These Virgins go most of the way to please you (Virgin Holidays)

Member Name: Dalesman

Product:	Virgin Holidays
Date:	13/11/01 (710 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You are looked after, Good if things go wrong, you feel included

Disadvantages: can be a bit Pricey, too many folk to look after

Being a member of Virgin Holiday Club you may think I am a bit biased when writing this report but this is not the case, I can assure you this is not the case, I also fly a lot with British Airways and am a member of their exceutive club as well as being a member of Virgin Atlantic Frequent flyer club and KLM Royal Flying Dutchman Club so no biases here folks !!

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In writing this opinion DO NOT CONFUSE my remarks with Virgin Atlantic Airways which are a different part of the Virgin Empire, in this Opinion I am only talking about Virgin Holidays..

We book with Virgin Holidays almost every year to Florida and generally enjoy the whole Virgin Holidays experience (normally !!)..One their Reps a couple of years ago was a little brusk to say the least, but generally speaking they do look after you, however this year we did our own independent holiday to Florida and flying with British Airways, this was due to our experiences with Virgin Atantic Northern based Operations at Manchester Airport....

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Virgin tend to make a point of making sure their clients are better looked after, on arrival at your destination the airport greeting is usually very well organised, and there are reps all over the airport at various strategic points waiting to guide you to the baggage carousel, car hire desks or transportation pick up points (for non driving Virgins), it is appreciated that you are going to be tired so theres always a personalised information pack waiting for you with one of the airport reps giving deatils of the welcome meeting, also when and where you can find your rep shouold you need to see them.

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The information given out at the welcome meetings is factual and useful, there is no generally no pushy selling technique for the optional extras (Excursions), and the presentations are usually fun to be at, even if you know what is coming, there's even a special sales desk for frequent Vi
rgins who don't want to see the presentation and know what they want to buy or do through Virgin.....

The hotels on offer are excellent, particularly Virgin Flagship hotels, with all the little extras given to their clients are a nice touch such as a free copy of the Daily Mail every day and the mail on Sunday at the weekends ( printed under licence locally)..

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Its a pity Virgin Atlantic doesn't take a leaf from Virgin Holidays on how to look after its regular clients, if you are looking to go to the USA and in particular Florida for the first time then you could do a lot worse that give Virgin Holidays a go...

Virgin Atlantic may have lost their sparkle in recent years, the flight attendents are more like Trolley Dollys than professional Flight Crew, and care less and less for their passengers who are treated like charter passengers rather than Scheduled, however, Virgin Holidays tend to look after their clients very well whilst in florida....its just a pity Virgin Atlantic don't do the same.....

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Book through your local travel agent as there are usually discounts available, but if you book direct with Virgin you pay the brochure price which seems a bit silly as you are cutting out the agents commision by booking direct, you'd think that they would at least offer you the holiday minus the agents commission ... frequent Virgins also get bonuses like an automatic car upgrade and discounts on the excursions so its worth being part of the club.....if you haved booked or have made at least three separate holidays with Virgin Holidays then you may join the club, I got a free T'shirt, personalised luggage tags,membershhip card and welcome pack all for FREE...

Summary: