Anyone heard of Getaway Escapes?

[Mal]

I went to the Gold Coast and stayed at the Oaks by the Gold Coast airport and had a great time, it costed about $1100 for me and my daughter and we came from Tas,

Thanks for the info. This was the sort of stuff people were interested in - how the operation works.

 

[drron]

God you people are all so sad... no I don't work for them and don't even know where their office is? or anyone who works for them.. Just happen to come across this when I was checking out something else and as I did get ripped off by the other company, funtastic, thought I would throw my two cents in and that they actaully tried to help me. I went to the Gold Coast and stayed at the Oaks by the Gold Coast airport and had a great time, it costed about $1100 for me and my daughter and we came from Tas,

Thought that I could help on this chat thing but guess I was wrong and I don't want to be involved in something that you all are just out to moan about something weather its good or bad.. less if you lost money you get to moan but most of you are have never ever talked to this company - why don't you try giving them a chance. Don't worry I won't post again.

Dont get too upset.Some of us have been around a long time and have seen this sort of thing before.So we can be quite cynical.It can work but often it is the fine print that makes it unworkable-I remember buying a microwave from Hardly normal about 20 years ago with exactly the same sort of deal mentioned by the OP-I didnt buy because of the promotion,it just happened to be on when i needed to buy.We were never able to use the discounted travel.
The thing that worries me is that these people are Gold coast based as were the others.FHT honoured funtastic coupons after they were outed and now Great escapes are honouring the coupons.The fact that you say they contacted you sends alarm bells ringing in my mind-sorry but thats just how I am.

 

[ljk23]

Getaway escapes - most times...the product they are trying to sell isnt really that bad or that bad of deal ..well most of the time anyway, its the marketing tactics they use to sell and promote them.

Customers are often not clearly informed of the finer details of the deal.. They often play on words to make you think you are getting something for free when really your not, eg a common tactic... buy this holiday voucher for $90 and get 5 free nights accommodation at one of our resorts/hotels...

When in fact you need to buy one night to get one free ( at rack rate) with a maximum of 5 nights free. ( the entertainment book offers this!)

At the end of the day there are sometimes good deals to be had through these sorts of companies, it just pays to completely understand what you are buying and do the research on the properties that they are offering.

my two words.

 

[Chicken]

Customers are often not clearly informed of the finer details of the deal

That's why I did not buy it.

When I asked the lady who called me back later that day, I asked her if I need to pay for flight, and she said she cannot answer that, because she was new! So I asked her to asked a manager, and she said what she told me was what she was told, she does not have any extra info.

Well, how am I supposed to buy it? I simply cannot buy it, even if that means $99 staying at, I don't know, Peninsula Hotel? I cannot buy something if the sales rep don't know know what it is.

 

[ljk23]

I currently provide product to several of these "discount package" companies, and have often asked myself whether it is worth making revenue from these people when moral questions are often raised by their selling tactics or lack there of.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What would make me nervous about booking that kind of thing irrespective of the company name is the fact that the people on the other end of the phone seem to know precious little about the program which may lead you to making a decision based on what you think is one thing but find out it's completely another.

There have been instances in the past where you get 'free' airfares provided to purchase accommodation at full rack rates like $350.00 per night which soon negates any saving you made on the 'free' airfares.

Other scams out there include 'free' accommodation as long as you purchase all your meals in the hotel.....don't think so!

Personally I would not buy any holidays through companies such as this.

Anything I'm unsure of I usually google the company name following by the word scam or complaint and see what the search returns.

My personal opinion is that domestic holiday packages that include airfares are dead as a dodo and you are far better off booking your airfares direct via the airlines website then doing accommodation either direct with the hotel or via an accommodation site such as www.wotif.com.au or similar.

I've used www.accorhotels.com.au where you can get good rates some even include a full buffet breakfast.

It's still worth checking out land only package deals eg for places such as Cairns as sometimes you get extra inclusions such as day tours, airport transfers for the same or sometimes even less than the hotel.

 

[bobdavidson]

It is intersting to watch what has happened while i have been away.
I did get ripped off by FHT and during my dealings with the Dept of Fair Trading I was contacted by Getaway.
The dept informed me that the connection between the 2 companies includes several senior people who are or were involved with both companies and I will not be burned again and I hope everybody else does not fall for the same SCAM
It is intersting to see the people from the company monitoring your site as they obviously know where people voice their concerns

 

[lvr181]

bobdavidson - I think you have a personal axe to grind?

I believe I am right, that in law the accused has the right to see their accuser (or words to that effect)! Why do you hide behind a pseudonym?

As for the Department of Fair Trading making a comment on any connection between FHT and Getaway, I very much doubt it.

If you believe Getaway is a scam why have you not lodged a complaint with the State and Federal consumer authorities? I believe that ASIC has a site dealing with scams, is Getaway listed there? Is it listed on a State government site?

It is intersting to watch what has happened while i have been away.
I did get ripped off by FHT and during my dealings with the Dept of Fair Trading I was contacted by Getaway.
The dept informed me that the connection between the 2 companies includes several senior people who are or were involved with both companies and I will not be burned again and I hope everybody else does not fall for the same SCAM
It is intersting to see the people from the company monitoring your site as they obviously know where people voice their concerns

lkj23 - if you question the "morals" of a company reselling your product why do you keep supplying them? Is money a more powerful motivator than "morals"?

And one final, open question - are Getaway Escapes the only company in Australia using the type of selling?

 

[oz_mark]

There have been instances in the past where you get 'free' airfares provided to purchase accommodation at full rack rates like $350.00 per night which soon negates any saving you made on the 'free' airfares.

Other scams out there include 'free' accommodation as long as you purchase all your meals in the hotel.....don't think so!

