Let’s book our Honeymoon in a war torn country
By Darren Cronian on Friday, November 16th, 2007

Imagine saving up for years for that dream wedding on a Caribbean island or 5 star honeymoon hotel to find out that it’s the holiday from hell. So did anyone watch BBC Watchdog the other night where Thomas Cook, Virgin Holidays and First choice were named and shamed?

Taking a holiday in a war torn country

A couple had booked for First Choice to organise their wedding in Sri Lanka. On arrival they were informed that the country was at a stage of civil unrest. Departing the airport they were confronted by armed guards, and on arrival at the hotel, they were told not to travel outside, and that all excursions were cancelled.

Read the full stories on BBC Watchdog.

My advice, no matter where you are going on holiday visit the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website and search for travel advice by country. These pages are updated regularly, and whilst travel agents should keep up to date with changes, some obviously don’t.


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13 responses to “Let’s book our Honeymoon in a war torn country”

Rohan | 18 November, 2007 at 12:44 am

I’m surprised the couple didn’t hear about it on the news! The policital unrest in Sri Lanka was splattered all over the television.

Darren Cronian | 18 November, 2007 at 12:48 am

I didn’t hear about it. I visit the BBC site daily, but can’t remember hearing about it.

Janine | 19 November, 2007 at 3:34 am

That’s a low, not being able to go out and enjoy the scenery. The good part about it, is that you can lazy around in the room, order room service and that you’re safe in the hotel, too.

Darren Cronian | 19 November, 2007 at 1:45 pm

Janine, I don’t think that’s quite the point. They could have stayed in a hotel back home in England, and ordered room service!

The travel agency have a responsibility to keep travellers intormed, and in this case they didn’t.

Tracey | 21 November, 2007 at 8:02 am

OMG that is awful. I found this site whilst searching Google for advice on honeymoon’s.

Lee Harrison (owner Select World Travel) | 21 November, 2007 at 7:06 pm

Darren, Dangerous Ground
“The travel agency have a responsibility to keep travellers intormed, and in this case they didn’t.”
Travel Agency and Tour operator are often confused,I.E. First Choice are the Tour operator and Joe Bloggs Travel the Travel Agent.
Both Tour Operator and Travel Agencies would abide by Government Guidelines and Current advice. Often Watchdog highlights certain scenarios and the dramatisation can be dramatic. They recently Highlighted guests in Mexico. The Question has to be asked, Why book their bloody holiday right bang smack in the middle of the hurricane season!!!

Darren Cronian | 22 November, 2007 at 1:36 pm

Lee,

If I book a holiday with travel agency, small operator, large operator in the high-street I would expect without any doubt that the agent should inform the consumer of potential problems.

If booked online, then the responsibility I think moves with the consumer for them to research their destination before booking, but surely with today’s technology, consumers could be emailed informing them of the potential problems.

If it was my first visit to Mexico how would I know then hurricane seasons are? Until I started blogging I had no idea when the seasons for hurricanes etc started and end.

I am sorry to disagree but if I booked a holiday [take your example] to Mexico in your shop, I would assume that you would notify me of the hurricane season.

Online is a little grayer.

I do think aswell that consumers need to take more responsibility and have had it easier without the internet because of that human contact.

Lara | 23 November, 2007 at 3:35 pm

I think it depends on the kind of booking. If someone comes in and says I want to go to Sri Lanka on these dates I’d assume they know what they’re doing. If they are asking for advice then I think the operators should give advice.

Darren Cronian | 24 November, 2007 at 12:45 pm

If that’s the case then Lara, then I might aswell not bother booking with a travel agency and do it all myself.

Am I loosing the plot here or do we use travel agents for their experience and knowledge on a holiday destination?

Rohan | 24 November, 2007 at 1:05 pm

Hmmm I think if it’s information like hurricane seasons then the agent should inform you but if it’s polictical unrest then that’s more difficult to remember and advise on.

Lara | 27 November, 2007 at 8:28 pm

Darren, I can see your point and that is what I mean. If you walk in and don’t really need the agent, then I don’t expect much of them. I sometimes book like that because in Canada we are more protected (insurance wise) if you book through an agent.

But I’d agree that in most cases using an agent they can and should be helping us with their experience and knowledge.

Spenny | 28 November, 2007 at 1:23 pm

hmmm lets explore this “experience and knowledge” bit…
what about a spotty 18 year old fresh out of collage - there are loads in the high street - how much experience and knowledge do they have…..???
now lets face it if your booking that “holiday of a lifetime” or honeymoon you would no doubt pick up a brochure if you didnt have the internet and you would no doubt ask whats the weather like that time of year? and most brochures will have a weather graph…if you dont ask the question you wont get the answer and exaclty as lara said if the customer asks for specific dates and wants a quote then you just give out the quote you dont ask whats the weather like and how is the government of that country acting.
I totally agree with Lee - watchdog are a dramatisation of facts - i havent seen this case nor have i read the bbc link - but my questions would be - when did they book the honeymoon - presumably very far in advance - and i would assume at that point Sri Lanka was a safe place to visit at the time - unless the consultant had a crystal ball they could not forsee the political unrest - these are acts of god - and in all i would much prefer a bit of excitment on my honeymoon - come on when your in the pub talking about it what sounds better - we went to sri lanka for a fortnight - or we went to war for a fortnight - they should be charged an adventure holiday supplement on their return ;-)

Christy | 3 April, 2008 at 7:03 pm

OMG that is so sad. I will definitely do my research on my own about possible places to see after reading this.

Thanks for the warning!

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