Has Anyone Booked a Holiday Yet?

[The Year Of The Fox]

On 20/06/2025 at 12:46, BirminghamFox said:

 Can you call Glamping at the Isle of Wight Festival a holiday? 🍺 

If you’re a refugee, yes. 

[bmt]

Got a free week off from work in mid August. Anyone got any recommendations in England or Wales? I know thats very broad but I've got no idea what we want atm. Considering going down to Devon. We live in London and have a car for getting to plaves

[bovril]

14 minutes ago, bmt said:

Got a free week off from work in mid August. Anyone got any recommendations in England or Wales? I know thats very broad but I've got no idea what we want atm. Considering going down to Devon. We live in London and have a car for getting to plaves

I am contractually obliged to say Norfolk but apart from that, I discovered Gloucestershire last year and loved it. Nice scenery, good walks, good food and drink, some fantastic cathedrals and old monasteries around if that's your thing. 

 

I've also always wanted to explore the Welsh marches and if I drove I definitely would 

Edited 23 June 2025 by bovril

[STEVIE B]

8 hours ago, bovril said:

I am contractually obliged to say Norfolk but apart from that, I discovered Gloucestershire last year and loved it. Nice scenery, good walks, good food and drink, some fantastic cathedrals and old monasteries around if that's your thing. 

 

I've also always wanted to explore the Welsh marches and if I drove I definitely would 

Went to The Cotswolds for the first time last summer. Some beautiful villages, stunning countryside etc. Definitely worth considering. 

[Tommy G]

13 hours ago, bovril said:

I am contractually obliged to say Norfolk but apart from that, I discovered Gloucestershire last year and loved it. Nice scenery, good walks, good food and drink, some fantastic cathedrals and old monasteries around if that's your thing. 

 

I've also always wanted to explore the Welsh marches and if I drove I definitely would 

I'd agree with Norfolk too. Plenty of places to recommend.

[FoyleFox]

It does depend on what things you need or want on the holiday but I can recommend Northumberland.

[bmt]

32 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

It does depend on what things you need or want on the holiday but I can recommend Northumberland.

Would love to go Northumberland but probably a bit too far for 4 or 5 days. I am not sure really. My girlfriend wants seaside town and I want long walks. We both wouldn't mind some nice restaurants/wine!

[grobyfox1990]

Flight to Jordan next week cancelled, not unexpectedly I guess. Decision to make now to book a flight with another provider or go to Ibiza instead and see Armin killing it at Ushuaia

[09bballer]

23 hours ago, bmt said:

Would love to go Northumberland but probably a bit too far for 4 or 5 days. I am not sure really. My girlfriend wants seaside town and I want long walks. We both wouldn't mind some nice restaurants/wine!

If you live in London the Kent coast would work unless you've already done it.

What about Suffolk Aldeburgh or Southwold?

[FoyleFox]

9 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Flight to Jordan next week cancelled, not unexpectedly I guess. Decision to make now to book a flight with another provider or go to Ibiza instead and see Armin killing it at Ushuaia

I'd book Ibiza, the chances are high of any other flight being cancelled. 

[Raj]

Cornwall (Near looe) on Sunday for a week, just hope the weather holds out for another week.

 

Cant wait for the 5 hour drive down!!

[STEVIE B]

16 hours ago, Raj said:

Cornwall (Near looe) on Sunday for a week, just hope the weather holds out for another week.

 

Cant wait for the 5 hour drive down!!

Never been to Cornwall. I'm fairly well travelled, just never been. 

Everyone tells me it's beautiful & l must make the effort. Maybe one day. 

Have a great holiday. 

Edited 12 July 2025 by STEVIE B

[Voll Blau]

Looking at Alcúdia. Forsy time abroad with a littl'un, would that be a good destination?

[grobyfox1990]

On 25/06/2025 at 13:57, grobyfox1990 said:

Flight to Jordan next week cancelled, not unexpectedly I guess. Decision to make now to book a flight with another provider or go to Ibiza instead and see Armin killing it at Ushuaia

Very glad i didn’t happy clap out of this. What an incredible week in Jordan. The scenery of wadi rum, the craziness of the dead sea and obvs the sheer beauty of Petra. People were incredibly welcoming, good food, v safe for women. No tourists due to the ongoing hostilities. To have Petra to ourselves for over an hour on weds morning was unforgettable. I really hope tourists return, the country and its people richly deserve it 

[whoareyaaa]

12 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

Looking at Alcúdia. Forsy time abroad with a littl'un, would that be a good destination?

