Avanti holiday promotions - Is this a scam?

Gel

My wife just got a call from a crowd called Avanti holiday promotions. Seemingly we filled out a survey at Faro airport and went into a draw for a week in the sun! We won!
I actually can't remember completing any survey but maybe the missus did.
I'm suspicious of anything like this but I googled the company and they do exist.
Has anyone come across them or similar before?

Ponster

Never heard of them. Just ask the wife if she filled in something I suppose. In all cases you're going to have to do a lot of reading of whatever you may have to sign to get this holiday.

KTRIC

[sarcasm]well their website looks professional, so it must be real[/sarcasm] :rolleyes:

Ponster

Their site doers look a little like it's still 1994. The VAT number on their site exists.

nava

Where you there on the dates mention? strange because if not how can they get to know that you were there and get your details to call.

Once they don't ask you for money to release tickets or anything like that.

Pythia

I was in Faro on Sunday and there is a survey going on at the moment. Not sure if it's the same one though...

killbillvol2

At a guess I'd say it's some convoluted way of selling you a timeshare. Play along until they ask for money maybe?

super_skeptic

It seems that I have also won a holiday with Avanti. My wife remembers me filling in the form in Faro Airport a few years ago. I think that the prize is apartment only: you will have to pay for flights, food etc. When we asked what was in it for them, they said that they hope that you will eat in local resturants etc.

However, they want 70 euro up front, via Visa; Paypal would have made me less suspicious. I reckon that a single bed apartment at the time of year available would be quite cheap anyway, and on balance (unless we hear a (verifiable) success story from someone else I will go with the usual rule of never parting with money on the basis of an unsolicited telephone call.

highrank

Hi just got call from wendy from avanti. same thing - free holiday and to let her know by tomorrow. I was wondering if this was a scam .glad I checked this site if they're asking for money via visa it must be a scam.
i wont be taking it. has anyone?

Poolfan71

Hi

I filled out a questionnaire in Faro 6 weeks ago & then got a call yesterday saying I had 48 hours to call back a UK number stating that I had won a weeks holiday in Spain, various locations. I also had to sort my own flights and the offer was available until end March 09 or very latest April 09 for a 1 bed apartment self catering. I received a CLient ID number and I also google'd Avanti holidays and it seems genuine enough. I got email confirmation within 5 minutes of the phone call ending. I didn't give out any banking, laser/credit cards details etc.

DId anyone go any further that this ? Did they ring back Avanti UK ?

ArmaniJeanss

They are insolvent and not bonded.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/3044066.stm

Discussion about the free holiday thing on another board.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g189112-i331-k2261935-Avanti_holidays_free_week_away-Albufeira_Algarve.html

Poolfan71

Thanks AJ,

I didn't call back within the 48 hours to see what would happen & she phoned me today, asking whether I read her e-mail !! I read the other links
you sent thru, much appreciated.

Wide berth indeed...

minnie1234

I too received a phone call yesterday from a lady from Avanti holidays. I filled out the questionaire in Faro airport last month. She e-mailed me details of the resorts we could go to and requested I book my flights within 48hrs or give her a €50 deposit. I e-mailed the lady to ask her to confirm that if we go then under no circumstances will we be requested to attend any sales or promotional meetings, to which she confirmed. She stated they want us to have a great holiday so that we spread the word to family/friends on our return. I would love to hear from someone who went on their "free week" away... Flights are only €100 return so I am tempted....

Poolfan71

they are still calling me, about 3 times a week. I keep fobbing them off. Let me know how you get on.

ShriekingSheet

I'm fairly sure Gerry Ryan did a piece on these Avanti guys a couple of months back. It was a slightly different scheme where people were asked to trade their time-shares for world-wide deals. Within moments of one or two people describing their initial experience there were lots of callers calling in to say don't go near them.

Most cases involved a meeting in Spain at which people would receive an extremely hard sell from a thrid party to join a "holiday club". The line from the third party was something like "we don't know why Avanti told you you were getting X, we were told you were here to buy Y".

It's just a dodgy, dodgy area and the site is laughable.

mdm

I just found this thread while trying to check out the Avanti Guys. I also got an offer of a free holiday and in checking their web site noted that there are no company details available through the site (a legal requirement now). Also, I am getting frequent calls forcing me to make a decision on my choice - but only being given one choice of the Canaries in October! I am going to try to contact Faro Airport about this

Poolfan71

MDM,

dont be forced into thinking you have to make a decision ! I took several calls from a girl called Kelly in avanti who acted like she knew me all my life and even tried the Irish angle basically implying that we know how to enjoy ourselves...I just told her that I would have to get my holidays approved in work first before I could commit to any dates, the hard sell approach she tried I just saw thru it so I kept stalling her. It worked for me.

