Buying a trip online: how to make it easier and more enjoyable
How to buy a trip online without worrying. Buying a trip online has never been so easy. The recommendations for buying tickets online easily and safely will be given here.
Booking tours, hotels and tickets online is now available at many tour operators and agencies. However, not everyone dares to take advantage of this opportunity, fearing for the safety of their money. GuiaRus and TourGratisRusia explains how to buy a trip online through the Internet without risk to the wallet and nervous system. We will give you the recommendations to buy tickets online:
What documents do you need and when should they be issued?
I bought the package, but the money was not immediately processed
I arrived at the hotel, but without reservation
In case of problems to settle on the tour
What if the tour operator declares bankruptcy?
What documents do you need and when should they be issued?
Buy a trip online through the Internet with a tourist package, which in the classic version includes flight, accommodation, transfer, insurance. The packages are formed by tour operators who, according to the law on tourist activities; They must provide all necessary documents in advance.
“There are tours, according to which the document package can be downloaded immediately when making the reservation. But often, the operator gives you more documents at the start. Before departure, all documents must be at hand; including a ticket (with the airline number, not the confirmation of the operator.) The issuance of documents at the airport is practiced with countries with a visa; if there are problems with the terms of visa processing. In the regions, this happens with more frequently than in Moscow, “explains Kirill Tikhonov, head of the online sales department of AlfaStrakhovaniya partners.
“Coupons, tickets, insurance, the entire package of documents, is received a few days before departure. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the departure time, the airport and the plane can be changed at any time. Agency where you bought the tour will get in touch with you to let you know about it.This may happen, unfortunately, even a few hours before departure and depends entirely on the tour operator, and not the agency.
I bought the package, but the money was not immediately processed
Experimenting in this case is not worth it. Most likely it is about the characteristics of the tourist package.
“When buying a tour online, you immediately receive confirmation that you paid for the trip and it is in the confirmation of the tour operator, as well as the contract. Confirmation may take several business days. At this point, no money is withdrawn from the card , but it is pre-authorized (that is, it is in your account, but it is frozen in favor of the agency.) After the tour operator confirms the trip, you will receive a letter about it, after which the money will be canceled in the account .
Unlike tours, when you buy tickets or book hotels online, you immediately receive confirmation, and the card money is written off at the time of purchase.
I arrived at the hotel, but without reservation
If you book the hotel online, such a situation, of course, is possible, but it can be avoided. We advise you to request the internal reservation number of the service before the trip and request confirmation from the hotel.
“Request confirmation of the reservation on the hotel form or print an email from the hotel with the confirmation. Then, make sure the hotel received your reservation. Enter all possible contacts to contact the reservation service. Pay attention to the forms of communication: often it is not just the telephone and the mail.It can be used if possible and available, social networks, instant messaging, chat, all these communication channels will save money on roaming calls. install the mobile application. It will help you quickly find information about your reservation, current phone numbers on the spot. “
However, if the reservation is lost somewhere, keep calm and provide the hotel employee with the most complete information about the reservation: a confirmation letter, the names of all the participants of the trip, the category of the room and the Internal number of the reservation.
Contact the technical support service for the reservation service from which you purchased the service, as it dealt with the contacts in advance and the application was downloaded. The support staff should solve your problem as soon as possible and place it in the hotel according to the reservation. In extreme cases, you will be given an alternative option to place the same level or higher, but not lower. You have the right to claim compensation for communication and transportation expenses if you need to move. Request an extract of calls from the mobile operator and save the transport checks.
In case of problems to settle on the tour
Problems may arise with accommodation and if you bought a tour package. Of course, in this case, it is better to check everything in advance, but unforeseen situations are still possible.
If you do not see the reservation, you must first contact the host company, then the agency and the operator. In the process of finding out, there was some kind of overlap at work, and it is resolved, or the tourist ran into an unscrupulous company. Sometimes agencies issue false documents, but generally the complete package is not real, and not just the reservation. Sometimes operators have an overbook, and then they must provide the hotel with the same category and quality.
You must first contact the place where you bought the visit. You should also call the tour operator (there is a direct line on all documents received for the tour) and, of course, look for an operator representative at the hotel. It is very likely that you will have to pay your money for a few nights while the tour operator understands the hotel, but then you are obliged to return them (most likely you will already arrive home). Therefore, I recommend having a credit card with a normal limit, so as not to spoil your vacation due to the lack of professionalism of some people.
What if the tour operator declares bankruptcy?
In 2014, this question excited almost all tourists who went on vacation. Then, some important players left the market, including Neva, Labyrinth, Versa and Southern Cross. Hundreds of thousands of people could not go on vacation or could not return to their homeland; all returned the association “Tourist Help”. Very few compensated for the consented rest.
In practice, it is difficult to return all the money. The operator must have a contract with an insurance company that provides a financial guarantee, but they do not always cover all tourist expenses, and it happens that they reimburse 10 to 30%, but sometimes all the money is returned. It all depends on the specific situation. In terms of time, this is long. Now, operators form a liability fund, which implies greater protection of tourists in the bankruptcy of the operator.
In conclusion, when it comes to how to buy a trip online, you should always have everything in a clear and orderly way before your trip, check every detail and doubt with the agency or tour operator of your choice. Buy a trip online to ensure a pleasant and smooth trip. With the recommendations to buy tickets online you will enjoy an evening like no other.