I can't understand it either. Especially when stores usually refuse to rectify mistakes that online bookers make (due to their 'systems' not recognising the booking made online), and in addition Thomson charge £50 to amend bookings anyway?

 

Also, what sort of shopkeeper turns away footfall? You would think they would be glad that anybody who had an issue came into their store. Firstly they could win customers by offering excellent customer service, which would make people think twice before booking online in future, and secondly every time someone walks through that door it is an opportunity to sell them something extra, like an upgrade, airport parking, insurance, currency or even another holiday.

 

Short sited and outdated. They will ultimately go the way of the dinosaur with their current policies.

[kruzseeka]

so guys...I'm booked on dream (thumbup)

 

after all that work i've booked direct online....none of the ta's (i spoke to) were really playing ball much...(probably because I always book basic and then add on later....unless they offer me an upgrade cheap...which they didnt?)

 

it is interesting that thoms shops will match the online price for a £20 fee (allegedly because...online bookers are coming into the shops to have various errors sorted?)

 

surely this should be the other way around? why should those that book in store have to pay for the online bookers errors?

 

I've triple checked everything....I hope:confused:

 

they should make the in store booking £20 cheaper than online in the first place....so that if you do book online and need some error sorted you have already contributed the fee to cover the shops costs? (probably wouldn’t look good for thoms online presence?....but you would have thought that thoms would want people to use their shops?)

 

anyway...I'm a happy bunny....I can relax now (apart from the relentless counting of the days/hours/minutes):);)

 

 

Whoop! Whoop! :D:D Good for you geo. Glad you got it sorted - what date are you off? I'm getting very twitchy too - trying to get family commitments etc etc nailed but definitely in need of getting something in the bag too. You must be feeling delighted - I'm very pleased for you. ;)

[geomagot]

thnx kruzee...yep, twitchy just about sums it up....especially as the online price went up a little since before it crashed at the weekend :( (price may come down a bit later? but have jumped in anyway.....hopes I dont regret that?) but at least i can relax and start the planning (luv that bit):cool:

 

anyway

 

its, tropical treasures/latin gems 23rd march (with a hike to the dreaded gatwick!) and an extra sea day on latin gems...but I do luv aruba & curacao....bring on the rum punches:cool:

[barnowl1950]

Hi geomagot we will be on Dream for your first week.

[geomagot]

Hi geomagot we will be on Dream for your first week.

 

yay barnowl (thumbup) :cool: I'm really looking forward to tropical treasures...st barths & st vincent especially....havent started the planning yet......just started the counting down

[barnowl1950]

yay barnowl (thumbup) :cool: I'm really looking forward to tropical treasures...st barths & st vincent especially....havent started the planning yet......just started the counting down

 

Well the countdown is 220 days at the moment:D

 

Can't wait, will be the first time on Dream for us... can do only one week for a lot of reasons but it doesn't matter.

Thinking of Sage Mountain forest hike and beach at Tortola for a start... and Highlights of Antigua.

Gustavia at St Barths will be lovely to look around, then taxi to St Jean bay.

Looking forward to Dominica.

 

Looks like we arrive about the same time (flying B'ham)

[geomagot]

220 days.....I have only had this booked since this morning....and its already taking sooo long!:o

 

st jeans bay....is that the place to be on st barths?....I'm hoping to steer ms magot away from the shops

 

antigua is all about the beach...beautiful white sand beaches...I cant wait to sink my toes in that:cool:

 

personally I love dominica....its not at all like your usual caribbean island....not great for beaches and not a lot of tourist infrastructure/big resorts etc.....I like that..... a trip to one of the waterfalls or one of the national parks is a must (I never tire of looking at the jungle/rain forest) its so cool, green and lush and a little spooky....if you can imagine your regular houseplants, say a bizzie lizzy then imagine them growing about 8 foot high with massive flowers and scents, and there is a canopy of blooms, ferns and bananas above your head...thats dominca

