How VH rip us all off

[heatherbelle]

Well as some of you know I am very fortunate in that Mr Tesco is paying for most of my holiday next year to the Yatch club.

VH are charging me £6125.10 for this holiday, it's in the middle of the school holidays.

I have just been onto the WDW site to have a look at prices like you do, and to stay at the Beach and Yatch club with 14 day tickets costs 3153.00. There will be flights to add on top.

The accomdation charge that VH are asking including park ticks is 4908, that's some profit just on accomodation

So for those who like to do a package, please do your sums before you get caught up in the whirl of a package is best, and its sacry to DIY. It's so easy to do DIY.

We will be doing DIY the following year, rather than using my deals again, as they have clamped down and I will only be able to put £2100.00 towards the cost of the holiday.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Yes, we've found exactly the same thing- a package with Disney UK would cost £3000 more than the hotel+ticket price (for two adults), which obviously works out at £1500 each for flights (economy flights at that ). Needless to say, we're going for DIY next year!!

 

[scottish mum]

for us virgin were cheaper as we got 3 kids prices at £149. we could never get flights that cheap ourselves. Also we got 15% off our booking.
Disney quoted us £4000 for our hotel and tickets while we are paying £5300 with virgin for 2 ad and 3 kids.

have fun at the yacht club we're staying in the beach club next Oct.

 

[Pegasus928]

I think the title of your thread is a little unfair.
Can you really say you are being ripped off if you know in advance the price you are to pay - regardless of whether or not the same thing is being offered for cheaper elsewhere?

While it does seem that the difference in price is high I suppose Virgin could argue that you are paying for them doing all the legwork for sorting your holiday out rather than you doing it DIY.

 

[jen_uk]

I know that Virgin may charge more but I book with them as I can pay it off in chunks, if I had to pay in a lump sum then I wouldn't be able to as I don't have the money all at once, thats the main advantage for me. Plus what with the Frequent virgin discount and Tesco clubcard I don't find there is a massive difference.

 

[PudseyChancer]

I think the title of your thread is a little unfair.
Can you really say you are being ripped off if you know in advance the price you are to pay - regardless of whether or not the same thing is being offered for cheaper elsewhere?

It's obviously still a good deal for you as you've been able to use Tesco vouchers; which you can't do with Disney. If you were comparing exactly on a like for like basis, then obviously it would make sense for you to cancel and re-book, or not book with Virgin in the first place!

Having said that, I'd be focusing more on the fact that you're off to the Yacht Club - it's awesome!!!

 

[T16GEM]

We always DIY, I think on average we usually get 3 weeks for the price of two by doing the legwork ourselves. Plus DH and I really enjoy booking everything ourselves.

 

[Kath2003]

Well as some of you know I am very fortunate in that Mr Tesco is paying for most of my holiday next year to the Yatch club.

VH are charging me £6125.10 for this holiday, it's in the middle of the school holidays.

I have just been onto the WDW site to have a look at prices like you do, and to stay at the Beach and Yatch club with 14 day tickets costs 3153.00. There will be flights to add on top.

The accomdation charge that VH are asking including park ticks is 4908, that's some profit just on accomodation

So for those who like to do a package, please do your sums before you get caught up in the whirl of a package is best, and its sacry to DIY. It's so easy to do DIY.

We will be doing DIY the following year, rather than using my deals again, as they have clamped down and I will only be able to put £2100.00 towards the cost of the holiday.

Virgin are never going to undercut Disney. Disney probably don't allow Virgin to book packages with them much cheaper than they do the public, so Virgin have to make a profit. With Virgin you're also paying for the 'luxury' of only using one company for everything, and for having reps available when you're out there. Of course that comes at a premium.

Personally I never use travel agents, but if I did, I would EXPECT to pay more for the services I mentioned above. It literally is a step-by-step process through which Virgin will hold your hand - if you DIY you have to put the time and effort into doing your own research. Depends if you want to put the work in yourself, or pay someone to do it for you.

Virgin want to charge me £866 per person for flights and accommodation. I booked myself and paid £531 for my efforts.

