Trip to Singapore with EF: Booking and before the trip!

COUNTDOWN: 10 DAYS LEFT!

 

Here's a few points I want to talk about my trip that happened before my trip hehe.

First of all: price transparency while researching.

I know a lot of schools etc. don't offer clear pricing before you ask for an arrangement but I absolutely hate this tbh. Sometimes you just want to know how much you would approx. need but maybe don't have any savings now? When I asked for an offer...they included that I had to book it within a timespan.

This is frustrating because, everybody who worked or had experience in sales will get me, you get pressured to buy. Of course, they need the sales.

You are given no chance to at least have some small info before-hand..it immediately starts with an offer and an absolute price to take just now.

I hope I explained my issue well enough?

I wish I had the option to calculate approx. prices online before having to insert my data anywhere or give dates.

I spontaneously decided to just go for it but had to save FOR the trip after booking, which was insane and probably explains to you why I continually had this pressure to save.

Another point that made me mad even more; They just added a fee in the middle of it and called it currency exchange surcharge, because the exchange from SGD to EUR changed a lot in the meantime.

I checked with my co-worker: since the date of my booking it DID NOT CHANGE AT ALL or not much to justify a surcharge.
They charged me an additional 100€ just like that.

Something I also wondered: after you book, you're left alone....completely.

I had no person in charge, just bots...which is just sad in customer service terms.

I had to figure everything out myself about the trip, the only information are very general and because most people that use EF's service are minors, they are also written for a minor level.

I know I am an adult and technically that should be do-able for me, it's just that I don't travel often and especially not so far away, or outside of the EU. Plus, it just makes someone very anxious.

I wanted to use a travel agency for example to not have to care about these things and have someone in charge that I can ask when I have questions. As a backup you could say.

None of the information that was available, was regarding a trip to Singapore specifically.

It doesn't take much to have like a little information website just for Singapore and then update consistently and check if information is still accurate.

-What vaccines do I need?

-What preparations do I need to take regarding SG Arrival Card?

-Am I able to pay with card or is cash typical?

-What kind of public transport is available? what kind of costs do I need to expect?

I for example found out just days before my trip, they have different sockets over there and I will need an adapter.

These are all relevant information and maybe I am too picky and there's a misunderstanding but I think as a Travel agency, also as a language school, there should be such information be provided.

It's unreasonable if I pay for a service and have to investigate for everything.

Like I have mentioned in one blog post...not even ChatGPT mentioned the SG Arrival Card...No source ever mentioned this!! It was only logical, so I am mad knowing despite all the attempts of me trying to figure out if I need to do something before my trip, none of the sources gave me this important info.

Communication about the accommodation was also lacking.

It mentioned the option of a single room instead of a dormitory (or similiar) but it wasn't communicated while booking that this would mean, that I will be staying with strangers in their home.

I am fine with it, I see advantages in this, but I wish I had known before booking.

Maybe I would have chosen otherwise...?? idk.

I imagined something like an airbnb for example.

That's another problem resulting of the lack of "specific" information I mentioned.

Everywhere it says "typically" or "for destination xy" (which is not yours of course) and you don't know for sure if it means for you too. That's how I think this misunderstanding happened.

Also, maybe it's because while booking, I have spoken with the saleswoman on the phone and told her I don't want to stay with other people -> so I naturally assumed I will have my own space.

But maybe that's also a misunderstanding because, again, usually this service is for minors and of course minors won't stay alone.

If that's the case, they need to improve on their program for people 25+ years old.

(I wonder now...I have seen they offer language courses for seniors as well, do they also receive pdfs considering "no alcohol or smoking prohibitions" and rules regarding "to be home after 10pm"? Honestly guys, I felt like I was yeeted back to high school reading those.)

Another point, also regarding having no person in charge after your booking, are the planned activities (optional).

I finally could view them approx. 10 days before my trip and they offered a weekend-trip to malaysia.

They mentioned the price BUT also have written in the description that the price of the flight is not included, but also state in the description when the flight takes place.

So here's the problem: I want to book but I don't know, will the school tell me the price for the flight later on? do I need to book myself? Will the school book for me? 

THERE IS NO OPTION TO CONTACT ANYBODY. No E-Mail nothing...just a number.
There is a time difference of 6 hours between Germany and Singapore, that doesn't seem a lot at first but they are not open the whole day...it's a very tiny timeframe I could dial the number...and also of course, it falls within my working times. I would have preferred at least having an E-Mail as an option to take contact with them.

I was able to find a way to contact somebody, hidden in the app somewhere (which is unclear in general). The trip was booked out by then and I haven't received an answer on time.

As you can see, I hoped there would be a better connection between customer/student and language school/EF. Maybe all these points are the reason why I was so extremely nervous and anxious.

They offered information calls on zoom, but of course only once (!) in a month and it's when I need to work. I was lucky I could take place in one coincidentally because they gave me a day off and here again: the info provided is VERY GENERAL. It wasn't the kind of info call I expected or hoped for.

These are all very negative and sad points I know.

I can only remember when I took my first trip alone to Mallorca with TUI - they took care of everything! the flight, the transfer and even the communication while your stay over there.

They told you exactly what to do and where to go and what you need etc....and that was during covid!!
I for example received notifications on my phone, when they pick me up and what I need to know during my stay. I received immediately a message on my phone when they changed the laws regarding travel.

Since It was still in EU, I of course didn't need much info compared to Singapore.

But other than that -  I received the customer service I paid for over there. Even with only digital information and just bots.

Wow, I personally am surprised myself about how many negative points I could get together now.
I need to stop nagging and calm down lmao...I hope it's going to be a lot better from now on.

I am verrrryy curious, but considering all these things..the trip has to be completely worth it to make me consider rebooking with them. I technically were interested in different destinations as well.

Maybe it's all part of growing up and I just need to stop acting a diva and be a bit more independent and learn to manage things on my own.
Maybe I am just spoiled with good customer service experiences.

I don't want to start my trip negative like that.

Also, I might try and look for making a weekend-trip to malaysia by myself...it gave me the idea now.

Edit: The language school has send me a remind e-mail now with all the important things approx. 5 days before the trip. It is clear to me now, that I was getting incredibly nervous while writing this post.