Travel agencies in Singapore

[Nisa]

I REALLY do not understand how the consumers can put up with the RIDICULOUS system of the travel agency.

IF I book a tour with them, they are not able to confirm with me IF I will be able to go OR not, 2 weeks prior to the departure. And IF I wish to cancel the tour, I will have to inform them 35 working days before the tour, AND I will have to forfeit 50% of the inital deposit.

What the HECK!?!?!!

it's like my holidays are at the whims of the tour agencies. I totally cannot get it OR understand this system!!! isn't there any place we can go to make a complaint about it!!!

 

[kcuf2]

I also dun understand why ppl must book from travel agencies....

just go DIY, plan ur own itinerary, go and explore the places own time own target, and u can also get to go to the nitty gritty corners of the places which ppl on tour groups will never be able to go.

this dark corners are the places where u will score great photographic pics. take it as a blessing in disguise, cancel ur tour and arrange ur own. further u get to choose ur plane, want Airbus A380? no problem!

 

[roDz]

I also dun understand why ppl must book from travel agencies....

just go DIY, plan ur own itinerary, go and explore the places own time own target, and u can also get to go to the nitty gritty corners of the places which ppl on tour groups will never be able to go.

this dark corners are the places where u will score great photographic pics. take it as a blessing in disguise, cancel ur tour and arrange ur own. further u get to choose ur plane, want Airbus A380? no problem!

hahaha,not everyone like u lah bro...most prefer the comfort of being in a large group...good meals...comfortable lodgings,etc...

 

[Jix]

i've heard a story from a friend that they were planning for a trip to italy but ended up going to turkey because the travel agency cancelled their italy trip at the last minute. :bsmilie:

 

[coolsigg]

I also dun understand why ppl must book from travel agencies....

just go DIY, plan ur own itinerary, go and explore the places own time own target, and u can also get to go to the nitty gritty corners of the places which ppl on tour groups will never be able to go.

this dark corners are the places where u will score great photographic pics. take it as a blessing in disguise, cancel ur tour and arrange ur own. further u get to choose ur plane, want Airbus A380? no problem!

I tink it depends on the make up of your entourage and the purpose of the tour. If its a photogaphic tour, then you are right. But if its a family tour with kids and old folks, I would prefer to go in a tour group for ease of management/logistics. For such tours, photography would have to take on a lower priority as it is more for family bonding and gathering.

 

[NitroTech]

the very reason why all my travels are free and easy.... screw travel agencies!!:thumbsd:

 

[vince123123]

I agree with this; after one failed travel agency booking cockup (and this was such a simple hotel and bus Free and Easy booking where theyf ailed to pay the hotel); I've since done it all DIY.

I've explored places that fellow Singaporeans don't even know about down to street level. Poeple wonder how I can visit HK for 1.5 weeks when they take 3 days to "complete" it; hehe

Ohter than choosing plane, you can even choose your seat number.

I also dun understand why ppl must book from travel agencies....

just go DIY, plan ur own itinerary, go and explore the places own time own target, and u can also get to go to the nitty gritty corners of the places which ppl on tour groups will never be able to go.

this dark corners are the places where u will score great photographic pics. take it as a blessing in disguise, cancel ur tour and arrange ur own. further u get to choose ur plane, want Airbus A380? no problem!

 

[vince123123]

Actually another viewpoint; in groups; you need to conform to their time; be in mealtimes, waking up times, or waiting times. Now, is htis realyl better if your kid says "I'm hungry" and you have to tell him/her "sorry its not the tour groups mealtime yet".

with my own tour, I decide when and where and what I want to do

I tink it depends on the make up of your entourage and the purpose of the tour. If its a photogaphic tour, then you are right. But if its a family tour with kids and old folks, I would prefer to go in a tour group for ease of management/logistics. For such tours, photography would have to take on a lower priority as it is more for family bonding and gathering.

 

[iMac08]

agree. tour package sucks. I either DIY or only book Free and Easy with agency if i am too lazy to go online and hunt for the hotels or airlines.

tour sucks. my friend went tour package to jap and i only spend 3 days in hokkaido. seems like i cover a lot more places in hokkaido then her 1 week there. and some of the nicest shop which i google online or thru some Csers online..she din even know or seen. and indeed no rush. i let my wife sleep until song song..while i wake up early to go out and walk ard and see see. no rush. who cares abt that damn aunty stuck in the toilet or room.

tour grps also shouts 'i'm a tourist,pls chop me up song song'.... no fun at all

 

[jlkk76]

I REALLY do not understand how the consumers can put up with the RIDICULOUS system of the travel agency.

