Trailfinders

[soak01]

Just wondering if any Australian members have used this agency for making flight and hotel bookings.

http://www.trailfinders.com.au/

Am I better using something like this or booking the flight through the SQ website and booking hotels direct.

Cheers

[dreamwatch]

I can't comment on the Australian branch of Trailfinders, but I've used them in the UK a number of times and always found them to be very helpful and very efficient. They have a reputation in the UK for being to go-to people if you want a custom trip rather than a package holiday, and they are pretty highly regarded over here. Hubby and I only ever buy flights as he is from Brisbane so we have the luxury of staying with family. For this reason this year, for the first time, we booked the flights directly through the SQ website. We liked the idea of being able to select seats, which seems silly I suppose, given we fly in Y, but when you fly for 24 hours you want to squeeze out every tiny comfort you can. Alas, I can't comment on the best option for booking your hotels; I suppose there is a comfort in telling someone where you want to go and letting them work out the details.

Good luck with your travel plans!

[KeithMEL]

I have used them in MEL and have found them generally professional, competent and rather pleasant to deal with. I've never booked hotels through them (spg.com for me mostly) but have booked a couple of flights with them.

They charge a service fee for Economy bookings as they don't get much in the way of commissions out of these, so I'd compare prices with the SQ website before going through them. Though sometimes the service fee might be worth it as they are fantastic at clearing waitlists.

Defo a much better option than Fright Centre!

[dreamwatch]

Defo a much better option than Fright Centre!

I thought it was just me!

Used them in Brisbane earlier this year to book a trip to Sydney - flights, hotel, and Bridge Climb. Flights were fine, but trouble started at the hotel. We'd gone away for a romantic weekend in a top hotel, only to find out they had booked us a room with 2 double beds! The hotel staff were very apologetic, but they were fully booked so couldn't offer us anything else. Not their fault.

Later in the day, and now a little suspicious, my hubby called the Bridge Climb to book in. They had no record of us. We then spent an hour in a Fright Centre in Sydney insisting they call Brisbane and fix it. Eventually, it got sorted, but naturally we were rather upset. Would never use them again.

[Kyo]

Fright Centre (lol) is great to go to for a secondary/tertiary (read on, will explain) opinion.

I found as a student many moons ago, I'd go to a TA in Sydney Chinatown, get their best rate there, walk over to FC, get them to pricematch/beat it by $20, then go over to Student Flights and get them to beat it by a further $10.

Their claim is after all, not to be beaten on price... so they can well stand by it.

Best not to try anything too complicated with them.

[rodders]

yep, pretty much much my experience with Fright Centre.

Years ago booked holiday to Thailand with them and also dated a girl from their Melbourne office.

Both were pretty ordinary (special thank you to the dark room at Mercury lounge in Mlb for the girl!!!!)

[Javaman]

I've used Trailfinders here in the UK for my long haul flights and (if I'm not in SIN or KUL) my accomodation too.
Found them to be competitive on price, and the hotels have always met my expectations - sometimes bettered with random room upgrades (the harbour view deluxe room at the marco polo at Kowloon in Hong Kong stands out for several reasons)

Most of the staff I've dealt with (standard flights and the F/business class section) seem to be quite clued up too from the chats I've had about destinations and tips for each.

It's my observation (from the Uk material anyway) they seem to specialise in Australian trips as thats were they cut their teeth, so to speak (though that recollection is vague and hazy from my student days )