I would suspect you may not get any joy from Faro airport.The attitude I took to this whole episode was, if I wanted 1 week away (s/catering accommodation only which is what I was "offered") I would sort myself out.

mdm

Faro Airport have cancelled the surveys in their departure areas because of complaints.
I Got called again yesterday by Anton from Aventi. I was given another web site to check out re their business. www.petcheyleisure.com It does look legit and has full comapny details - plus an Irish affiliate based in Shannon. I tried the tel number in Shannon but there was no reply (surprised!) He did tell me that Aventi, the company that was insolvent, was not the same as Aventi Passport. The Aventi Passport site is used just to show clients the various resorts but not their real company site!

I do think that it may just be a lousy promotional campaign which was also badly managed. It was referred to as a promotional campaign (with surveys) by Faro Airport. Anton did tell me that a lot of people are contacted in this manner. Probably everyone who completed the survey. I imagine that a few apartments are ear marked in the low season for this purpose in the hope that if you go, you will come back again for a paid holiday. It does not cost them anything as the apartments are empty. You do pay their costs - as in bed linen and cleaning costs with your payment of the booking fee

stewart229

Ive just returned from a weeks holiday in Spain with Advanti/Petchey lesuire/Infinniti.( believe they are all the same firm or allied to each other in some way)at their Grangefield Oasis place in the Costa del Sol after having been phoned up last year saying we had won a weeks holiday after filling out a questionaire at Faro airport, which we vaguely remember doing.
After a few calls from them we decided to take the plunge and booked flights to Spain (FlyGlobespan)and we were then asked for £50 which was to go towards our account when we arrived we informed them we were not keen on giving them £50 and didnt pay it but still were offered a weeks holiday (we managed to get them to agree on Easter week)
A bit apprehensive, we arrived in Spain last week (11/4/09) picked up our hired car and drove to the Grangefield Oasis( not too easy to find, sat nav helped) and booked in . We were contacted by one of the staff the following morning who gave us a quick resume of the place and also an account card which you could add any meals/drinks etc to and pay at the end of the week with 10% discountwe were also asked to attend a welcome meeting the following morning at 11am which lasted about 1/2 an hour( no pressure)
All the girl asked was that we spend at one morning at breakfast with them ( which they would pay for) so they could explain to us the way the company worked however we didnt get round to the meeting as we were busy getting out and about sightseeing and there was no pressure to arrange another meeting and having spoken to others who did have the breakfast meeting with the staff they said they were not put under any pressure to sign anything up.
All in all we had a nice week away for the cost of the flights and car hire which wasnt bad, weather could have been better though it rained 2 days, . The resort is situated a good distance up a steep hill from any shops and the shore you really need a car to get about but certainly the apartment we were allocated was excellent with all the facilities mentioned and included washing machine, iron and ironingboard, clothes horse, full oven and cooker ,toaster, microwave, juicer,lcd tv. dvd player and sound system, large fridge/freezer
Although we enjoyed our week we dont think we would go back there as we prefer Portugal.
Hope this helps some of you with your deliberations

softlad

;)The wife filled out the questionnaire in May in Faro airport, just got their call this evening the same story 48 hours to decide. Think after reading this site decision made, a weeks accommodation for 4 at low season
rates, will end up costing a fortune after factoring in flights , car hire food etc afraid its a no go and of course their 59 euro fee.

To be avoided.

mdm

I also made a complaint (through Cork airport) on this and was told that the Airport authorities at Faro had been informed ....and were going to stop allowing these types of promotions. Obviously thay have not!

MichaelJE

No its not a scam . I have worked with both Petchey Leisure Avanti Holidays and Club la Costa they offer good value holidays in the hope that you purchase into their holiday ownership club. That is the bottom line. You have a cheap holiday is stunning resorts in the hope you choose to become a member.

You can choose when you wish to travel some promotions offer flights included others don't .

When you arrive you will be shown around the resorts if you purchase great if not enjoy the rest of your holiday. You can so No when you are there and you are NOT hassled during your stay you have a 90 mins presentation after that you are legally allowed to get up and leave the rep. That's in your terms and conditions.

If you show interest then of course the rep is going to keep you longer than that time, its up to each individual to have the backbone and tell the rep straight that yes we will listen to you for the designated time but we are not buying, you may however change your mind when you see the resorts as over 250,000 members already have !