 

[2Tiggies]

Yep, I am actually quite comforted to see that others too have sat with the same dilemma. I know that it is more expensive to book a package than individualy components, so I can't complain about being ripped off. I was going to book it in "pieces" because Disney UK offered me a great room, dining and park ticket deal and I know that I could have done it cheaper by taking that and booking my own flights. But as Jen_UK said, you get to pay it in chunks and if you book your flights separately, that part of the outlay goes straight onto a credit card, with interest and a booking fee.

I was also DESPERATE to fly from our local (Glasgow) airport, as it would be SOOOO much easier for me since we live only 45 min or so away from there. But every year, I try as soon as the flights come out and there is nothing available in economy. This year I booked 17 months in ahead and took it quite impulsively through Disney UK as a full package because there were only 2 seats left on the return flight. That was 6 months before the flights officially open for booking. I just figured if I am going to be so darn picky, it will cost. But at least I got what I wanted and next time I will be different and book separately. If I save enough by doing it that way, I will certainly upgrade us to PE or splash a bit more for UC so we don't have to worry about the new baggage policy restrictions.

 

[Ware Bears]

I always price our holiday up DIY then compare with a VH package. I thought now that my eldest DD is 17 and no longer a teen but an adult in the eyes of VH that we would definitely find it cheaper to DIY this Christmas but it still worked out cheaper for us on our dates to book it as a package.

I've always found DLRP much cheaper to DIY in the past but I still always compare with a package just in case one time the latter is better value. I think it is very important to never just assume one way is always going to be cheaper than the other but to price it up and crunch those numbers every time.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I understand what Jen means, having recently priced up flights with Virgin Atlantic for next year and a fly-drive with Virgin Holidays, the VH price works out at over a £1000 more...but you can pay in installments rather than the whole amount there and then.
To be honest it's not what we are thinking of doing because it's already an expensvie holiday and we do not want the car with VH anyway as it's much cheaper booking independantly elsewhere. So not only is it a lot more expensive but just cannot justify paying the £100 insurance or so they charge for a car we are never going to have.

If the difference is a lot less that I can see the advantages of paying a little bit more to be able to stagger the payments.

 

[ClareH37]

I always price our holiday up DIY then compare with a VH package. I thought now that my eldest DD is 17 and no longer a teen but an adult in the eyes of VH that we would definitely find it cheaper to DIY this Christmas but it still worked out cheaper for us on our dates to book it as a package.

TBH I've always done DIY in the past before but for my next trip VH's package worked out cheaper than doing all the elements DIY (I used my frequent virgin 10% discount). Another factor for me is in this 'uncertain' economic time I didn't want to pay in advance for my flights (UC) so for the £135 deposit I've got my 2 hotels, tickets, DxDP and UC flights all booked.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Personally I think the title of the thread is disingenouous.
Virgin holidays do not "rip you off" they offer yopu a package price and you choose whether to take it or not.
they are not in the business to be a chraity and have to make a profit to pay for all of their costs and pre booking of many weeks of holidays.
You can pay in install ments, this also costs money to VH
ALL airlines, travel agents and hotels make their money in the good months, i.e. the months of greather demand to cover their costs for the poor months, where fixed costs still apply.

 

[Kath2003]

Personally I think the title of the thread is disingenouous.
Virgin holidays do not "rip you off" they offer yopu a package price and you choose whether to take it or not.
they are not in the business to be a chraity and have to make a profit to pay for all of their costs and pre booking of many weeks of holidays.
You can pay in install ments, this also costs money to VH
ALL airlines, travel agents and hotels make their money in the good months, i.e. the months of greather demand to cover their costs for the poor months, where fixed costs still apply.

It's like anything - you pay for a service. When you go to a restaurant do you announce that you could have cooked the same meal for £5 at home, rather than £15 there?

They're a business. You have a choice. If you don't like what they charge, don't use them.

 

[heatherbelle]

It's obviously still a good deal for you as you've been able to use Tesco vouchers; which you can't do with Disney. If you were comparing exactly on a like for like basis, then obviously it would make sense for you to cancel and re-book, or not book with Virgin in the first place!

Having said that, I'd be focusing more on the fact that you're off to the Yacht Club - it's awesome!!!

I haven't got an issue with paying more for my holiday with virgin at all, compared to Disney UK, as I am paying far less in cash. All I am simply trying to do is to point out to people the fact that if you DIY, then it is far cheaper. You can still go through a travel agent to get flights, if and it would still be cheaper than VH.

