Argos Kids Go Free Voucher to Chessington

A question about : Argos Kids Go Free Voucher to Chessington

This is a reference to help stop any other families from being fooled into making the same mistake we did. We are a family of 6 and had four Argos Kids Go Free vouchers.

Argos team up with Merlin attractions each year to give you Kids Go Free Vouchers - one free child with a full priced adult ticket, WHEN YOU PAY ON THE GATE THE HIGHEST PRICE THEY HAVE LISTED (no other vouchers to be used or on-line bookings allowed).

At the time of this post, Chessington are charging Ј25pp for early bird bookings made on-line at least 5 days before your visit, or Ј30pp when those tickets have gone. If you turn up at the gate they charge Ј34pp for families or groups of 2 or more, or Ј45 for one adult ticket entry on their own (who goes alone?).

As a family of 6 with Kids Go Free Vouchers I expected to pay Ј34pp x 3 = Ј102. I called to check and paid 10p per minute to get through and was told yes Ј34pp for families and groups.

On the gate We had to pay 3 x Ј45 = Ј135 to get in and use 3 Argos vouchers for the kids. Total saving Ј15.00.

We had this trip planned for weeks. I could have booked the early bookings at Ј25pp and it would have only cost Ј150. How can a booking of 6 people only save you Ј15.00 when four of them are kids (oldest is 13 so classed as an adult at Chessington).

They said no other offer can be used with the vouchers, and that inlcudes their standard on the gate price of Ј34pp for families and groups.

The Ј45 charge is clearly their foot stop for anyone using vouchers. they are ticking you into thinking you get a good deal when you are not.

By the time you turn up with your kids after a long journey they know very well you have no choice other than to pay the highest price per person in order to use the vouchers.

And then you are faced with long queues which are made even longer by continually letting people in front of you that have Fasttrack tickets. And they go on again and again and cost a fortune if you are on a budget.

This is not the place to visit if you are on a budget. We spent the whole day queuing for just a handful of rides. Biggest let down of any parks.

Argos should be ashamed of themselves too.

Best answers:

• The t&c state one free child per adult full price ticket. Why would you expect to pay the 'family' price, seeing as that is not the adult price?
• Remind me not to attend Merlin sites if they are seeking to attract the children of the sort of people who shop at Argos.