 

sage mountain on tortola also fabulous for walking (its a bit of a climb) but worth it for the views and the smell of the herbs just gets stronger and stronger the higher you climb:cool:

[barnowl1950]

220 days.....I have only had this booked since this morning....and its already taking sooo long!:o

 

st jeans bay....is that the place to be on st barths?....I'm hoping to steer ms magot away from the shops

 

antigua is all about the beach...beautiful white sand beaches...I cant wait to sink my toes in that:cool:

 

personally I love dominica....its not at all like your usual caribbean island....not great for beaches and not a lot of tourist infrastructure/big resorts etc.....I like that..... a trip to one of the waterfalls or one of the national parks is a must (I never tire of looking at the jungle/rain forest) its so cool, green and lush and a little spooky....if you can imagine your regular houseplants, say a bizzie lizzy then imagine them growing about 8 foot high with massive flowers and scents, and there is a canopy of blooms, ferns and bananas above your head...thats dominca

 

sage mountain on tortola also fabulous for walking (its a bit of a climb) but worth it for the views and the smell of the herbs just gets stronger and stronger the higher you climb:cool:

 

Not very long really...just think.. only 4 months and the xmas decorations will be going up again then won't be long after that....know how much you enjoy all that :D

 

St Jean beach has a few restaurants and people go to relax and watch the small planes landing. May re-think that one actually.

 

Dominica sounds beautiful, just what we want.. will suit us just fine as we're used to walking through the woods and country park nearby with the dogs...even the deepest snow didn't stop us. Is it easy to spot some exotic birds in the rainforest?

[happy v]

so guys...I'm booked on dream (thumbup)

 

after all that work i've booked direct online....none of the ta's (i spoke to) were really playing ball much...(probably because I always book basic and then add on later....unless they offer me an upgrade cheap...which they didnt?)

 

it is interesting that thoms shops will match the online price for a £20 fee (allegedly because...online bookers are coming into the shops to have various errors sorted?)

 

surely this should be the other way around? why should those that book in store have to pay for the online bookers errors?

 

I've triple checked everything....I hope:confused:

 

they should make the in store booking £20 cheaper than online in the first place....so that if you do book online and need some error sorted you have already contributed the fee to cover the shops costs? (probably wouldn’t look good for thoms online presence?....but you would have thought that thoms would want people to use their shops?)

 

anyway...I'm a happy bunny....I can relax now (apart from the relentless counting of the days/hours/minutes):(:);)

 

I knew you were going to do it.:D

 

Don't worry the time will fly. :rolleyes:

[geomagot]

Not very long really...just think.. only 4 months and the xmas decorations will be going up again then won't be long after that....know how much you enjoy all that :D

 

St Jean beach has a few restaurants and people go to relax and watch the small planes landing. May re-think that one actually.

 

Dominica sounds beautiful, just what we want.. will suit us just fine as we're used to walking through the woods and country park nearby with the dogs...even the deepest snow didn't stop us. Is it easy to spot some exotic birds in the rainforest?

 

a beach near the runway...love that...watching aircraft whilst on a beach...fab!

 

yes barnowl loads of birds in the forest (over 150 different types of birds and some very rare endangered parrots)....but like any forest...if there a groups of people tramping around then the wildlife is gone...you can hear them but they are gone

 

if you can find a quiet spot and are prepared to sit and wait then yes you will see them....take your binoculars, there are some massive views...if you have a keen eye...you will spot them...there’s lots of other wildlife to look for, frogs/crabs/butterflies most trees in the forest have an entire ecosystem growing on the side of them!

 

I truly do love dominica its a nature lovers paradise....some areas have names like the boiling lake and the valley of desolation...and there’s plenty more to look at like all the various waterfalls and pools and the fruit sellers dotted along the highway where you can get freshly squeezed fruit juices straight from the fruit and coconut oil/herbs & remedies....one day is just not enough for dominca

 

Sorry…I’m raving about it I know…I just cant wait to get back there:):cool: