Bulgaria Ski discussion board
Balkan Reps
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posts : 13 (Beginner)Date : 02-06-07 23:42re: Balkan Reps
My only experience of Balkan was last year and the problem we had was sorted very efficently. Our flight was diverted from Sofia to Plovdiv. When we cleared baggage control we were met by a very informative english speaking rep (I have no idea where they found her because they must have only had about 15 mins notice). She told us that our coaches were on the way from Sofia, gave transfer times for each resort and organised taxi's for those with young children.
I'm not saying that Balkan ...
I'm not saying that Balkan ...
My only experience of Balkan was last year and the problem we had was sorted very efficently. Our flight was diverted from Sofia to Plovdiv. When we cleared baggage control we were met by a very informative english speaking rep (I have no idea where they found her because they must have only had about 15 mins notice). She told us that our coaches were on the way from Sofia, gave transfer times for each resort and organised taxi's for those with young children.
I'm not saying that Balkan are perfect, in my opinion no tour operator is. However, I think it is unfair to judge any tour operator by the odd one or two of their reps. My experience is that you go with a company one year and your rep is excellent. You go with the same company the next year and your rep may well be not as good (you pay your money you take your chance!). For this reason I always pay as little money as possible (usually that means booking with Balkan!).
I'm not saying that Balkan are perfect, in my opinion no tour operator is. However, I think it is unfair to judge any tour operator by the odd one or two of their reps. My experience is that you go with a company one year and your rep is excellent. You go with the same company the next year and your rep may well be not as good (you pay your money you take your chance!). For this reason I always pay as little money as possible (usually that means booking with Balkan!).
re: Balkan Reps
the reps for balkan tours in pamps 4 Belfast dublin and cork r excellentbalkan holidays england r a dif company to balkan tours belfast. balkan belfast is privately owned
re: Balkan Reps
Ali,
If it is the same Melina at the Rila, then i share the same frustrations as you. She was so unhelpful, couldn't offer any real advice apart from go and buy all brand new equipment and try and claim it back off your insurance!! No mention of trying to locate are luggage. She too ignored us for the entire week - no sorry, she did did pay us some attention when we were handing over money for the bar crawl.
I am just grateful for the Neilson's rep as without their help, my brother ...
If it is the same Melina at the Rila, then i share the same frustrations as you. She was so unhelpful, couldn't offer any real advice apart from go and buy all brand new equipment and try and claim it back off your insurance!! No mention of trying to locate are luggage. She too ignored us for the entire week - no sorry, she did did pay us some attention when we were handing over money for the bar crawl.
I am just grateful for the Neilson's rep as without their help, my brother ...
Ali,
If it is the same Melina at the Rila, then i share the same frustrations as you. She was so unhelpful, couldn't offer any real advice apart from go and buy all brand new equipment and try and claim it back off your insurance!! No mention of trying to locate are luggage. She too ignored us for the entire week - no sorry, she did did pay us some attention when we were handing over money for the bar crawl.
I am just grateful for the Neilson's rep as without their help, my brother would have missed 3days of sking.
If it is the same Melina at the Rila, then i share the same frustrations as you. She was so unhelpful, couldn't offer any real advice apart from go and buy all brand new equipment and try and claim it back off your insurance!! No mention of trying to locate are luggage. She too ignored us for the entire week - no sorry, she did did pay us some attention when we were handing over money for the bar crawl.
I am just grateful for the Neilson's rep as without their help, my brother would have missed 3days of sking.
re: Balkan Reps
Oh, and after a phone call to my insurance yesterday, we would't have been covered for buying new equipment or the missing of 2 days skiing due to our bags going missing!! My insurance is with M&S and you can only make a claim is there is no snow.God job we didn't take the helpful advice of the Balkan Reps. I mean really, should they not have experience of this kind of thing before??!! Very poor ....
re: Balkan Reps
I think it's a good point about not judging the company by their Rep as perhaps we were spoilt last year with the excellent Rep they had. She took us on the bar crawl and remained a genuine friend for the rest of the week.Unlike Milena who had perfected the disinterested shrug and Barbie smile early on in her career...!
re: Balkan Reps
Mr Ali G,
I'm sure Milenas vocabulary is for more excessive than yours!
Bill
re: Balkan Reps
After digging a lot deeper into this issue, i found (as always) the facts have been distorted a bit for your own benefit.
1. I believe you were not told to buy and claim in the insurance, you were told to CHECK and see under what circumstances you are allowed to purchase emergency items in a case of lost baggage. A number of other people on the same flight were authorised by the insurance company to do this.
2. Maybe you think they were unhelpful because they would not give you a ski ...
1. I believe you were not told to buy and claim in the insurance, you were told to CHECK and see under what circumstances you are allowed to purchase emergency items in a case of lost baggage. A number of other people on the same flight were authorised by the insurance company to do this.
2. Maybe you think they were unhelpful because they would not give you a ski ...
After digging a lot deeper into this issue, i found (as always) the facts have been distorted a bit for your own benefit.
1. I believe you were not told to buy and claim in the insurance, you were told to CHECK and see under what circumstances you are allowed to purchase emergency items in a case of lost baggage. A number of other people on the same flight were authorised by the insurance company to do this.
2. Maybe you think they were unhelpful because they would not give you a ski jacket like you requested.
3. When Bulgaria Air where refusing to bring your bags to the resort on the Tuesday who negotiated and got them delivered.
4.You were told about the number of ski shops in the Rila and on the street between Rila and Samokov where you could purchase ski wear at reasonable prices. come on, even Stevie Wonder could find them.
5. I also take it you never addressed your issue directly with the Reps in question, no you wait until you are safely 3,000km awat before doing so. Well, as you say, you will return to Bulgaria next year with Neilson and i am pretty sure at least one Balkan Rep will be looking forward to your return and all i can say is GOOD LUCK to you when you meet again.
All these findings are not personal opinions, but based on facts after talking to -
Other people with lost baggage
Other people in the same ski group
The ski school,
and funny enough all thereps you have mentioned.
You will need to save all your luck for the next visit to Bulgaria
1. I believe you were not told to buy and claim in the insurance, you were told to CHECK and see under what circumstances you are allowed to purchase emergency items in a case of lost baggage. A number of other people on the same flight were authorised by the insurance company to do this.
2. Maybe you think they were unhelpful because they would not give you a ski jacket like you requested.
3. When Bulgaria Air where refusing to bring your bags to the resort on the Tuesday who negotiated and got them delivered.
4.You were told about the number of ski shops in the Rila and on the street between Rila and Samokov where you could purchase ski wear at reasonable prices. come on, even Stevie Wonder could find them.
5. I also take it you never addressed your issue directly with the Reps in question, no you wait until you are safely 3,000km awat before doing so. Well, as you say, you will return to Bulgaria next year with Neilson and i am pretty sure at least one Balkan Rep will be looking forward to your return and all i can say is GOOD LUCK to you when you meet again.
All these findings are not personal opinions, but based on facts after talking to -
Other people with lost baggage
Other people in the same ski group
The ski school,
and funny enough all thereps you have mentioned.
You will need to save all your luck for the next visit to Bulgaria