Nice beach, sea and it’s family friendly I liked it.

[goose2010]

12 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

Looking at Alcúdia. Forsy time abroad with a littl'un, would that be a good destination?

Only thing that lets it down and obviously depends on your little one but the drive from the airport can be a bit of a stretch. Took us 2 hours a couple of years ago, which with a 1 year old wasn't fun.

[Bayfox]

On 12/07/2025 at 07:28, Voll Blau said:

Looking at Alcúdia. Forsy time abroad with a littl'un, would that be a good destination?

Pay a visit to the Foxes Arms

[SemperEadem]

5 hours ago, Bayfox said:

Pay a visit to the Foxes Arms

If the bloke in there finds out he is UFS he will throw them out.

[Foxdiamond]

On 25/06/2025 at 23:01, 09bballer said:

If you live in London the Kent coast would work unless you've already done it.

What about Suffolk Aldeburgh or Southwold?

Also the New Forest not too far to drive

[Unabomber]

Just back from Riga, would recommend. Easy from Gatwick and great place 

[WigstonWanderer]

A bit off topic as I’m in Australia, but I’ve just effectively been ripped off $1,500 (about £750) by AirAsia, ably assisted by booking.com.

 

I booked a return flight to Bali for my wife and I departing Perth on 4th August and returning 9th August through booking.com back in June.

 

On Tuesday I got an email from booking.com (from an outfit they use called GoToGate that I think they own) telling me the outbound flight had been cancelled by AirAsia, no reason given. The only flight replacement offered was for 9th August, self-evidently useless as that was the day we were supposed to return. I immediately contacted GoToGate by phone and email asking them to sort out a better flight.

 

After being fobbed off in repeated phone calls and emails I concluded that it might be best to cancel on the basis that I had not been offered a suitable replacement flight, and then rebook. I was worried that if it took too long all suitable flights coinciding with our hotel booking would be full. By this stage I had tried to contact AirAsia but got nowhere with their AI called Bo, partially because I didn’t book direct with them and partially because it is a really terrible AI.

 

Anyway I asked GoToGate to cancel the booking and got an email to say that a cancellation had been requested. Rather naively think it would all be sorted I rebooked suitable flights.

 

I have now received an email from GoToGate saying they are unable to contact AirAsia to change or cancel the booking and that I should contact them myself! There appears to be no way to do this, AirAsia only really provide the AI and it is useless, particularly in my situation.

 

So I have now booked the same travel twice without any real prospect of getting my money back on the original flights. It seems that many others have found themselves in a similar position with AirAsia, and I obviously won’t be using them again in the future.

 

Losing the money is bad enough but what really rankles is that AirAsia gain by not providing a suitable customer service. That booking.com are unable to contact AirAsia and speak to someone to resolve the problem beggars belief.

 

I’m pretty sure this sort of thing will become more widespread as AI takes over customer service in many sectors. It really is not the same as speaking to an actual person.

 

Does this kind of thing happen in the UK/EU?

 

 

Edited 18 July 2025 by WigstonWanderer

[FoxesTez]

4 hours ago, WigstonWanderer said:

A bit off topic as I’m in Australia, but I’ve just effectively been ripped off $1,500 (about £750) by AirAsia, ably assisted by booking.com.

 

I booked a return flight to Bali for my wife and I departing Perth on 4th August and returning 9th August through booking.com back in June.

 

On Tuesday I got an email from booking.com (from an outfit they use called GoToGate that I think they own) telling me the outbound flight had been cancelled by AirAsia, no reason given. The only flight replacement offered was for 9th August, self-evidently useless as that was the day we were supposed to return. I immediately contacted GoToGate by phone and email asking them to sort out a better flight.

 

After being fobbed off in repeated phone calls and emails I concluded that it might be best to cancel on the basis that I had not been offered a suitable replacement flight, and then rebook. I was worried that if it took too long all suitable flights coinciding with our hotel booking would be full. By this stage I had tried to contact AirAsia but got nowhere with their AI called Bo, partially because I didn’t book direct with them and partially because it is a really terrible AI.

 

Anyway I asked GoToGate to cancel the booking and got an email to say that a cancellation had been requested. Rather naively think it would all be sorted I rebooked suitable flights.

 

I have now received an email from GoToGate saying they are unable to contact AirAsia to change or cancel the booking and that I should contact them myself! There appears to be no way to do this, AirAsia only really provide the AI and it is useless, particularly in my situation.

