Repeat post for the benefit of anyone who may have missed it:

First Choice has taken the decision not to put customers into the Kos Aqua Beach Club this summer, and will now be taking legal action against the developer. For full details of the statement, please click here:

http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/info/latestnews2.html

For important advice from Travel Law Solicitor, Ros Fernihough, please click here:

http://holidayforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=73371

Hi all,

As I have chosen not to go with First Choice (or Eclipse which is who I booked with in May 05), I have been offered the 20% comp, and this plus the price of my holiday is being refunded to my card. They did offer me another hotel in Rhodes, which would have cost £1100 more than my holiday, but it didn't have much in the way of facilities for the kids. I also looked at the hotel reviews here for it, and they weren't bad, but it said that it was 70% German. I'm not against going on holiday with people that aren't British, but the kids weren't keen, as they thought that there might not be a lot of friends for them. As it was a family decision to book KABC, it was a family decision to cancel it. We're now going to the Dominican Republic with Thomson, for only a little more than we are getting back from First Choice. We had a really limited choice from Glasgow, as the schools broke up on Friday, so this is our peak holiday time.
I have went away with First Choice the last 2 years, last year to the Pegasos Tropical, and the year before that, Holiday Village Costa Del Sol. The first year, the hotel opened in May, we went in July, and the teething problems were pretty much dealt with by the time we got there. Last year we were the second lot of guests at the Tropical, it opened to British guests on 4/7 and we arrived on 7/7. There were loads of teething problems, but the people we met all made the best of it, and in fact had a laugh at the people that constantly moaned. We really thought when we booked this last May, that with all the problems that had been encountered with both of those hotels, they would have learned from this, that's what I get for thinking
I don't see us booking with First Choice again for a long time, if ever
I really hope that everyone enjoys their new holiday, and will keep an eye on here to see if there is going to be a group action, as after I come home my holiday, I would consider taking this further.

Lee

we are also now going to 4 star plus in dominican republic with thomson on 16 aug good flight times what look to be outstanding facilities AI with three hotels we can use facilities of all whenever we like for £300 pound more than we paid with FC ok it is a longer flight but my children are 10 and 12 so will manage that and the jabs that are reccommended if not compulsory. Think all in all we have ended up with a better holiday but would still have loved to have gone to KABC .FC have upset a lot of families they have constantly lied to us I would have preferred them to be honest from the start and pull the complex in may like they did the others .Ipaid balance for my holiday on 20 june it was taken out of my bank on 21 june i asked for my money back today does anyone think it will in my account tomorrow ? I doubt it very much

Mrsmel, they told me it would take 5-10 working days to put the money back to my card.

Hi Everyone,

Is there anyone left from the Kos Aqua shambles going to the Larespark in Turkey on 23/7. I would love to meet up with you and have a good old laugh about this!!!!!!!!!!!
I also believe the Titanic is next door, so anyone going there as well let me know!!!

Paula

hi guys im back on line. make sure when you get your new payment slip off fc that you check it, when we got cancelled and changed from the kabc to another hotel in kos, on the payment slip it said ticket collecting fee 75 pounds.
fc told us when we changed hotel that because we were going to kos on the same day and flight we could fly on the same tickets we had allready been sent for the kabc when we got to kos and for some reason cheaked our payment slip it said about this fee, the thing is we didnt even collect any tickets, just make sure you all check for extra charges which fc should not be charging for.
why are some people still thinking about going on holiday with fc next year after what they have done to you this year. it seems strange to me.

I said it before and I will say it again. When your child misbehaves you punish them in the hopes they will not do it again. When a criminal misbehaves we send them to prison as a detterent. When a business misbehaves you have to hit them in their pocket book.

Next year and in the following years more hotels are scheduled to open. How the tour operators will treat these people if the hotel is not ready on time depends on how you react. Giving FC your business again only sends a positive message to them that it is o.k. to do such things. It is sad to think that families like yourself will be put through agonies again when any new hotel will not be ready on time if you do not act apropriatly.

