UK Ferry Tickets

Thanks as always for your emails. I’ve been inundated with them recently, so apologies if I haven’t responded to all of them or haven’t mentioned some on this page.

The issue of compensation, following the story about a holidaymaker unsuccessfully suing Cosmos after suffering an accident abroad, prompted plenty of comment. Most felt that people had to take responsibility for their own actions and John pointed out that travel companies would just push up prices if they had to pay out claims to customers.

Brenda was annoyed that many holidaymakers seemed determined to take action against customers and said people wanted to pay rock bottom prices and receive five-star treatment. How true! She said insurance companies were unsympathetic to complaints, so why should tour operators take the blame?

Tina was the only person who felt that everything was the fault of tour operators and even seemed to think a company was to blame for poor weather in Brazil because it hadn’t warned her that it was the rainy season!

The recent story about holiday clubs also touched a nerve. Declan was unable to get his deposit back from a company and Sylvia was stung by a club which did not offer the discounts it promised and then promptly went bankrupt.

A lovely story from John, a proud owner of a big BMW motorcycle, who took his 16-year-old son to a festival in Paredes de Coura. For John, the journey was the reason for the trip and the festival was an excuse, but his son loved the event.

John said the Portuguese people were fantastic, the toilets clean and there were plenty of bars and restaurants selling healthy food. Sounds great and perhaps your son could be the first 16-year-old to think his Dad is actually quite cool, although I’m sure he would never admit that!

Guest Article by Jeremy Skidmore

Friday, September 30th, 2005