How one online travel agent is gonna fight, for your right, to VAAAAACAAY!
THIS WINTER, it’s not just weather forecasters who are predicting a gloomy outlook – the economists are too. Right now, we are all feeling the pinch, with rising energy bills and surprised howls of “How much?” in the supermarket. Azure seas and butterscotch sands with cocktails lined up at the beach bar certainly feel a million miles away, in every sense.
And we know that’s true because you told us!
In a special Sun poll with online travel agency Travel Republic, more than half of you said you’re planning to go away less because of rising living costs.
You talked – in our Sun reader polls – and the online travel agent listened. Travel Republic is on a mission to safeguard our treasured holidays, which, in its view, are now more important than ever.
As a result, you’ve inspired The Power to the People manifesto – promising to deliver on your holiday priorities of value for money destinations and packages, plus excellent customer service and top-level protection if things don’t go
as planned.
That dream holiday has just got a bit closer – in fact, visit the Travel Republic website today and it’s at your fingertips. Pina Colada? Don’t mind if I do.
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Find out more at Travel Republic
Value for money was your top answer when we asked: what’s the most important factor in choosing a tour operator? In fact, 44 per cent of you cited cost as the most crucial.
SO as part of its Lowest Price Guarantee, Travel Republic won’t be beaten on price – if you find your holiday (or hotel) on another Abta and Atol-protected website at a lower price than it’s offering, it will match it. Snap – job done.
PLUS it offers flexible payment options, with deposits from just £35pp. You can pay in monthly instalments or, if you’d rather, pay two deposits 28 days apart, and the remaining balance 28 days before travel – it’s your choice.
AND with Travel Republic experts scouring the world for the best deals, the money you do spend goes further – top destinations, upgrades and savings, plus access to airport transfers and attractions. Visit the Travel Republic website to find exclusive hotel deals with add-ons, such as kids staying for free. Choose from great holiday destinations, including Florida, Dubai, Egypt and the Maldives. When going with Travel Republic, every holidaymaker is a VIP.
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Power to your pocket
Booking with a travel agent that’s highly recommended was the third most important factor to you in our poll – especially for those younger travellers among you.
SO Travel Republic is shouting from the rooftops that it’s the top-rated online travel agent on Trustpilot. Choice is key – making holidays available to everyone was in its mission statement when the company was launched 20 years ago and it’s still at the heart of what it does today.
PLUS couples love curating their own personal adventures from Travel Republic’s many flexible offers, while sunseekers adore the wide range of destinations that are available – from Greece and Spain to far-flung trips of a lifetime like Dubai, Mexico and the Maldives – and bargain baggers can’t resist those Travel Republic savings.
AND reviewers also praise the travel agent’s flexible payment options and value for money. Little wonder, when there’s a choice of more than 300,000 hotels, 200 airlines and attractions galore. Satisfaction is guaranteed – that’s the Travel Republic manifesto promise to you.
Power to your choice
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Nearly half of you said making sure your money is protected if things go wrong is a priority. Cancelled flights, lost luggage, airport chaos – knowing you’re covered let’s you relax from the moment you book.
SO Travel Republic’s got your back. It has introduced Triple Lock Protection to allay all your concerns. It’s also a long-time member of Abta and Atol. Abta’s rules protect you, the customer, in case anything were to go wrong. Atol protects you if flights are cancelled.
PLUS with the third pillar of the Triple Lock Protection pledge, the brand’s gone even further, introducing Secure Trust Accounts, which are maintained by a third-party trustee, to hold your hard-earned dosh until it’s time to pay the supplier.
AND the fact that its Secure Trust Accounts are looked after by third-party trustees means you know that your money is safe. If your holiday does get cancelled for any reason, your money is right there waiting to be paid back to you. You’ll have it back in your account in three to four days. No hassle – that’s the Travel Republic way.