Has FC actually contacted people or have you all contacted FC because you follow this forum. What about the people who do not follow this forum. What about them. Have they been flown to Kos and booked in another hotel? Have they been armed with info from this forum to receive apropriate compensation?

Hi I got a phone call from my travel agent yesterday afternoon to let me know and also telling me about 10% and 150 we were due to go 2nd Aug from Glasgow don't know where to go now there is five of us (2 adults 3 kids) struggling for a decent room

Hi Guys,

I feel really sorry for those who do not use this forum because when I checked availability of Hotels last night. All the good ones were sold out. at least for the dates in July. Didn't check August.

I was fortunate enough to get F/C to hold my chosen Hotel because when I went in to check availabilty of my 1st to 6th choice. It came back with no availability. I thank god I had the foresight to put the rooms on hold, whilst I argued over my compensation!!!!!!!!!!

There are going to be some very uphappy folks over the next few weeks. The F/C bloke told me this would take months to sort out.

Paula

Hi SP55,

Thanks for all your help during this stressful time, itis very much appreciated............

The people you saw at Aqua Club were dutch. Apparently they are F/C but run completely indendent of the main group. They told me it had been passed for build regs etc, howver when they sent their own independent surveyors in. They felt they could not send the Brits on the grounds of health and safety.

At least they did something right. Pity they didn't get their act together sooner.........

Paula

Hi gezhead
Thanks for all your info earlier on, it helped me book another holiday quick and easy without spending all day on the phone at last minute like all the others on this forum have had to do I do feel so sorry for all you guys, and for all of you that have tranferred now I wish you all a fantastic Holiday. I will never be booking with FC again, they certainly don't have any morals or care about who they are hurting in the process. You would think after the problems with Pegasus Palace/tropical, Kefalonia beach club etc etc and after being on the holiday hit squad programme with all the bad reviews the KABC not opening on time and cancelling all the May/June customers they would have learnt from it but obviously not!!

Paula have a fantastic time you really do deserve it.

Hallo everyone,

Well it took an hour but I did get through on the 0161 number yesterday morning. Spoke to a really nice young man who offered me the pegasos tropical, I told him that I didn't want to go to Turkey as I went last year, and asked him to check the Petra Mare in Crete.

He booked me in, going on 11th August instead of 2nd now, got a room with a seaview and also late checkout as flights are naff yet again. I am getting £279.00 back too, so all in all I'm quite happy.

Still can't quite get my head around the whole experience, but at least now I can relax knowing that we will definately be going on holiday and the facilities look good, slides, splashpark, even got a lazy river for me to float around in on my donut!

There were 2 messages left on my phone by first choice on sunday, so I don't understand why people travelling before us have not been contacted yet, it does seem as if there are no set standards and they make it up as they go along!

Hi all

I am so confused by all of this 10% back on hols and compensation... I have rebooked with fc and have now got a holiday in Turkey in August. However what I am confused by is does fc take our comp off the holiday or not?

All the holidays I am pricing up for September are coming up £600-£1000 dearer as there is no free child spaces.
I am not paying anymore money
As of this moment I am still going to Kos Aqua

Lizzy,

They took £150.00 per head off the price of my new holiday, the £279.00 I'm getting back is the 10% compensation.

As I said, I think the goal posts are moved on a regular basis!

thegrays we got our phone call from thomsons saying we can have 10% and 150 per adult not the children plus fc wont honer the free kids place

Kelly-Marie,

Sorry if you've already posted this, but have you contacted FC yet?

The new holiday I picked was coming up more expensive, but with the money off it worked out ok.

What are the rules for people going in September? It should be the same for you as it was for me surely?

Hi,

I got £150 per person including children. I spoke to others who got £150 off even though it had been a free child place

First time I spoke to F/C I got a woman who was rude and not prepared to offer me the same as others. Second time I spoke to a nice chap and goal posts were moved considerably. So don't be fobbed off!!!!!!!

All in all I received £1603 comp on a £3885 holiday.

Hope that helps you.