New Virgin 2005 brochure

[Scottish-Helen]

is out 29 April if anybody's interested

 

[signtalker]

Yep already know, pre booked my flights and cant book them till 28th!!!!

 

[lisland]

Oh goody! We are hoping to go the end of May next year and have ben patiently waiting for the brochures. We were going to go with TCD but I have been put off by some of the negative postings. It has been good to read all the helpful tips.

 

[DisCharmed]

oooh that means decision day for me.... package or DIY ....

 

[SidB]

Originally posted by DisCharmed
oooh that means decision day for me.... package or DIY ....

DIY DIY DIY

 

[signtalker]

DIY no contest!!!!

 

[UKDEB]

Originally posted by lisland
We were going to go with TCD but I have been put off by some of the negative postings

I've felt the same way, but I was chatting with a colleague last week who travelled with TCD in their Sunshine First cabin and she was almost evangelical about it. If I could be sure I'd get the Sunshine First cabin without any hassles, I'd consider it very seriously.

 

[Duggas]

I've taken the afternoon off work so I can go and book next year's holiday on Thursday. I rang Virgin last night to see if I could get a price quote from them but they aren't even doing that until the 29th. I know loads of people on the boards recommend DIY but I'm a 'Package Girl'! One booking, one payment and one point of contact.

 

[Found Nemo]

I think (speaking from industry experience here) that their reservations staff won't even have the brochures themselves until the day it goes on sale, hence they can't give you prices until then.

Launch dates are "commercially sensitive" to tour operators, ie they don't want to let on to competitors too early when they plan to roll out the brochure, so they don't even tell many of their own staff until fairly soon before they are on sale.

It's the same with special offers- if you book a holiday and then the next day see it on sale for 25% less, and your instinct is to bawl out the person on the phone for not telling you they'd be reducing the price the next day. The chances are that even the salesperson wouldn't have been briefed about the offer until that day, so they are probably being totally honest when they say they didn't know, hard though it seems to believe.

I'm sure you'll get what you want on Thursday! Good luck...

 

[SEVANS2208]

We wrote to their advance reservations dept in Dec and had a call last Thursday giving us prices for Aug 2005 and the option to book there & then.

Unfortunately, due to changes at work, I don't think we can afford to go now til 2006 but at least we know the system works so will be doing the same thing again later in the year for 2006!

 

[DisCharmed]

I'm pretty sure we will be going DIY unless they can offer me a seriously good price.
I used to one of those people who just paid the brochure price, but what I do now is get the best price I can myself and then call into our local Thomas Cooks and - giving them all credit - if they haven't been able to match the price, they offer me something extra instead.
Our last trip to Paris they managed to get within £20 of an internet price and then they gave me free transfers and half price tickets to Buffalo Bills. So I always ask as you never know what they might offer.
Unfortunately I can't be off on Thursday as teachers don't get days off! But it is my non-contact time, so I might need to do some 'research' on the computers that morning ........
I hope everyone gets the holidays they want! yo ho me hearties yo ho!

 

[daipp]

Discharmed,

I can't be off on Thursday as teachers don't get days off!

What do you mean? What about August and the last half of July?

(Only joking - honestly!)

 

[Duggas]

We've just finished working out exactly what I'm going to be booking on Thursday. I won't pay the brochure price, I'll spend Thursday morning finding the best price on the internet, print it out then go to Peterborough in the afternoon. I usually go to Lunn Poly first to see if they can beat the price but they've only ever been able to match it, then its into Thomas Cook who so far (fingers crossed) have always been able to beat any price that I've walked in with. We're getting excited now - and this is only to book it! I see 14 months of major planning ahead now, countless discussions on what we are going to do and when to do it, digging out all the old photo's, and watching all the videos and dvd's we collected over the years.

By the way, its going to be 16 nights starting 22 June 05 staying at Port orleans Riverside.

 

[AndyB]

We,ve already been given a quote for the new brochure, as we wrote to Virgin in March requesting an advance booking. Prices seem almost identical to this year but...
THERE ARE NO FREE KIDS PLACES!!....
We have spoken to a couple of different people at Virgin, some of who have confirmed this, and some say that free places may be available in the December brochure.
We are now deciding whether to take the risk and book now (and make sure we get what we want), or wait and see if there are free places from 29th....

 

[Muppet]

We are all booked for Christmas 2005 with Virgin. Did it with a TA not direct this time.

 

[DisCharmed]

LOL@daipp ok I get one or two days off a year.

After the day I've just had (child ran away during the lunch hour and it took us 1/2 hour to find her) I've aged about 20 years and need at least a year in Florida to recover.

kids - don't you just love them

 

[uktigger]

hi
i got the virgin brochure and it does say limited free child places:book by 04-sep-04 for departuresto orlando between 14-20 feb 05 and04-21 april 05
hope this helps

eve

 

[DisCharmed]

First of all, I have to say I'm very impressed by anyone who has even seen the virgin brochure as they are no where to be found at any local travel agents.

I rang up Thomas Cook for a package price tonight.
2 adults, 2 children, 21 days at POR in August no tickets as we're buying annuals.... they quoted me £5438!!!!!! I actually laughed and the man apologised and said that was the best he could do.

I then rang virgin travel store, exact same holiday £3524. Plus 5% discount or 10% if I booked online. I didn't think that was a bad price and would be hard to beat even DIY ... if anyone knows better shout out and let me know please!

Incidentally you can't book on the virgin website if you don't want the UPH tickets ... does anyone know if they will honour the 10% discount over the phone instead?

TIA
Charmed

 

[Duggas]

DisCharmed

I rang Virgin and got a quote for 2 adults, 16 nights, POR, Ultimate tickets, car upgrade with fully inclusive insurance, travel insurance, leaving 22 June 05, and they quoted us £3388. I rang around a couple of travel agents and I could get it down to £3270. I went into Thomas Cooks who said if we were prepared to book there and then they would price match and beat any quote we had. They offered us £3120, so, after I bit his hand off!!! we're now booked to go next year.

It's always worth getting a few quotes and seeing what different travel agencies will come up with. They know that if you are looking to book that day they would rather give you a better price and get some money off you than letting you go to a rival company.

Over £5000 was an extortionate price though! You only want to go to Disney, not buy it!

Happy planning and happy countdown to 'D' Day

Pam

 

[Hilary]

Over £5000 was an extortionate price though! You only want to go to Disney, not buy it!

LOL!