Power to your purchase
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Antonio Fellino, managing director of Travel Republic, on taking care and marking milestones
THE FIRST customer I served as a travel agent, at the Thomas Cook store in Putney 15 years ago, was a man booking his honeymoon to St Lucia. He was so excited and I understood immediately what a privilege and responsibility being entrusted with people’s holidays is. We’re part of the journey of their lives, marking the important milestones.
That understanding has guided my career. Travel Republic was formed 20 years ago, with the ethos of democratising travel and, through new technology, making holidays available to everyone.
We’re an online business but, behind our website, there’s a team of people putting customers at the heart of everything. We’re there – at the end of the phone or online – seven days a week. And I take the same care with customers’ holidays today.
Right now, when people are watching the pennies, handling their holidays is more of a responsibility than ever.
Everyone deserves a holiday. Of course, the nature of holidays changes over the course of our lives. When I was a student I spent a summer in Ibiza working in a nightclub, an amazing experience. Now that I’m a dad – my son Rocco was born in 2020 – it’s about spending quality time with the family.
Of course, things occasionally go wrong. I remember, in my early twenties, turning up in New York to discover the hotel I’d booked had no record of me. It was panic stations, especially as nobody picked up the phone at the company I’d booked with. So I found a hotel with a room, collapsed until morning then tried to recoup my money.
That’s why, at Travel Republic, night and day, we’ve got our customers’ backs.
Covid was the biggest test of that. It was all hands on deck, so I worked with the team six days a week, 9am to 11pm, organising flights home, as countries closed their borders, and ringing people to reassure them that, even though their holiday was cancelled, their money was safe with us and their break could be rearranged.
Gemma, my wife, wasn’t too impressed when I was at work on the phone the day after Rocco was born, but I had to stand up for our customers. Hand on heart, I can say I answered every email and Facebook message I received during the height of the pandemic.
That was a tough time but it has set the standard for our customer service now. When I read good feedback about our team, I’m proud. Holidays are so important and, at Travel Republic, we’re committed to making sure yours is perfect, every step of the way.
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You told us that having an expert available at all times while on holiday is important to you. That’s good customer service – which two thirds of you prioritise when booking a break.
SO Travel Republic is committed to great customer service. When you phone – Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm – you won’t be talking to a bot. Instead, one of the company’s holiday-loving experts will be there to pick up.
“A huge shout out to Gavin in customer support for all his help when I realised that I’d made a mistake on the group booking,” wrote one very happy Travel Republic holidaymaker on Trustpilot. “Rang me back within ten minutes – he was an absolute star!”
PLUS what happens if you’ve got any questions that crop up while you’re on holiday? It’s not a problem – because Travel Republic has a dedicated team to help with that.
AND for those tech-savvy holidaymakers who told us in our poll that you prefer to interact online, you can chat to one of Travel Republic’s helpful holiday heroes online, day and night.
Power to your VOICE
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EXCLUSIVE READER OFFER
Terms & conditions Save up to £300. Minimum spend levels required to be eligible for discount and apply per booking: £100 off when spending £1,250 to £1,999 per booking; £150 off when spending £2,000 to £2,999 per booking; £200 off when spending £3,000 to £3,999 per booking; £300 off when spending £4,000 or more per booking. Applicable to new holiday bookings only and must be redeemed between November 26, 2022, and midnight December 10, 2022. Discount code SUNEXCLUSIVE needs to be entered on the checkout page; and the discount will be applied where eligibility criteria are met. Promo code is not combinable with other promotions and discounts unless otherwise shown.
Travel Republic is offering discounts of up to £300 to Sun readers who book their 2023 holiday before December 10, 2022.
With this special offer, Travel Republic’s deals provide even more bang for your buck. You can have £100 off when spending £1,250 to £1999, get £150 off bookings of £2,000 to £2,999, enjoy £200 off £3,000 to £3,999 and nab £300 off £4,000 or more. Ker-ching!
So visit travelrepublic.co.uk today and use the discount code SUNEXCLUSIVE to turn your holiday dream into a reality.
Find out more at travelrepublic.co.uk
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