UAE- Plan your vacation well in advance

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) With the holiday season fast approaching, most families would have planned their vacations well in advance. They would have also selected their destination and type of accommodation, whether hotels or furnished apartments.

Vacationers should plan early so that they get the vacation spot of their choice and are not disappointed.

The source of information consumers can rely on while planning a vacation can vary. There are two types of information, the old source which includes tour operators and guide books released by tourist authorities. Vacationers may also take the opinion of relatives and friends.

The new sources of information includes the internet and tourist-related websites and they come at the click of a button. Such websites also provide reviews from travelers. TripAdvisor.com is a major source; Google and other search engines are equally important, too. Travellers also share their views on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram which in turn make it easier for vacationers.

A study prepared by the Shaikh Zayed University in Dubai targeting a segment of Emirati travellers aged between 18 and 45 years, it was found that 66 per cent of respondents prefer to check websites that give reviews and feedback of previous travelers.

However, 58 per cent of respondents prefer to count on views of their relatives and friends. The study also showed that four per cent of respondents would rather use guide book about places visited, followed by the tour operators which drew 12 per cent of respondents.

Regarding the duration of the holiday plan, the study showed that 50 per cent of Emiratis prefer to spend around seven to 30 days on vacation, while 30 per cent prefer to go for less than seven days. However, 35 per cent of respondents said they would like to vacation for two months and more.

The outcome of the study brought out important indicators in the habits of Emiratis travelers.

Keeping this in mind, the Department of Consumer Protection at the DED has brought out a few tips for travellers.

> Plan holidays well in advance, that is at least two months before you plan to travel. Failure to do so might lead to disappointment as proper booking may not happen at the last minute. It can also affect the traveller''s budget. Enough time means gaining sufficient information on the destination. It also helps in securing visas on time.

> Do not totally count on the views of relatives and friends. Look through websites that provide evaluation and feedback of previous travelers. A traveler should also seek the advice of a tourist operators as well as the official authorised websites.

> Shop only at approved and known shops. Do not buy from street peddlers or from outlets that sell fake products as the quality may not guaranteed.

> Allocate a budget for your travel and stick to this budget before and during the trip.

> A credit card is essential during travel as it can be used in case of emergency. But remember to keep the card details secret. Also, keep the card in a secure place, and check your bank statements all the time.

> Keep all data pertaining to your trip even after you return home to maintain your rights as a consumer, and make this information as a reference for any future travel.

> Posting your feedback on your journey at trip evaluation websites in an honest manner without bias will benefit other travelers.

Wooden flooring to be replaced

The Consumer Complaints Section received a complaint filed by a consumer, who claimed that he entered into an agreement with a trading shop in Dubai to install quality wood flooring for his compound at a cost of Dh500,000.

He said after a short while, after the rains, the wood0 started getting damaged.

The consumer said he complained to the shop, bet did not receive a proper reply. Hence he had to seek help of the Consumer Complaints Section at the DED. Having reviewed the details of the contract signed between the complainant and the shop, the officials at the complaints section contacted both parties and arranged a meeting.

The representative of the shop said the damage was a result of water pools the consumer made in his yard. However, the complainant said the damage has nothing to do with the water pools as it appeared at different areas around the wood floor. The damage was not confined to the area close to the pools, he added.

Acting on the complaint, the section dispatched an inspector to examine the home and prepare a detailed report. And it was found that the damage arose at various areas on the floor.

The section was then briefed on the product used and it was found that the wood used would be affected by the vagaries of nature and that such type of flooring is not suitable for countries like the UAE.

The shop owner has subsequently asked to repair and replace the damaged pieces and spread protective material on the wood so as to prevent it from any further damage.

The shop owner said he will do what it takes and promised the consumer that the damage will not happen again. He said there might have been a mistake while installing the wooden tiles as the technician might have forgotten to place the wood guard substance.

Ayman Al Falasi, Senior Director of Consumer Complaints Section, called upon traders to make sure that the products they buy complying with the standards and specifications designed for the region in order to avert losses and offer consumers the best services.

Refund for workout machine: The complaints section recently settled a complaint involving costumer dissatisfaction with a workout machine.

A trader lodged a complaint against another, claiming that the machine he purchased from the latter for the purposes of physical fitness and weight loss began breaking down frequently. Stating that the equipment was no longer giving the intended results, the complainant contacted the seller to resolve the issue, but didnt receive a response.

The complaints section then instructed the seller to fix the machine, but two days later, the complainant called the section again, to report that the machine was causing the same problems after being repaired.

Subsequently, the section ordered the seller to replace the faulty machine with a brand new one, as stipulated by the law. However, two weeks later, the section was contacted by the same complainant, who claimed that the same problem had occurred with the new machine, too and that it stopped working after two weeks.

The section then asked the seller to refund the complainant his money, which is a compensation of Dh100,000 due to the constant manufacturing defects experienced by the latter.

Mufeed Al Zaabi, senior manager of the Commercial Establishments Complaint Section, said the repeated problem with the machine is evidence of a major manufacturing defect, thus entitling the buyer to ask for a replacement.