Don't knock it until you have tried it and if you get a cheap holiday out of it then its a bonus .

Listening to a rep talking and doing his job at the end of the day for 90 minutes out of a 7 night stay. I could handle that - why is it such a hardship for some of you ?

If its not for you JUST SAY NO in the words of Zammo on Grange Hill.

kest1

Hi,

I recently returned from a holiday at Oura beach hotel in Albufeira, Portugal, having been contacted on several occasions by a rep from Avanti Passport. Being the sceptic that I am, I surprised myself by agreeing to take my hubby and two young children on a so-called 'free accommodation holiday' (simply for spending over a certain amount in my local drycleaners!)
To cut a long story short: We made a debit card payment of £50 which we were told we would receive (in euros) once we got to the resort.
Easyjet flights cost us just over £500 (during october half term - didn't pay for the boys because they're under 2). We contacted the resort and made arrangements for transfers from Faro airport - which cost about £60 - not bad considering the journey from the airport was about 40mins.

The transfer was very smooth. Arrived at the hotel and checked in. (Still holding my breath, expecting to be whacked with a massive pre-bill). The £50 initial deposit was placed on our account - which meant we had to use it at the resort (towards drinks, upgrading to half board, etc..) The hotel was lovely. Staff extremely friendly.

We had contacted by a rep the day before we arrived (so we knew we were in line for some sales patter). But in fairness, she was really lovely; didn't hassle us at all. The holiday scheme she was selling was, in fact, very interesting and had it not been for other financial commitments and priorities, we would have been considered joining. She took up less than an hour of our time and that was by mutual consent.

We lost nothing; in fact we had an absolutely fab holiday. We upgraded to half board for about £120 each. (Although the food wasn't great - it wasn't dire). There were lots of restaurants, shops, etc. around the resort which would have served us better had we explored a bit first. (We'd figured that with two young children we wouldn't fancy the hassle of roaming around looking for suitable places to eat).
The weather was great. The hotel is really big and is located right on the beach. The apartment we were in was a great size. All the self catering facilities you'd need. Plus a bottle of wine to welcome us (along with bread, milk, butter, cheese, ham, etc. in the fridge - that was a nice touch). The staff were very accommodating. They arranged for cotbeds to be brought in for our boys, as I hadn't made the request in the initial stages.

My advice to anyone considering an Avanti holiday:
It's definitely not a scam! I'm sure a lot of you may even be interested in the holiday scheme if you're frequent travellers. And if you're not, an hour or so of your time is not going to destroy your holiday! Apart from paying for our flights, upgrading to half board and a few nibbles and drinks by the pool, we didn't pay for anything else. (Oh yes; and a few tips here and there).:)

bignightian

mdm wrote: »

I just found this thread while trying to check out the Avanti Guys. I also got an offer of a free holiday and in checking their web site noted that there are no company details available through the site (a legal requirement now). Also, I am getting frequent calls forcing me to make a decision on my choice - but only being given one choice of the Canaries in October! I am going to try to contact Faro Airport about this

Oh. come on!! Nobody is forcing you to make a decision.. You either want or don't want a cheap holiday. I've been offered Portugal, UK and Spain, including Tenerife, and have only had to make up my mind within 48 hours. All the resorts look great and I have been at Oura View Beach Club in the Algarve. It's of the highest standard and has the best of facilities. I met with the 'sales rep', who was very pleasant and was not offended when I said that I didn't want to join the Infiniti Holiday Club. Do yourself a favour and chill out at their invitation... My family and I did, it was one of the best holidays we ever had, especially as it cost less than £200 (including flights!!) for the four of us

TravelJunkie

Why are people supporting this scheme have only one or two posts on boards?
Sounds fishy to me.

bignightian

TravelJunkie wrote: »

Why are people supporting this scheme have only one or two posts on boards?
Sounds fishy to me.

Why are so many people against this. How can you criticise something that you have not experienced.. Sounds paranoid, to me. Check out Tesco's Club Card scheme, they offer holidays through this company, as do Kleeneze and Thomas Cook Travel.
Parent company, Petchey Leisure, has existed for almost 30 years and was the only 'timeshare' company to be involved in the EU legislation of the industry!!
Do yourself a favour, take a holiday and get over the paranoid scepticism. Nobody is going to abduct you and torture you into buying something that you may not want.
All too often we hear only 'bad' news, and those with good news keep it to themselves

mikedragon32

Those of us here long enough are always very wary when folks apparently sign up to say how great something is. More often than not the poster is a shill and to be honest I'm not convinced that some on this thread are just that.

I'm closing the thread.