Hi Moderators,
Advice neeeded.
I often read another forum
http://www.agni.gr/kefalonia_travel_guide/message_boards/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=57&TopicID=12831&ReturnPage=&PagePosition=1&ThreadPage=1
This all relates to Kefalonia aqua beach club and has similar problems to the Kos one.
The moderators on that site are very careful about what information they allow because of fear of being taken to court.
However there are many photos showing progress (or lack of it)
PROBLEM:
Where do the consumers stand with FC.
FC are stating that the hotel is 4 weeks ahead of schedule yet the up to date photographs ( forum has a local contact on the island) do not show this.
Many punters have rung up FC and are getting fobbed off that its ahead of schedule and will open in May.
It might well open in May but there will be a lot of finishing off to do.
How long are FC legally allowed to keep their punters on hold?
I am a little puzzled about this forum. A check shows it as a forum operated by a booking agency of some kind - I may be wrong.
Comments on any forum, as I keep saying are opinions only. They may turn out to be correct, but they are only opinions. Any advice we may give is based mainly on personal experience, and occasionally specialised knowledge.
If you have a booking for this particular place then I would suggest putting in writing to the TO your concerns based on the information you have, and request written confirmation that there is no problem.
At the top of the screen is a link to the Safe & Sound booklet that you can download. A sensible thing to do, even if you do not have any problems. It contains a great deal of useful information, and is written by a specialist travel lawyer, Ros Fernihough for HT
You could also consider contacting her on - 01922 621114 and discuss your concerns. She will be able to advise you.
First Choice is a major tour operator and has a vested interest in ensuring that this facility is completed and opened on time. They are, you say, advising that the facility is ahead of schedule, it is not in their interests to make a claim that they cannot substantiate
You will read on HT complaints about ALL tour operators - you will also read comments praising them.
fwh
Comments on any forum, as I keep saying are opinions only. They may turn out to be correct, but they are only opinions. Any advice we may give is based mainly on personal experience, and occasionally specialised knowledge.
If you have a booking for this particular place then I would suggest putting in writing to the TO your concerns based on the information you have, and request written confirmation that there is no problem.
At the top of the screen is a link to the Safe & Sound booklet that you can download. A sensible thing to do, even if you do not have any problems. It contains a great deal of useful information, and is written by a specialist travel lawyer, Ros Fernihough for HT
You could also consider contacting her on - 01922 621114 and discuss your concerns. She will be able to advise you.
First Choice is a major tour operator and has a vested interest in ensuring that this facility is completed and opened on time. They are, you say, advising that the facility is ahead of schedule, it is not in their interests to make a claim that they cannot substantiate
You will read on HT complaints about ALL tour operators - you will also read comments praising them.
fwh
The moderators on that site are very careful about what information they allow because of fear of being taken to court.
Everyone has a duty of care when posting on any site. A major headache on moderated sites.
fwh
we have just had a phone call from first choice today to inform us the holiday that they told us would be ready for october no problem is to be cancelled and they have not yet decided whether we can have a full refund as we dont wish to rebook another holiday with them, they have told us first choice's md has travelled out to the site and they are no where near to even getting the hotel ready i pity anone who should be going soon and im dreading telling my 2 kids many thanks first choice
Hi there
Only tonight on a bbc 1 holiday hit squad new series, the first report was actually about the said accomodations in kos and kefalonia. The reporter actually went undercover and walked unchallenged onto the supposed development in kos 6 days ago and its just a building site, with dumped cars amongst the semi built buildings and wooden swimming pool structure!! The wave pool is almost complete but thats it. The supposed artist impression in f.c brochure was compared to the beach that is acxtually there and its just rocks and weeds. no sand in sight.
The reporter was finally challenged 20mins after wandering around the sight and when he asked the chap if the site was the aqua beach club he was told it was not?? It def was and then it was announced at the end of the report that f.c have now changed opening date till 1st july and kefalonia is not opening at all this year.
f.c did comment and stated that customers are being offered alternative accom on other islands or a full refund, and stated that the small print in their brochure allows them to change or cancel accomodation at their discretion.
I hope this is of help to any of you poor souls who have promised your kids their holiday in the next few months.
Good luck with your alternative choices.
Only tonight on a bbc 1 holiday hit squad new series, the first report was actually about the said accomodations in kos and kefalonia. The reporter actually went undercover and walked unchallenged onto the supposed development in kos 6 days ago and its just a building site, with dumped cars amongst the semi built buildings and wooden swimming pool structure!! The wave pool is almost complete but thats it. The supposed artist impression in f.c brochure was compared to the beach that is acxtually there and its just rocks and weeds. no sand in sight.
The reporter was finally challenged 20mins after wandering around the sight and when he asked the chap if the site was the aqua beach club he was told it was not?? It def was and then it was announced at the end of the report that f.c have now changed opening date till 1st july and kefalonia is not opening at all this year.
f.c did comment and stated that customers are being offered alternative accom on other islands or a full refund, and stated that the small print in their brochure allows them to change or cancel accomodation at their discretion.
I hope this is of help to any of you poor souls who have promised your kids their holiday in the next few months.
Good luck with your alternative choices.
Here is a message that is displayed in our Greece forum, it's from Ros Fernihough who is a travel law lawyer and who has kindly given our members the following advice:-
Click Here to reach our Greece forum where we have 2 long topics regarding the Kos Aqua Beach Club.
Your holiday is covered by the 1992 Package Tour & Travel Regulations which give you certain rights in law. Any problems relating to building work, lack of amenities, etc. should be notified to you well before departure. Failure to do so is an absolute breach of these Regulations.
If anyone is travelling within the next six weeks you should be offered alternative accommodation by the tour operator, if available, and if not you are entitled to a full refund of all monies paid plus compensation for the fact that you were not notified in good time in order for you to choose another holiday.
If you are offered some compensation from the tour operator then please write to the tour operator immediately and state that you are not accepting this in full and final settlement of the matter and that you are reserving the right to pursue a claim for further compensation.
If you accept an alternative accommodation then immediately write to your tour operator stating that you are taking the alternative UNDER DURESS and reserving the right to pursue a claim on your return from holiday.
This will also apply to those people who may be travelling later in the season. It may well be that your tour operator does not advise you of any problems until a few weeks before travel and therefore the comments above will apply.
If however you are not officially informed of any problems and you travel to the resort and find there are various problems, then think in terms of obtaining as much EVIDENCE as possible, namely as many photographs as possible of all matters complained of, video recording, names & addresses of other people in the same position as yourselves, complete a Customer Complaint Form and obtain a copy signed by the tour operator's representative. It is up to consumers to PROVE what they are alleging is wrong is actually wrong and the only way to do that is by evidence - this is crucial in the event that you wish to make a claim on return to the UK.
Please contact our office and speak to my assistant Mrs Pam Shea if you have any concerns whatsoever regarding pre-departure problems or when you have come home. Our telephone number is 01922 621114.
Click Here to reach our Greece forum where we have 2 long topics regarding the Kos Aqua Beach Club.
Hi everyone
We were booked to go to the Kef ABC and found the above forum to be very helpful. Not only did we all share the ups and downs (as have the Kos ones on here), but we did have an inkling that it would not be ready. Sometimes we did think that there was some scaremongering, but they did turn out to be true and the photo's we saw seemed very really.
We had our holiday cancelled by FC but to be honest, they did offer alternative accomodation at a place we chose. They also agreed to upgrade our rooms, flights, and give us 2 late checkout rooms. Don't know if this is because we are 2 families going, or if it is because we got in early - last Thursday! Anyway, despite the disappointment of not going to Kefalonia, we are now off to Cyprus.
Anyway, good luck to everyone on their hols this year.
PS Despite the alternative accomodation, don't think I would choose FC again as I do think they could have handled the situation at the 3 ABC's a bit better. We originally wanted Corfu ABC, but then we were told building wouldn't start due to building permission and it being on an ancient burial ground??? not sure if that was true or not!
We were booked to go to the Kef ABC and found the above forum to be very helpful. Not only did we all share the ups and downs (as have the Kos ones on here), but we did have an inkling that it would not be ready. Sometimes we did think that there was some scaremongering, but they did turn out to be true and the photo's we saw seemed very really.
We had our holiday cancelled by FC but to be honest, they did offer alternative accomodation at a place we chose. They also agreed to upgrade our rooms, flights, and give us 2 late checkout rooms. Don't know if this is because we are 2 families going, or if it is because we got in early - last Thursday! Anyway, despite the disappointment of not going to Kefalonia, we are now off to Cyprus.
Anyway, good luck to everyone on their hols this year.
PS Despite the alternative accomodation, don't think I would choose FC again as I do think they could have handled the situation at the 3 ABC's a bit better. We originally wanted Corfu ABC, but then we were told building wouldn't start due to building permission and it being on an ancient burial ground??? not sure if that was true or not!
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