Very Quick Update: Last night I checked the First Choice webiste and they had changed the booking information to include details of Sea View or not. Although their customer service is remains poor it is good to see that they have started listening!

Hi All,

Just a quick note about First Choice and the changes to bookings for some of their resorts/apartments.

For the past 4 years we have visited the Olive Gardens in Lassi, Kefalonia. In previous years you have been able to book online or at the TA requesting your preference for Sea Views.

This year you are not allowed to specify what you would like. Ordinarily this is something that would not get me so angry but as I know this particular holiday apartments, I know that there are lovely sea view apartments and a few apartments (max 4) behind 3 storey houses which are classed as non-sea view apartments which are sub-standard for a number of reasons:

1) they are NOT suitable for young families (the balcony is not enclosed and leads to the carpark and road)

2) one of the apartments has a balcony which you are unable to sit on due to a large bush taking over the space

3) no sea view (maybe not so much of a problem unless you really wanted one!)

Every year we have stayed here, the people in these apartments have complained and requested to be moved, surely First Choice would have records of these complaints? This is why I find it hard to believe that they are knowingly selling these sub-standard apartments for the same price as the much nicer ones (last year you paid extra for a sea view).

When I wrote to them they wrote back saying that you could 'request' a sea view but this could not be confirmed.

If I was paying £600 per person I would want to get what I paid for. I really feel sorry for people who may book here because they are going on the nice pretty apartment pictures on the website but little do they know that when they get there they may be allocated these dark little apartments at the back.

The Olive Gardens is fantastic and more than 90% of the apartments are lovely. If you don't mind what your apartment is like and all you want is a bed for the night then ignore this post, but, if like me you enjoy sitting reading your book and sampling a glass of the local wine while watching the sunset over the sea then this may not be for you.

I wanted to book for my parents to go for their 40th wedding anniversary but First Choice have made this impossible as I wouldn't want my parents in these apartments! This will be the first time in 4 years that we haven't booked to go to the Olive Gardens.

BUT if you do go to the Olive Gardens and you get put into these apartments and want to complain, let me know and I will forward you all of my correspondence with First Choice.

I'm sorry that this appears to be a bit of a rant but I think people should know how First Choice continue to NOT put their customers first.