the halls
looks like 2 idiots at airport with bags then . perhaps you could leave us men in the pub whilst you shop. though will be early still 10.5 hrs on plane will need a drink. have you been mexico before? this will be my 3rd time in last 8yrs.

*Edit to remove phone text style abbreviations as per the T&Cs of the forum. Pippy*

hi
can anybody tell me what the best money to take
stirling or dollors?

daz

We have decided to move hotels because it's only 5 weeks till we go and we didn't want to turn up and find things still not done.

xoxaksxox
did you have to pay to change hotels?

daz
would take a mixture of both sterling is best used on plane but dollars best every where else if you like me spend a ruddy fortune in airport before even step on plane.travellers checks or have you seen these pre paid cards now they are doing can have a us$ card with chip and pin most travel agents doing them now.

Hi, I'm sure we are not the only family out there to have worked liked crazy (specially him indoors - and 12 hour shifts aint no picnic let me tell you) to be able to afford this "special" family holiday - We normally camp in Cornwall!

Anyway......... I collected my tickets yesterday from FC as we fly out to HWS on the 21st June from Gatwick and as they had now arrived I thought I would have a read of the reviews and comments being made by the 1st group of visitors to this resort, as its all new and shiny you understand

I was sat here reading through the reviews here and on Trip Advisor and I'm gutted actually that really doesn't begin to describe my anxiety about this "WONDERFUL" holiday. I've told my fella I dont want to go now as I cannot face all the travel there just to spend a proportion of my time in paradise arguing the toss with rude reps - I have 2 young boys who love swimming and are very active - the main reason we booked this resort over others on offer was the kids clubs, high ropes and most importantly a safe swimming environment - now I'm sorry but reading stuff about having to scrub yourself with turps to remove paint and chemicals in the water to clean the paint from it are just NOT acceptable, and lets be frank here there is generally no smoke with fire is there?

Also I accept that we chose to visit a 3rd world country and in the past I and my fella have travelled fairly extensively however reports of the hotel being filthy are very worrying - I'm a bit anal about stuff like that and I think if you book a 4* hotel then there is really no excuse.
I feel completely ripped off and all the excitement I felt about going on holiday has now been replaced with a dreadful sick feeling in the pit of my stomache.

How can FC get away with this? and I know that people have said it should be up and running and fully operational soon but I'm at a point where I am not prepared to risk my dream holiday on the HOPE the builders will have gone and the spare parts that have been impounded at customs will have come by the time we arrive
Sorry for the moan but just completely at a loss now as to what to do

Harrysgirl, Its difficult to know what to say to you. I went the first week they opened and it was awful there. Now you are aware of the situation you need to make sure you take measures to have a nice time dispite what you have read. If you plan what you are going to do now like different places to go and things to see you can proberly work arround the mess FC has put us in by not getting things ready.
The beach is great and snorkling in the sea is fun. There is horse riding close by if you like that and im sure you can find games to play on the beach. A trip to Cancun will take all day so if you check out the internet for places to see and do now you will be prepared. The weather was fantastic so take plenty of sun lotion and after sun and spend lots of time in the sea or pool.
Although we had an awful time we had to pick ourselves up and get on with our holiday otherwise you will consume yourself with all the bad things.
Jope this helps. Wend.

Hi all

I have just returned from the holiday village and posted my reveiw. When we left last sunday there was a little bit of water in the splash pool which my son was gutted about as it looks fantastic and I'm sure he would have loved it. The rooms are not bad just not what i expected of a recentley refurbished hotel.
If you have any questions i will be happy to try to answer them

Cheryl

kaismummy wrote:

I have just returned from the holiday village and posted my reveiw.

Thank you!

Pippy

Hi

I returned from the holuday village yesterday morning and am very jetlagged but had an absoloutly fantastic time! I am surprised to still be reading bad reviews on the hotel!

We stayed in one of the Royal Suites which were lovely, the rooms were a bit smaller than we had imagined but they were cleaned everyday and the cleaners made a real effort and were all very friendly! Only problem we had was with the Geckos getting in at night!

The sea was a bit murkey on a first week but after a storm over night we awoke to find crystal clear waters with fish swimming round your ankles!

The staff were all brilliant, look out for Sergio on the mediteranean restaurant, hes a real star! They are all extremely helpful and offer to get you drinks while you sunbathe and unlike other countries they are not just doing it for a tip!

The food wasn't great, breakfast and lunch were good but the buffet dinner got a bit repetitive, but im a vegetarian so there want alot of options for me but im used to that!

The medeteranean restaurant was without doubt the best, really good food and great service. We didnt try the oriental but the mexican wasnt that good, only are there once!

The evening entertainment was more aimed at families so although we watched a few shows we tended to stick to the bar! we had a couple of nights in the local town San Miguel which were interesting...! we were very out numbered by the americans!

During the day they layed on loads so if you have kids they wont be bored! the daily quiz was usually a good laugh!

The reps were both really lovely, I felt sorry for simon who got alot of stick, they were both really helpful and the whole of the first choice team were all very freindly and would go out there way to talk to you escpecially Robin and Steve.

The splash pool opened on our last day, although it didnt look as if the slides were working, we did hear that they were closing the activities pool tho because of it turning people blue. We got our most expensive excursion free as compensation which was really good for us as we wouldnt have used the splash pool anyway!

The weather was on the whole good, although the last couple of days is started to turn a bit rainey so im not sure what its doing now.

Overall a really great holiday but obviously i cant speak for everyone because there did seem to be alot of people complaining on a daily basis whenever we walked past the poor reps desk!

Hi all
I have booked to go at the end of Aug and staying in a royal suite, can anyone tell me which block numbers they are on the resort and do they have hair dryers and fridge. Any other information would be helpful thanks.

hi all,

i ahve booked to go to this hotel flying from manchester on 9th june. i was really looking forward to this holiday as it will be my first time in mexico, however after reading recent reviews on trip advisor i am now really worried. all the recent reviews are saying the hotel is not finshed, the pools have green scum around the sides, royal suite rooms are not finished and food is poor.

does anybody have any more information on this???

thanks xx

Anyone recently returned, please add your review HERE!

Pippy

hi laura, I was due to fly to this resort on the 8th June but had a phone call from first choice last week to advise me that the splash pool slides were not open, bit issue as I have kids and that they had to shut the activity pool down due to people being covered in blue paint, so relaxation pool now being used as activity pool.
I was given the option to move hotel so due to all the bad reviews regarding this place I did, I am not off to the Occidental Grande just 10 mins down the beach from white sands, and got £178 refund, as I paid well over the odds for HVWS.

Anyway It is all down to peoples own expections and opinions but these photo's taken two days ago do not looks good sorry. If I was going to give you advice I would call first choice and ask them if you could move to another hotel, cause I just think it is a lot of money to just make the most of something.

Here is the link to the photo's http://www.flickr.com/photos/disclosure/

Hi guys,
Was booked to go to this resort in Sept, i know we have a way to go but after all i have read i freaked out!!!!!. Went to first choice yesterday and after talking it over with manager we have changed hotel to Iberostar. We made our minds up when the manager after listening to everything we hadto say said if i was you i would change hotels as well.
We think she new more about what was going on out there than she let on!!!!!!!!!!!!
We had paid far too much for our holiday tojust make do. I just hope we have made the right choice.
The resort was way over priced as we are now paying £1500 less.
Good luck to everyone that is going soon.

hi bumps

did you have to pay admin fee to change hotels

daz

Hi Daz,
we phoned head office and aired our concerns they said in the end we could change free of charge. We went in where we booked it and they were very helpful and even said they would change as well in our position. We now are paying £1500 less for our party of 4.

Donna

hi bumps

i have been in and have been told i would have to pay to change and i go on the 20th
july.
we have paid £3100 for 2 adults and 1 kid, when looking at the price on ibrostar on the
FC website it is coming up £4700 for the 3 of us not pay more to move hotels wen not
my fault.

daz

Hi Daz

Dont give up if you you want to move, We payed way over the odds for this hotel----£5700 for 4 adults we did upgrade room and flight. Now we are going to Iberostar with upgrade flight but not room for £4200.
Try ringing head office, we had a slight change to our flight timeing and the restarants that were availabe, if you have anything like that use it as well as what you have read!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope that helps