About me:Back home from a spectacular trip from Australia & New Zealand - a phenomenal trip! Now back to the...
Member since:26.07.2000
Reviews:189
Members who trust:63
Review rated by 33 Ciao members on average: very helpful
I’m 30 this year (lets quickly move on from that harsh reality!) and l have always stated, l do not want to spend this milestone at home (home being Belfast, Northern Ireland). Thailand is somewhere l have always wanted to visit – the land of smiles! I love Thai food and Yul Brenner in the King and l sold it too me many moons ago!! So l have been checking out various travel agents such as Trailfinders, on line resources expedia, travelbag and ebookers, to name but a few.
So l was surfing about on Ciao to get fellow members opinions on Thailand, Bangkok and Phuket – what to do, what
to see, where to eat, which hotels are recommended so on and so forth. At the recommended resources section to the side of the opinions l saw web site – bridgetheworld.com – specialists in Asian travel. “Mmmmm” says l – will take a look here.
I came across a bright, professional website. The website offered flights, hotels, holiday and tailor made travel itineries – just what l required. So l entered the section, on the left hand side of the web site saying contact us and hit web quotes.
A new page flipped up and a form was to be filled in. It was an easy to follow form, sectional.
FLIGHT DETAILS – airport, type of flight, departure and return dates DESTINATION - country of travel, destinations – giving up to 5 options, asks if you require hotels and the number of nights for, and numbers of travelers. ACCOMODATION – type and room type CAR HIRE – is it required ADDITIONAL INFO REQUIRED – hotels; packages; car hire; day tours; guided tours; adventure/camping tours PERSONAL INFO – name address email details; your total budget; additional information; how you prefer to be contacted FURTHER OFFERS SECTION – do you want them to send you details of further offers
I filled in the form – holiday 2 weeks in May/June – 4 nights in Bangkok; 7 nights in Phuket – good standard hotels; 2 adults and contact me via email. I sent it off and forgot about it – this was last Monday 11th January.
Within a few days l had an email from Donna – asking me for a few additional details so she could put together a tailor made quote for me. As soon as this information was provided she had a quote back with me immediately. The price and the hotels were good.
I must explain something – Paul my other half collects BA miles and is a diamond member of Hilton Honors – so its in our benefit to stay at a Hilton group hotel – we generally get an excellent upgrade sometimes to suites and to the executive floor where the free nibbles and booze hide out!! Also he prefers flying with BA or at least a one world partner – its one of his wee quirks it could be worse and l personally don’t care if lm holding on to the back of a bird emigrating off!!!
Anyway, l discussed the quote with Paul – it was one of the best we had had – it was from Heathrow and we would have to book additional flights from Belfast over but that is usually par for the course any how. Paul asked me to contact Donna and see if we could make a few changes. The flights were with EVA air and he wanted BA, and we requested that she try to book the Bangkok Hilton. The Phuket hotel quoted was Cape Panwawa and l did not want to stay here – Paul in a past life had stayed here with an ex girlfriend and l am a bit funny about that sort of thing!! So l emailed Donna of our new requests and again she came up with the goods, a second itinerary was provided for us, with all our requests.
Saturday past 17th Jan – Paul and l did some surfing – to see if we could trawl out of the web details on our hotels. We had a successful trawl and the hotels looked good, but the Hilton Bangkok was no longer part of the group and there was only the Conrad available in Bangkok. We did find the Phuket Arcadia also which had recently become part of the Hilton group – both 5* hotels and looked absolutely fantastic – although Paul was not impressed that the Arcadia had a karaoke bar – l on the other hand did a little dance for joy – l love singing – not well but l don’t care!!
So armed with these new details we emailed Donna – and as ever she got back to us immediately with new prices and was able to get our chosen hotels. Even with upgrades in the Conrad as we are staying over 3 nights. It was great to deal with someone, who was able to go the extra mile and no matter how big or small our request happened to be she granted our wishes!
We booked our holiday on Tuesday costing a £250 deposit and the balance is due in March. Our holiday is not what l call cheap but its not the dearest judging from quotes l received and we are travelling with Quantas and staying at 5* hotels so we are getting definate value for money. Our holiday even includes transfers to and from both Phuket and Bangkok airport and insurance also. I am so excited about it all!! I received a hard copy of the booking invoice through the post this morning and it makes it all the more real!!
The bridge the world web site also is a mine of useful information, you can order brochures and it will even give you destination information – such as what to do and see in Bangkok/Phuket; Thai phrases; recipes for popular Thai dishes; tips on Thai culture; and even medical advice on inoculations.
My experience of dealing with Bridge the World has been first class – they certainly have got it right when dealing with customers; they know how to go that extra mile and make dreams come true. I just have four and a half months of a wait now!!!
29.01.2004 00:26
Oh you lucky things, it sounds like a great website, look forward to hearing all about it Heather on your return, Heatherx
24.01.2004 21:21
Very useful too know about this website.
24.01.2004 02:37
Hope you will have a great time and write about it when you return! xx