While I probably wouldn't use these packages, I am not so sure that they are scams. They are just packages that come with a set of terms and conditions. Somehow everything has to get paid for, these packages just use creative ways of packaging those costs up.

 

[broomhilda]

bobdavidson - I think you have a personal axe to grind?

I believe I am right, that in law the accused has the right to see their accuser (or words to that effect)! Why do you hide behind a pseudonym?

As for the Department of Fair Trading making a comment on any connection between FHT and Getaway, I very much doubt it.

If you believe Getaway is a scam why have you not lodged a complaint with the State and Federal consumer authorities? I believe that ASIC has a site dealing with scams, is Getaway listed there? Is it listed on a State government site?



lkj23 - if you question the "morals" of a company reselling your product why do you keep supplying them? Is money a more powerful motivator than "morals"?

And one final, open question - are Getaway Escapes the only company in Australia using the type of selling?

Yes there is a company called Ezy Flights, that used to be Beachbreak Holidays......they rip of normal families they sell these flight packs and you have to take a 7 night holiday also. When you buy it they tell you it is valid for 2 years.....after you have it for 12 months a girl calls and tells you that you had to book it in 12 months but valid for travel for 2 years then wants another $100 bucks ..........how can this be?

 

[serfty]

G'day broomhilda, welcome to AFF

Yes, there are plenty of companies out there prey on some peoples perception of the "mystique of travel".

There's an old saying - "If it's too good the be true, then it probably isn't".

 

[oldlady]

Really wish I'd found your question before we did our money! Stay away from Getaway Escapes!!:evil:

 

[bobdavidson]

Has any contacted Consumer Affairs or ASIC about these guys yet
We know they are a SCAM you only need to look around on the net
After investigations you will see they were attached to both FHT Travel and Funtastic holidays and that should be enough of a warning
Do not get sucked in by what is obviously staff from their office on this site

 

[oldlady]

I contacted Consumer Affairs about Getaway Escapes - basically was told - "let the buyer beware", I should not have continued with the purchase of the package when Getaway advised they "do not post out brochures". There is no cooling off period with phone sales. Also made a complaint directly to Getaway, whose management advised myself that they have a recording of my phone call in which I "knew what I was getting". I don't have a recording do I ?! Its only a matter of time before they are out of business, and change their name and start all over again!!!

 

[bobdavidson]

If you contact Department of Fair Trading on the Gold Coast as I did you will get help. I got my money back through them and they told me I was not the only one complaining.
You can also stop scam artists like this by going to your bank and asking them to do a chargeback and the money will be put back on your credit card
Good luck and you

 

[straitman]

I contacted Consumer Affairs about Getaway Escapes - basically was told - "let the buyer beware", I should not have continued with the purchase of the package when Getaway advised they "do not post out brochures". There is no cooling off period with phone sales. Also made a complaint directly to Getaway, whose management advised myself that they have a recording of my phone call in which I "knew what I was getting". I don't have a recording do I ?! Its only a matter of time before they are out of business, and change their name and start all over again!!!

You should ask them for a copy of the recording in order for them to prove to you what was said.

 

[inxtc]

I have been following the comments on this website with some interest. As an employee of Getaway Escapes I am appalled by the concerted action by a competitor to discredit this company. Despite the fact that Getaway Escapes is a fully licenced travel agent, is a member of the Travel Agents Compensation fund, some of your contributors keep claiming they (Getaway Escapes) is a scam. My question is: if this is so, then why have the relevant authorities granted them a travel licence? Also, why has bobdavidson (or one of his cohorts) not laid a complaint with ASIC? Bob, put up or shutup!

Disclaimer: I do not have any other financial interest in the company or its associates, nor am I related to the owners.

And to the website forum controller: you are allowing slanderous and libelous statements to be made and this may well lead to you being enjoined in a future action against those making such statements. You should ask those making these comments to prove to you the validity and evidence of such accusations before publishing, as any reputable and responsible publisher would.

Has any contacted Consumer Affairs or ASIC about these guys yet
We know they are a SCAM you only need to look around on the net
After investigations you will see they were attached to both FHT Travel and Funtastic holidays and that should be enough of a warning
Do not get sucked in by what is obviously staff from their office on this site

 

[Chicken]

I have been following the comments on this website with some interest. As an employee of Getaway Escapes I am appalled by the concerted action by a competitor to discredit this company. Despite the fact that Getaway Escapes is a fully licenced travel agent, is a member of the Travel Agents Compensation fund, some of your contributors keep claiming they (Getaway Escapes) is a scam. My question is: if this is so, then why have the relevant authorities granted them a travel licence? Also, why has bobdavidson (or one of his cohorts) not laid a complaint with ASIC? Bob, put up or shutup!

Look OK so far.

Disclaimer: I do not have any other financial interest in the company or its associates, nor am I related to the owners.

Okay ......

And to the website forum controller: you are allowing slanderous and libelous statements to be made and this may well lead to you being enjoined in a future action against those making such statements. You should ask those making these comments to prove to you the validity and evidence of such accusations before publishing, as any reputable and responsible publisher would.

Now, I went from believing 50% of what you said, to believing none of it.

 

[admin]

I am putting a temporary lock on this thread. It has come to my attention that two of the poster who have contributed to the thread share the same IP address. In the interest of full disclosure, I have PMed them requesting identity clarification.

 

[admin]

Clarification received from inxtc

lvr181 & inxtc are the same person. While lvr181 was not a permanent employee of Getaway escapes at the time of posting, I am now an employee and hence my admission as such in my recent post. Please delete the lvr181 account - I have no problem with that.
p.s. But you do need to deal with the slanderous and libelous comments by some of your contributors. There is a lot of misinformed and mischievous comment being made by posters who hide behind their anonymity.

I am now re-opening the thread