Val

Can't give you any advice, just want to say I'm sorry. I know how you must have been looking forward to your trip to the Maldives, you've saved and talked about it for a long time now. What a bummer! I know you've dived the Red Sea previously so that's not an alternative. I can't believe they have nothing else at any of the other islands to offer you.


Judith

What about the Caribbean, any chance of getting a holiday there?

Oh Val. No ,not your holiday in the Maldives

Thats only 2/3 weeks . Im sure there is a standard numbers of days before departure rule where compo is due . Its not going to be any consolation though is it .

Im sorry I dont know much about the Maldives but is this just one reef that is out of action. Can you get your money back and book with somebody else for a different part .

lyn x

Just reread again Val . Sorry My mouth has opened before my brain was has engaged .For goodness sake ist choice and Thomsons are the same now .That is flaming blackmail that they wont transfer your money if you choose something with thomsons

I cant understand that they wont transfer holiday from FC to Thomson our cancelled holiday with Thomson was trasfered to a FC. one. They are one and the same company its only difference is High Street brand names.

Angie.

They said they are still 2 separate parts. I reckon they are trying to screw us over a barrell. There was a possible alternative with Thomsons departing just 24 hours later but it cost more at the latest prices and they said we couldn't have it..so I went nuts..I think I need to consult with a solicitor as I am sure I have grounds for a claim. I am at work at the minute so am sort of stuck for giving it my full attention...

They did say a number of reefs were having the same work done so diving was totally out of the question...

how can they possibly think Fuertaventura compares to the Maldives??????

I might as well book a blitty holiday to Bournemouth ( sorry Bournemouth..)...

They must have known before now and they still took our money, that is morally wrong.

I think the problem is Val needs to get her money back before she can start booking one of the other islands with another TO. She's already arranged for time off work, hotel in Gatwick etc. and should be departing in just three weeks time and who knows how long First Choice will take refunding the money.
She could perhaps get a holiday to the Caribbean with First Choice, but I understand her frustration she had looked forward to going to one of the best places in the world for diving, and all of her research and stories from other divers will have really whetted her appetite for the Maldives. The Caribbean would be lovely but it's not where she chose to spend her holiday of a lifetime. I would say cancel the whole thing and try and go next winter, but in these economic crunch times the money may be needed for something else in the next few months and the chance may not come around again for quite a few years. A difficult choice.
Judith

Sorry Val
I took forever to type my last post. I was just answering the ones before yours.

Judith

Ive just been thinking more or less the same as judith Val. This would be bad enough if it was any holiday but this is about the diving . You have saved hard for a holiday of a lifetime for the Diving experience .If you were to take anything else you will be back to square one and still want to experience the Maldives.

With my rational head on Val I would agree, take your money back if they cant give you the Maldives, contact Ros ,I am sure you will be entitled to compo at this stage ,keep your money safe and re-book for another time. Please dont settle for second best ,you dont deserve that

lyn x

Then again if you take your money back could you ever get this again at the price . How much difference between this and the Thomson one Val. maybe the right dept can sort this to your satisfaction even if a little compromise is needed .

Fuerteventura may not be the Maldives in most terms, but if you do some research you will find that it has some of the very best diving in the world, underwater national parks, volcanic reefs etc. there are literally dozens of diving schools and sites. Do some research you might be surprised.

I'm pretty sure Val has already been diving in the Canaries and as much as Fuerteventura is a nice holiday destination it could not be classed as a holiday of a life time destination.

Val try Paradisus Rio De Oro at Guardalavaca in Cuba a superb hotel. diving is included in the price both FC & Thomson fly out on Moday ex Gatwick.
Look here for my trip report from 2008 we are going back 2009

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/caribbean/cuba/guardalavaca/paradisus-rio-de-ora-resort-hotel-and-spa/

Val, I expect you probably paid by credit card for your holiday. Have you thought about discussing it with them?

Might I suggest you contact Ros Fernihough, a solicitor specialising in holiday problems, who helps members on this forum. Her contact details can be found on a sticky at the top of this part of the forum. Good luck and I'm really sorry that you have been let down so badly so close to your departure date.

I'd phone Ros as well Val. It doesn't seem as though anyone has really tried to help you sort out an alternative though. Did you book on the web or in a shop? Maybe you could go in and speak to someone in person. There are so many conflicting actions taken by TA's in these circumstances its beyond belief. Sometimes I think they just do what they feel like on the day.

Gutted for you Val. I know it was to be the holiday of a lifetime.

I think it is totally insensitive of them to suggest Fuerteventura as an alternative. I would have been steaming and probably would have pointed out that having been to the Canaries about a dozen times, if that had been where I wanted to go I would have booked it in the first place.

Speak to Ros or her office, on both counts i.e. leaving it till only three weeks prior to travel (chances of getting a suitable alternative slim to nil). They must have known of the condition of the reefs earlier than this. Also not letting a deposit/monies be transferred between First Choice and Thomson when we know full well this has been allowed for others. I would whoever you are dealing with you are contacting a travel solicitor.

If diving the Maldives is your once in a lifetime dream don't let them push you to take something else as you may regret it, particularly if you go elsewhere and then can't get the money together to go in the Maldives in the future.

Doe

Sorry that should say I would tell whoever you are dealing with that you are contacting a travel solicitor. It might get them motivated.

Thanks for all your support and advice peeps..

The long and short of it is was we went in Thomas Cook, explained what happened and asked them what they could do for us. We are now going to Thailand, travelling on the same dates but going from Heathrow instead of Gatwick. We are having 9 nights in Phuket, 4 nights in Krabi and 1 night in Bangkok. We have had to pay for this up front obviously, so my credit card has had a hammering this weekend...but I am hoping that Last choice refund us in full by Wednesday as they promised so I can pay my card off straight away. I also used the spending money we had saved for the Maldives.

Bit of a gamble, but I am hoping it pays off after the luck we have just had. I spent Friday night arguing with them over what had happened and one of them finally confessed that they have had that many complaints from other guests who have been out there, have had to pay that much out in compo etc they decided to pull the pin now as there is not alot i can do. The tickets only arrived on Thursday..then on Friday we got the letter!!!
I read the small print ( so small it was barely legible) and basically if it is cancelled by them, there is scale of compensation depending on how many days before..they did us 18 days before we are due to go and according to them are entitled to just £30 each.

Is it still worth me ringing Roz??

I was a little miffed when they offered me Fuertaventura. Now I love the Canary Islands, but I have been countless times and wanted something different..and the Canary's, beautiful as they are in places hardly compare to the Maldives. They never even apologised..and one of them even made a remark "well it's not a very good Friday the 13th for you is it?"..at which point I think if she had been sat with me instead of at the other end of a phone I would have probably clonked her one.

Never again am I going to pay for a holiday in advance like that..we saved for nearly a year so that as soon as we paid on the card we could pay it straight off..and we only paid on the card becuase we heard we were better protected that if we had paid by other means..and after the XL fiasco we thought it was a good idea. I think from now on, we are going to save like mad and then walk into a travel agent and tell them "we have x £'s to spend..sort us something out" and then they break their neck to be helpful to you!

So, thanks for all the advice guys and support...hopefully it has all turned out ok..