still uncertain about vouchers

calvo2 · Member

still uncertain about vouchers

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

CIE is a good, reputable company, but I dunno about your sister's agent.... hmm

Vouchers GENERALLY are accepted on a 'space available' basis and aren't terribly popular with smaller B&B and Guesthouse operators as they are discounted AND they are somewhat slow to pay. My biggest concern is that there are six of you, traveling together during High Season. Finding three rooms together using vouchers can be difficult. If they really can pre-book ALL your nights (in acceptable locations), I would be a bit suprised.

On the other hand, a typical, non-voucher rate for a B&B is about 35 Euro per person, per day (about $52), so what have you got to lose? Just know that in SOME areas, without pre-booking, there may not be any availablity when using vouchers.

Have you priced a fly/drive package WITHOUT the vouchers? Most companies offer THAT option, as well.

Bob

Anchoress · Guru

We talked about this last autumn.

We live in Donegal, near the Town, and we sell jams and knitteds etc in the Town street, and thus meet many of your countrymen.

One day an elderly American couple came, towards evening, and asked me if I knew where this house was...They had a book, listing B and Bs that took their vouchers.

The only one they could find nearby was in Ardara, well over 15 miles away,or out by Lough Eske, both several miles from the Town. I directed them to the second one as it was getting late; had I had time I would have driven ahead of them. They looked so lost.

There were many B and Bs in the Town that would have suited them far better.

When I asked the forum, they said that yes, the voucher scheme was very limiting and probably not any cheaper.

I remember a visitor I had a few years ago with the same problem; she told me that while she had pre-paid the vouchers, she had to find accommodation every night from a list.

You are travelling in high season; the busiest time of all here. You need to pre-book.

Sidz · Guru

I would not do this at that time of the year. Suspect you would not be happy with some of the stuff you would have to deal with.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Calvo,

Welcome to my forum! So far you have received some very good advice. $51 per person does seem like a very good deal. Most B&Bs run from 35-45 euro per person. I just put it through a currency converter and at $51 per person you would paying 35 euro, and that includes a car. In July/Aug you would most likely be paying the upper amount for B&Bs if doing it yourself.

As Bob has said CIE is a very good company. He has also seen that you may have problems getting reservations at the places you personally want to stay. The travel agent says she can get you reservations at B&Bs that take vouchers. But will they be the B&Bs that you want? Can she guarantee that? Or will it just be any old B&B? Can she guarantee that you will all be staying at the same B&B? Can she guarantee that she can reserve you the B&B you want in the location you want?

I just had a look at CIE's site and the vouchers are "Go As You Please". The first night's accommodation is reserved for you. After that you are on your own. Ask your agent about that and how she proposes to book your other places. Is there an extra charge for doing so?

I have heard of people with reservations showing up at B&Bs only to find their rooms have been given away to cash-paying customers. It doesn't happen often but it can happen. If that occurs you would have to find another place to stay. That might be a problem in July/Aug. Sure you can complain about it later but at the moment you are stuck.

B&B vouchers are sort of like using frequent flyer miles. The airline may only have 5 seats available on any flight for frequent flyers. A B&B that has 6 rooms may only have one room available for those using vouchers. Or in July/Aug it could be no rooms.

Another concern is if you are staying in Dublin. There are virtually no B&Bs in Dublin that take vouchers. You would have to stay many miles outside the city or stay at a hotel. You can go to this website to see B&Bs that accept vouchers: http://www.tandctrade.com/ Not all B&Bs in Ireland take vouchers.

I don't want to seem like a wet blanket. We just want you to know the realities of using vouchers. Ask your agent the right questions, compare and then make an informed decision.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Michele