Beware budget travel websites

[Andee]

I think we need to be very careful when using online 'cheap' travel agencies. They are probably fine when things are all straightforward, but beware when things go wrong. They are not great on customer service.
I booked a trip to Paris for myself and my daughter with Low Cost Holidays website, a package deal with flights, bus transfers and accommodation. I did select the hotel myself, and I admit it was low budget.

However the bus driver himself couldn't find it, and we wasted about 3 hours driving around Paris. When we eventually got there the driver warned us about the area. The hotel lobby was OK but we couldn't open our room door from either side (had to get cleaning staff each time), the room facilities minimal, and to be honest the whole area rather scary, for people unfamiliar with the city, a woman & girl alone. It was supposed to be across the road from a Metro stop; I couldn't see one & wasn't game to go looking, in those streets. I really didn't want to go outside, to be honest. I was scared, and upset, and phoned home. To Australia.

Eventually I left; got a taxi and took myself and daughter to a hostel. All this wasted our first day in Paris for us.
We informed Low Cost Holidays, and did all we could to let them know what had happened; we used the room for about an hour and didn't use the return bus trip.

I requested refund of second night's accommodation and return bus trip.
The website's customer service division should change its name. They do not reply to emails, so forget the 'contact us' on their site. They do not look at the address on top of a letter either, but will only reply to the address you booked with. They have no notion of keeping customers happy and will not budge and inch to keep your custom.

If I returned a chocolate bar to the manufacturer, I'd most likely get a box of chocolate to keep me happy. When I was dissatisfied with online supermarket shopping, I got a discount voucher. Well Low Cost Holidays offered me nothing at all, yet still hoped I would use their service again.
I won't, and I am advising others to look elsewhere for your travel assistance, even if you end up paying a bit more.

[batt34]

Thanks for posting! Your experience goes to show that what it may seem like a bargain deal can turn out to be the worst deal ever!