Holiday Genie - Reading

Lyndsay D.

We recently returned from Dubai, we had an excellent deal through Holiday Genie. Really couldn't fault the service, emails were responded to promptly. Tickets received a couple of weeks before departure. Would definitely use again.

J

DON’T USE THESE PEOPLE - THEY ARE SCAMMERS.

Beyond unhelpful, booked us in at a horrendous hotel in Greece last summer which resulted in us having to change locations, and they still haven’t issued a refund. We paid for a family room and were put in a double one instead.

ABSOLUTE WASTE OF MONEY, YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED AND IF ANY ISSUES ARISE, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.

Avoid avoid avoid!

SDB

We got a great deal, Lauren was fantastic and booking was so simple! The only downside was that when we arrived at the apartment, no one was there to greet us or give us keys. A lovely lady in another apartment called the service manager and we were able to collect the keys from a nearby hotel. It turns out that the service manager had been waiting all day for us and only left an hour before we arrived. She had no details of our flight or how to contact us, the same as we had no contact details for her! Lucky we know this country because I could imagine it would be quite frightening otherwise........

Nicola L.

2 stars because ultimately I did go on holiday for a good price.

But once checked out of our hotel, the hotel kept the deposit on my card because Holiday Genie hadn’t settled the room balance - even though I had paid Holiday Genie for my trip in full.

I emailed and rang Holiday Genie and they said it would take at least 28 days to investigate. I gave them more than 28 days then rang up my credit card company and they gave me the money and will now seek to recoup from Holiday Genie.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is”

Steer clear everyone, suggest you pay just a little bit more and book through a known reputable company.

Joe H.

I travelled to Mexico with Holiday Genie in December 2022. The flights, hotel and transfer from Cancun airport to the hotel - over 1 hours drive went perfectly. It was a beautiful holiday until, after checking out of my hotel and waiting for my prepaid transfer, nothing turned up. I contacted the emergency local number and was told they had no vehicles and I should just get a taxi. This cost me US$100 (£85). On return to the UK I explained what had happened and expected a refund to cover the cost of the taxi.
After over 3 months of being asked to provide the same details over and over I have been told that, as the Mexican company is refusing to pay out, the issue is closed and they are refusing any refund. I’m very disappointed with this attitude and would never book with them again.

Steve S.

Total scammers
One price on there page
Call up to book it’s gone up hundreds of pounds
Avoid the scammers

Suraj M.

Booked my holiday back in February this year paid in full. Later was told the flight was cancelled but the hotel i booked was still open , so I wouldn't get a refund back on the hotel. Why I asked , as I booked a package holiday!!!!

Then i was informed yes, I'm right but I can have vouchers for the full amount or if I wanted a cash refund I would have to except to take £250 less. Considering it wasn't they're fault due to the globel epidemic I agreed to take the lesser amount and take the hit of £250. Which in my mind i thought maybe helping Genie!!!

Then to be told I'll have to wait three month not from when they cancelled but from my departure date which was in the kids six weeks holiday. Three months later I call them and then I'm told there waiting for the airline to refund them.

Its now nearly approaching five months from the departure date not from when they cancelled and I still haven't had nothing back all I get offered is a few hundred pounds on which they want to charge me a fee for on top of the £250 less they're offering me.

Other friends and family members that had they holidays cancelled have all had a refund as they didn't book through Genie holidays. Complete joke I get the same poor excuse every time I email them. I would give them a zero star rating if I could !!!!

W O.

Would give negative stars if that was possible!! Booked an 8 night trip to New York in July 2019 for departure mid March, were advised 6 days before departure that trip was cancelled but they would contact us for options. Neil Bonner called me on 18th March, telling me we could just have this same trip (flight and hotel) at a later date, or get a full refund. We opted for the refund and Neil advised this would e arranged on 18/3/20.

Then nothing, for months. Only a couple of general emails sent to all customers about how they are "working round the clock" to refund people. Not a PENNY received back. We have launched a dispute with the credit card provider and even had lawyers send a detailed letter with evidence to threaten litigation, still nothing!

It is unbelievable to me that it is physically impossible to call them, phone lines are not available, but they also don't respond to emails

The best bit is that when they did respond, once in 5 months, they told me the flight in March went ahead and we just "chose not to travel", which is utter nonsense, I almost blew a fuse reading this.

I recommend you steer way, way clear of these people, if anything goes wrong with your booking, they will not help and your money is gone!

If you - Holiday Genie - want to contact me to sort this out I may remove this review, but at this point I'm preparing to go to court, I am furious at how I am being treated.