Book travel direct or through an agent?

[bizzylizzy]

We recently had to cancel an American holiday when my hubby slipped a disc. We got our money back in full from all of the American hotels we booked. They only seem to need 24 hours notice. However we'd booked our plane tickets and one hotel through a travel agent. We didn't get the money back and have to claim through insurance. This means that we'll lose several hundred pounds in insurance excess charges. I'm now wondering if we should simply book directly with hotels when we replan our trip. Any thoughts anyone?

[bednobs]

blimey, what insurance charges a couple of hundred pound excess? Remind me not to book with them!

[bednobs]

ps are you talking about the travel part (as in your title) or the hotel part (as in your question)?

[bizzylizzy]

Sorry, I didn't make that clear. We booked flights and 6 nights at a hotel in the States through an agent. We made our own arrangements for the other 6 nights. So we got the money back for the hotels that we personally had booked. The insurance claim is still being processed. All I meant was. If we had also booked the 5 nights hotel that was handled by the travel agent, we would have got our money back straightaway and in full. Not sure how it would have worked had we booked flights ourselves. Would Virgin have let us rebook do you think or would we have lost the money for the flights?

[jackles]

try low cost holidays.you can book the flight,then book the hotel seperately which means you usually get a 24 hour free cancellation clause.

[Bobbisox]

jackles, our holiday was cancelled last Christmas after booking with LC holidays, we got our flight money back as it was EJs fault but we never got the £700 accom. back via LCH, they said the accom was there for us so they wern't responsible, read the small print, it pays

[bednobs]

usually unless you buy an EXTREMELY expensive ticket, virgin will NOT refund or let you make any changes
ps same thing happened to me with my travel insurance - they refunded my (virgin) flight but wouldn't refund the accommodation

[jackles]

bobbiesox, i have just canc hotels in llangollen and paris;no charge.they take your cc details but only charge when you arrive.the 24 hour free cancellation is printed on the booking invoice.

[jackles]

also,if you book the hotel and then see the price has been reduced you can cancel then re book at the cheaper price.

[Bobbisox]

it may have been because it was Xmas Eve and all offices were closed jackles, we wern't able to speak to them untill 4-6 days later