Are package holidays a thing of the past?

In recent news Thomas cook caused some controversy  by announcing their plans to trial a new pre paid option to guarantee your sunbed!

HOW IT WILL WORK- starting next month at three hotels, it will allow customers to pre-pay €25 to guarantee use of the same sun lounger throughout their holiday. If this trial is a success they plan to roll the idea out across 30 hotels by the summer just in time for the busy period !! If your hotel is eligible you will be emailed approx 6 days before your departure date with a link to choose the beds that you want.

Has it got so bad that this is really necessary? Will there be holiday makers poised at their computers really to book that all important pool front spot for their holiday.

My issue with this is the hoteliers. Surely its their job to keep peace at the hotels. Making sure there’s enough sunbeds or that guest are not being unfair. But if they didn’t stop people hogging sunbeds, or moving peoples towels on held sunbeds before are they going to stop them now. They could just cause a lot more upset when guest pay for their perfect spot only to go and find someone had moved their “Reserve” sign. Sounds like recipe for disaster to me.

Without making myself sound old, I remember when you booked a holiday and you didn’t have to make these decisions. You would get luggage, in flights meals, seats with your family. If you wanted to put a few sneaky requests for sea view, high floor etc you did and if you got it bonus.

Now days its money money money for everything, what’s next pay a supplement to be first in line for breakfast in the morning, or be first to have the maid clear your room.

So my question is …….

Are Thomas cook being greedy or do you think these additional costs are worth paying for?

Do you think cruise lines could do with changing customers to use a sunbed?

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

 

Until next time

 

Marie

 

 

 


About Me

This is me, Marie Turner. I live in the Beautiful Garden of England that is Kent, with my husband Ben and 3 daughters Megan, Abigail and Ruby. I have been working within the travel industry for the past 20 years, enjoying seeing the world with my young family . I love…

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