I consider myself very lucky to be staying where I'm staying, thanks to Mr Tesco. If we were having to pay in hard cash, then we simply couldn't afford it, and wouldn't have had the last three lovely holidays that we have had.

 

[Kath2003]

I haven't got an issue with paying more for my holiday with virgin at all, compared to Disney UK, as I am paying far less in cash. All I am simply trying to do is to point out to people the fact that if you DIY, then it is far cheaper. You can still go through a travel agent to get flights, if and it would still be cheaper than VH.

I consider myself very lucky to be staying where I'm staying, thanks to Mr Tesco. If we were having to pay in hard cash, then we simply couldn't afford it, and wouldn't have had the last three lovely holidays that we have had.

Right, but VH don't 'rip us all off'; they charge a premium for their service. I don't use them because I don't want to pay that premium, but it takes my time and effort to research everything. If I didn't want to put time and effort into it, I could choose to pay VH to take the stress out of it for me.

Depends also how much experience you have in Orlando also. This is my 10th trip; I'm comfortable DIYing it but also using public transport etc. Doesn't mean that I think it's a 'rip off' that people book shuttles to the airport or hire cars with sat nav - it just means that my experience can pay off in cash savings because I know what I'm doing, where I want to stay, who I want to fly with and when I want to go.

Some people also like the security of 'belonging' to a company - half way around the world it's nice to know you can turn to a company to fix any problems you may have. If you DIY it, like me, you have no one to take care of you if it all goes wrong. Last year my hotel company went under just days before we left - I was left trying to find a new hotel. I did, but then I knew what I wanted and where I wanted to stay. Had I booked through VA, that hotel issue would have been THEIR problem, not mine (and saved a lot of last-minute stress!).

 

[PudseyChancer]

I haven't got an issue with paying more for my holiday with virgin at all, compared to Disney UK, as I am paying far less in cash. All I am simply trying to do is to point out to people the fact that if you DIY, then it is far cheaper. You can still go through a travel agent to get flights, if and it would still be cheaper than VH.

I consider myself very lucky to be staying where I'm staying, thanks to Mr Tesco. If we were having to pay in hard cash, then we simply couldn't afford it, and wouldn't have had the last three lovely holidays that we have had.

I just thought that the title was a little misleading, singling Virgin out for doing what all other travel agents do - I expected to read how they'd treated you badly or something. In fact, by accepting Tesco vouchers, Virgin have enabled you to stay at what is in my opinion, one of the best hotels on site! You should be patting them on the back!

Would love to see a trip report of your stay, I'm considering a stay at the Yacht Club for a special trip in a couple of years time.

 

[joolz1910]

These boards have been a real eye-opener for me when it comes to DIY. I was a package die-hard but now I would definitely DIY...and I'm a complete novice.

What we first-timers need is experienced Dissers to hold our hands and guide us in the right direction.

 

[disney_princess_85]

Yes, we've found exactly the same thing- a package with Disney UK would cost £3000 more than the hotel+ticket price (for two adults), which obviously works out at £1500 each for flights (economy flights at that ). Needless to say, we're going for DIY next year!!

I agree with what others have said about it not being a rip off if you know the price and are willing to accept it. Also, it's true what people have said about it not just being Virgin who put huge markups on their packages. Having done some research (see above!), I personally find the difference between booking a package and DIY too substantial. Saying that, I can fully understand why some people will always go for packages, e.g. you can pay it off in installments. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods.

 

[wideeyes]

I think the title of your thread is a little unfair.
Can you really say you are being ripped off if you know in advance the price you are to pay - regardless of whether or not the same thing is being offered for cheaper elsewhere?

While it does seem that the difference in price is high I suppose Virgin could argue that you are paying for them doing all the legwork for sorting your holiday out rather than you doing it DIY.

I agree, people have the choice to book with them or not. They know the price before booking, if people don't choose to look around at other prices than that is to do with them not VH.

I have booked in the past with VH & DIY. Sometimes VH are not that much more than DIY so I find I will pay the extra to book with them as everything is in one place. Also VH customer service has improved a lot lately.