Which? reveals UK's best and worst holiday companies

Two companies share the top spot, achieving recommended provider status

Passengers check in at the South Terminal of London Gatwick Airport in West Sussex. PA

Jet2holidays and Kuoni have come out joint first in a survey of beach and resort package providers, while eDreams languished at the bottom, according to research by consumer group Which?.

The level of customer service offered by companies made the difference in where they ended up in its annual ratings, the group said.

Jet2holidays and Kuoni each had a customer score of 84 per cent and were awarded Which? Recommended Provider status.

They had an almost-perfect run of five-star ratings, with Jet2 slipping to four stars on accommodation and Kuoni, the most expensive provider in the survey, losing one star in value for money.

In comparison, online travel agency eDreams scored 64 per cent overall, scoring only two stars from respondents on how well the description of the holidays offered matched the reality.

Although the consumer group said it was the cheapest provider in the survey, eDreams only managed three stars in value for money.

The world's 20 best cities for family holiday in 2022 - in pictures

It said Tui, as one of the largest providers in the UK to offer a combination of online and shop sales, fell down on customer service.

Overall it came 10 percentage points behind Jet2holidays, despite serving a similar number of travellers in the survey and having the same average price a night for short haul stays, the group said.

It said one traveller said they experienced “rude and ignorant” cabin crew while another described the “long-winded and frustrating” experience of trying to make contact with customer service agents through an app.

Among the positive experiences was one satisfied customer who said that “everything was very slick, good communication and lovely staff”.

10 adventure holidays up close with nature - in pictures

“After an incredibly disruptive few years for travellers, our survey found good customer service puts the best companies ahead of the pack," said Jo Rhodes, deputy editor of Which? Travel.

"With some respondents complaining that their providers were difficult to get hold of when things went wrong, Jet2holidays and Kuoni distinguished themselves by offering travellers support every step of the way.

“Next year, those booking with Which? Recommended Providers will have peace of mind that the price they are quoted is the price they will pay, as these firms have all committed to not levying surcharges if confronted with rising costs.”

Top 10 holiday hot spots based on tourism growth - in pictures

A representative of eDreams said it would not be accurate to compare it to other companies that specialise in a “more traditional package holiday offering” rather than their “dynamic packages, which are bespoke combinations that package flights and hotels only”.

They said they “take great care to provide accurate descriptions of the accommodation options available through our platforms” and are “incredibly proud of the customer service we provide to our 17 million global customers”.

A Tui representative said: “As a multi-award winner – and the UK’s largest travel company – this tiny survey isn’t at all reflective of the feedback we receive from our customers who enjoy holidaying with us every year."

Which? said it had surveyed 8,361 adults online in September about their experiences between September 2019 and September 2022.