 

So I have now booked the same travel twice without any real prospect of getting my money back on the original flights. It seems that many others have found themselves in a similar position with AirAsia, and I obviously won’t be using them again in the future.

 

Losing the money is bad enough but what really rankles is that AirAsia gain by not providing a suitable customer service. That booking.com are unable to contact AirAsia and speak to someone to resolve the problem beggars belief.

 

I’m pretty sure this sort of thing will become more widespread as AI takes over customer service in many sectors. It really is not the same as speaking to an actual person.

 

Does this kind of thing happen in the UK/EU?

 

 

Did you book on credit card? If so, worth trying a charge back? Seems like you can prove you've tried to resolve with the seller but no progress, so see if your bank/credit card provider has more success? 

 

 

[grobyfox1990]

6 hours ago, WigstonWanderer said:

A bit off topic as I’m in Australia, but I’ve just effectively been ripped off $1,500 (about £750) by AirAsia, ably assisted by booking.com.

 

I booked a return flight to Bali for my wife and I departing Perth on 4th August and returning 9th August through booking.com back in June.

 

On Tuesday I got an email from booking.com (from an outfit they use called GoToGate that I think they own) telling me the outbound flight had been cancelled by AirAsia, no reason given. The only flight replacement offered was for 9th August, self-evidently useless as that was the day we were supposed to return. I immediately contacted GoToGate by phone and email asking them to sort out a better flight.

 

After being fobbed off in repeated phone calls and emails I concluded that it might be best to cancel on the basis that I had not been offered a suitable replacement flight, and then rebook. I was worried that if it took too long all suitable flights coinciding with our hotel booking would be full. By this stage I had tried to contact AirAsia but got nowhere with their AI called Bo, partially because I didn’t book direct with them and partially because it is a really terrible AI.

 

Anyway I asked GoToGate to cancel the booking and got an email to say that a cancellation had been requested. Rather naively think it would all be sorted I rebooked suitable flights.

 

I have now received an email from GoToGate saying they are unable to contact AirAsia to change or cancel the booking and that I should contact them myself! There appears to be no way to do this, AirAsia only really provide the AI and it is useless, particularly in my situation.

 

So I have now booked the same travel twice without any real prospect of getting my money back on the original flights. It seems that many others have found themselves in a similar position with AirAsia, and I obviously won’t be using them again in the future.

 

Losing the money is bad enough but what really rankles is that AirAsia gain by not providing a suitable customer service. That booking.com are unable to contact AirAsia and speak to someone to resolve the problem beggars belief.

 

I’m pretty sure this sort of thing will become more widespread as AI takes over customer service in many sectors. It really is not the same as speaking to an actual person.

 

Does this kind of thing happen in the UK/EU?

 

 

That’s terrible. Yes it has happened to me a few times when I’ve booked via the 3rd party sites, hence I always book direct now. Funnily enough I did book direct to go to Jordan last week and BA cancelled on me so I booked with another airline, there’ll be a battle on to claim my refund from BA.

1) email [email protected] on a daily basis to request your refund. Doesn’t waste time with a bot

2) contact credit card to get your money back

3) travel insurance, depending how good your product is.

In the uk it’s easier to get your money back as we have the aviation dispute service and small claims court for these shysters 

[WigstonWanderer]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I’m probably not as seasoned a traveller as you and this is the first time anything like this has happened in my experience.

 

Turns out that booking.com made a mistake in the email they sent me when AirAsia cancelled my flight to Bali. The alternative flight offered wasn’t for 9th August after all, it was for 4th August like the original flight. If I’d have known that there wouldn’t have been any dramas. So booking.com mostly to blame, and myself for panicking, but AirAsia not providing any way to speak to a human is unforgivable. I’m sure it could all be sorted out in short order if I could speak to someone. Loads of people complaining online about Bo (the AirAsia AI). Bo is a c**t and I told him so 
 

I now have 4 seats on the exact same outbound and return flights for just the wife and myself 😂

 

I’ll no doubt have to battle on some more over the next week or so, but getting my money back looks like it’s going to be an uphill struggle. Probably just have to put it down to experience.

 

 

Edited 18 July 2025 by WigstonWanderer

[grobyfox1990]

Not a real holiday but in Belfast this weekend to watch the golf at portrush. Once again proven to be a nice city. Golf was cool. Weekend spiced up by a mate going missing after Fri night for over 24 hours, filed a missing person report with the cops and they found him wondering around at 4am this morn