Yet another question - this time Travel City Direct

[TCO]

Hi again,

after finally deciding what hotel we want to stay in and exactly what dining plan we want we are noe ready to book, I just have one more decision.

Travel City Direct is costing near enough the same for 14 nights as Virgin directly are doing for 10 (give or take £100).

What are the pro's and con's of the new Virgin owned TCD?

We had booked with them for our last trip and got stung when they went down, do people think there is a risk this may happen again?

Are there any other benefits of booking through virgin rather than TCD as I would rather have 4 extra nights for the extra £100 or so but am just a bit wary after last time.

 

[jackieleanne]

I am guessing that being run by Virgin that the terms will be similar if not same, and that they are not likely to have difficulties that cost TCD to go down. TCD problems came because of the XL group going down but I heard TCD themselves were a good aspect to the company hence Virgin buying it. I dont think you have to worry about Virgin going bust. I don't think the booking direct VH would have that many benefits to be honest.

 

[wayneg]

Only negative to me would be they only do 14 night hols. No use to me, we either do 9/10 night trips or 24/25 nights. If we did 14 nights I would have no hesitation using TCD, if they go down then I guess the whole Virgin Holidays empire would go.
Have you also checked thru Disney travel company? again its using Virgin planes, doubt they are cheaper but might as well check.

 

[TCO]

Disney prices were actually OK wayne but their allocation of rooms for CSR is now used up for the free dining offer when we want to go.

We were planning on going 10 nights but if its only a little but more to go for 14 then we might as well.

Can you still prebook seats online with TCD has anyone any idea?

 

[wicket2005]

Well I took the chance and have booked up for June 2010 staying at the Hard Rock, their price for 4 adults 2 rooms was £3100 cheaper and for that sort of money I was prepared to take the gamble. Their terms and conditions are exactly the same as Virgin Holidays ones (the link takes you to the same page), as I was trying to see if there was a catch anywhere with the price being so much cheaper for us.

In 'my holiday' on TCD site or in 'manage your holiday' on Virgin Holiday's site you go through to exactly the same page. Same holiday and flights, same company just a vast difference in price.

I would go for the 14 days without hesitation over paying the same for 10 days. In fact I looked at the two companies for November and we can stay at the Renaissance Hotel in Orlando for 14 days with TCD compared to 7 days with Virgin for roughly the same cost.

If you are on a Virgin Atlantic flight it doesn't matter who you book with. We went with Thomas Cook Signature one year and just had to ring Virgin Holidays up for a flight locator number and then we could log into the site to enter info and pick seats. With TCD being part of the same company you will be able to access the info just the same as booking with Virgin Holidays.

 

[gbrchill]

Well I took the chance and have booked up for June 2010 staying at the Hard Rock, their price for 4 adults 2 rooms was £3100 cheaper and for that sort of money I was prepared to take the gamble. Their terms and conditions are exactly the same as Virgin Holidays ones (the link takes you to the same page), as I was trying to see if there was a catch anywhere with the price being so much cheaper for us.

Do you think they manage the discount by having even worse post sales support than Virgin Holidays?

Chris