IF I book a tour with them, they are not able to confirm with me IF I will be able to go OR not, 2 weeks prior to the departure. And IF I wish to cancel the tour, I will have to inform them 35 working days before the tour, AND I will have to forfeit 50% of the inital deposit.

What the HECK!?!?!!

it's like my holidays are at the whims of the tour agencies. I totally cannot get it OR understand this system!!! isn't there any place we can go to make a complaint about it!!!

travel agency normally last min canx group tour, reason being not enough group size lor

and they often do it last min cancellation bcos they wanna try to sell and increase till last min

also, they dun allow cust to cxl is also due to the group size...cos they got to find ppl to replace them..hence, cxl fee is impose.....

and if pax cancel charge then agency will charge, cos if dun have cancellation charge, then everyone also can anyhow cancel tour, like tat agency diffcult to maintain the minimum group size

 

[night86mare]

tours are probably better for less safe countries, a first visit to familiarise.

either that or places less acecssible to tourism.

places like hong kong, europe (most of it).. no need to book la. do a bit more work, read up (and you should, otherwise you go for what??) .. you will enjoy yourself 10 times more.

 

[cg171s]

Just arrange your air ticket and hotel arrangement from Singapore.
Once you arrive at your destination, you can find "city tour" or something similar there.
Or you can do your own research before...

I find that way to be better than having to be stuck with the arrangement from travel agents here which they can just change at last minute one...

 

[ricohflex]

Guided tours arranged by tour agencies are how most people start their travel experience from long ago in their lives.
As they get more travel savvy, some arrange it on their own. And go free and easy.
The emergence of the Internet, electronic airline tickets, self check-in, budget airlines, good websites such as Trip Advisor and Virtual Tourist have helped.
It takes a certain level of education in a society to happen.

Tour agencies have their use.
Many people still book their travels with tour agencies.

There are some failings.
Which the tour agencies have not addressed for the past 30 years.
Some tour agency staff try TOO HARD to rip you off, in front of their manager whom they know are supervising - observing them.
Although you were already prepared to let them earn a fair profit, sometimes they overdo it. Silly little tricks.
And you get cheesed off. Because as a seasoned traveller, you know very well what they were trying to do to you.

Why do tour agency staff commit these wrong doings on an everyday basis?
Because of MONEY and position.
They want to show how much they can earn for the tour agency.
To earn that bonus or climb the career ladder. They don't realise as an industry, by doing this they are digging their own grave in this Internet age.

The super rich still use tour agencies. Because these are people who have so much money that they are used to being flattered, pampered, fussed over, everything somebody arrange for them. Never mind how costly it is.

 

[eyes]

For trips up to Thailand, I drive and almost never book a hotel in advance unless I expect there's a surge in occupancy during that period.

For trips to Europe and Americas, I liase with friends who actually lives there to work out a plan 2 weeks prior to departure.

If it's a place with no friends, the internet, forums, etc., are my best friends.

 

[entropy_h]

tour groups are the worst

never have joined one, never will

 

[ortega]

not that i like tour agencies but here are some good thing about joining tour groups

1. my last trip to korea, my daughter had lots of other kids to play with
2. if something bad were to happen, the local tour guide will be really useful

food was not so good though

 

[Nisa]

travel agency normally last min canx group tour, reason being not enough group size lor

and they often do it last min cancellation bcos they wanna try to sell and increase till last min

also, they dun allow cust to cxl is also due to the group size...cos they got to find ppl to replace them..hence, cxl fee is impose.....

and if pax cancel charge then agency will charge, cos if dun have cancellation charge, then everyone also can anyhow cancel tour, like tat agency diffcult to maintain the minimum group size

i don't think that is the right thing. this is case, it's the consumers that will lose out. Why should it be so?

Then if the tour is not going to happen, then I think the agency should pay 150% of the tour package!!!

 

[Nisa]

not that i like tour agencies but here are some good thing about joining tour groups

1. my last trip to korea, my daughter had lots of other kids to play with
2. if something bad were to happen, the local tour guide will be really useful

food was not so good though

are u going for the oktfest?

 

[eyes]

i don't think that is the right thing. this is case, it's the consumers that will lose out. Why should it be so?

Then if the tour is not going to happen, then I think the agency should pay 150% of the tour package!!!

You can always engage our well loved vince to sue them, provided you didn't sign any agreement that disabled your own rights. :bsmilie:

 

[vince123123]

Hmm, well this type of small case, using lawyers is a waste of money heh

You can always engage our well loved vince to sue them, provided you didn't sign any agreement that disabled your own rights. :bsmilie: