I am so sorry for you guys, Craven Clan, I think that was where I was looking at going until I went on another holiday truths type website and they said there everything you have said, very clean but full off Italians & Germans (I think) and my worry which you have proven was no one speaking English especially in the kids clubs. I hope you get some form of compension back from FC and can enjoy another holiday elsewhere.

Trudie

The following message is being repeated for the benefit of anyone just joining this thread who may have missed the original announcement on earlier pages:

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

Due to legal and libel reasons the time has come for Holiday Truth to ask anyone wishing to discuss legal action regarding Kos Aqua Beach Club and First Choice to please do so away from our forums.

Whilst we understand how angry and upset you all must be we must ask you to please not use the site to rally group actions and so on.

We wish you all the best with any claims you may make.

Just browsing the FC website under "Family Plus" Section, hoping to find a resolution for next year.

Guess what I find advertised?

New for Summer 2007
Corfu Aqua Beach Club
Archarvi, Corfu.

Yes Artist Impression.
I feel sorry for anybody booking into that. When FC will they learn?

Oh and the Kos one is there, but there are technical problems on the site at the moment so I can't see if you can book them.
But it shows that they have not removed them totally of their site.

Yes there are remaning references to the ABC's which they presumably forgot to remove. The "technical errors" only appear to affect these, try randomly booking anything else and it works normally. In this instance the "technical error" is their little way of saying they have taken it off sale.

You can also find references to both Corfu & Kos ABC's on this page
http://www.firstchoice.co.uk/fc/promo1/

Certainly the site in Corfu has had building permission revoked, but I am aware that Firsct Choice do intend to build something else a few hundred metres away from the ABC site, this would appear to be their back up plan in respect of Corfu - More info about this when the time is right!

Craven Gang, so sorry it didn't work out for you my heart goes out to you. But take Wizard's advise and contact Ros as we have done. It only takes one phone call give it a go!!! The KABC is also in the middle of nowhere it took us at least 30 minutes to cycle there from Tingaki.

The way that the names of popular local tourist resorts are used & cashed in on is misleading.

In both instances the proposed sites of Kos ABC ( Tinagki ) & Corfu ABC ( Acharavi - now not to be built) are considerable distances form the claimed locations and neither of them are actually within the boundaries of the towns that they claim to be in.

Orignally when Blue Bay Escape opened in Corfu they said it was in Acharavi, which is 12Km away!

Following compalints they were forced to remove that statement from the brochures in subsequent seasons, that didn't stop a number of people booking and expecting to be in one location and finding themselves sent to an entirely different one.

Just to let you know that anyone who paid for sitting together outbound on the replacement holiday and then paying again on the return has been duped. You are eligable to claim the return money back, there is a section on the webite for this. We were charged 4 adults again to sit together on the holiday we booked with fc after swapping our holiday from May to August.

We've jumped ship.

We weren't prepared to sit and wait to see if it would open next year. We have now changed to Club Caleta Dorada in Fuerteventura. We had to change it through the 0161 number. When pricing it on Eclipse online it was coming up at £300 more than KABC. We just thought sod it we'll pay the difference!

We are now on better flights and in a better room. THIS IS COSTING US JUST £9 EXTRA!

When I queried this he told me that they were doing all new bookings using the original booking code.

So all in all we are very happy.

Good luck to everyone.

Crusader, could you tell me where the section is on the website for return journeys, i.e sitting togeter? Would this apply to premium seating as well?

You email customer.service@fc.co.uk with a copy of your receipt from the rep abroad, I don't know about premier seating but if you have paid for sit together it means both ways so they should not be charging over there.

Reading these endless tales of woe and ripoffs is frankly depressing. FC 's behaviour is beyond disgraceful.

PLEASE people - next time you book a holiday - forget AI, forget uncaring corporate con-merchants like FC and just do it yourself on the web. I just got 2 return tickets to New York to take my Mum away for a long weekend for her 60th birthday in October for £150 each - on BA, all taxes etc included, by scouting through net deals - that's cheaper than a train to Manchester!

Why go through all the hassle of Kids Clubs / Kids Places etc when you know they will let you down? Take the kids somewhere fun and interesting where you can do your own thing and throw in a couple of days at the nearest water / theme park to keep them happy. These AI deals are a total con from start to finish - bad value for the customer and detrimental to the local economy. Who's laughing right now and holding all the money? You? The nice Greek guy with a villa you could have rented? Easyjet - where you can still book flights to Greece for under £100 ? No - First Choice. And you can bet your boots they will be doing exactly the same next year.

Easyjet - where you can still book flights to Greece for under £100 ?

I wish!

The only Greek destination served by Easyjet and other discount carriers is Athens. This means a connecting flight from there which would cost far more and push your total travel time out to around 7 hours if you are unlucky.

One of the major problems with tourism in many of the Greek islands is the fact that there are no discount flights operators with all flights slots being controlled by tour operators, where the cost of a flight amazingly often costs the same as a weeks self catering.

This unfairly loads the prices for those who may otherwise travel independently.

The Greek government needs to encourage discount flight operators into the islands to give tourists an improved choice.

A quick hop from the airport and jump on a ferry at Piraeus - a nice ferry journey across the Aegean is much more fun than a waterpark!

I do not think you can generalize and dismiss all AI as rubbish. There are some lovely ones around the world. Just as there are good and bad in selfcatering, B&B, AI and hotels. Its just whats a person wants out of a holiday.

A quick hop from the airport and jump on a ferry at Piraeus - a nice ferry journey across the Aegean is much more fun than a waterpark!

Ah you ommitted to mention the duration of the ferry journey, doubtless a great adventure for couples & backpackers, but a family group including young children?

So let's imagine our family group has had to set out well in advance to the airport, flown to Athens, got a bus to Piraeus, then the ferry to Kos.

The kids were typically hyper and full of excitement on the plane and no sleep was had by anyone, then you have to either take accommodation in Athens or head directly to the ferry port where you get the following ferry:

PIRAEUS - KOS BLUE STAR BLUE STAR 2 depart: 23:55 - Arrive: 10:15

That appears to be 10 Hours 20 minutes ( is that right? ) to keep a group of kids occupied on a ferry, then of course there is a bus ride from the ferry port in Kos to your accommodation.

OK those with families tell me who would prefer this journey over a direct flight?

Very nicely reasoned, Net Detective!

I guess the answer to your question would be 'No-one - at least no-one in their right mind'!

I can't understand people rubbishing All-Inclusive holidays in favour of Room Only, B&B, Half Board or Full Board.

Nor can I understand people rubbbishing particular resorts.

The bottom line is:
we are all different, we have different requirements and expectations from a holiday - so why not leave people to choose exactly the type of holiday, destination and board arrangements that suits them.

If people ask for advice on the pros and cons of AI, then fine - advise away.
But don't try to change what other people prefer to do, just because it's your preference.

AI doesn't suit us, just as a very busy 18-30 resort wouldn't suit us.
But, I wouldn't presume to recommend to those young 20-somethings that they should go to Nerja or Sicily or Lesvos, instead of Kavos or Faliraki.

I still haven't heard a word from First Choice in regards to my 2007 KABC holiday in May?????

What should I do?

Lisa London, I don't think they will call you.

My friend was booked and I told her what has been going on with KABC and she called FC and changed to PP (she went this year and knows the kids love it) they waivered the admin fee, but if holiday increases they will not pay.

That will only happen if they officially cancel the opening.

I still haven't heard a word from First Choice in regards to my 2007 KABC holiday in May?????

What should I do?

Unless you are willing to lose your deposit, you will probably have to sit tight.

FC have apparently told some people in the same situation as your yourself that they will come to a decision regarding the 2007 season "soon".

Whilst the whole situation is without doubt morally wrong, legally they seem to hold all the cards, just really shows how bad the law is in this respect.

lisalondon

We were due to go in May next year but decided we couldn't just sit and wait and see.

As of last night we have now changed our holiday. When I priced it online it was coming up at £300 more than KABC which we decided to just pay.

I phoned the 0161 number and got through straight away. When I told him where I wanted to go he priced it up and it came to £9 more than KABC. Being just too honest for my own good I queried this. He told me all new bookings would be priced on the original pricing codes. Bearing in mind that when I phoned this number last week I was told that all similar holidays were coming back at anything upto £1000 more which I was expected to pay.

I would say have a look at alternatives and just ignore the price then phone the 0161 number and see how you get on.

If you want to pm me I will give you the name of who I spoke to (I know we're not allowed to mention names). He was really nice and very helpful.

He also said even if it did open in May he wouldn't fancy being one of the first people there because that's not what we booked.

Overall we are happy to have something booked - well we were until we read some of the recent reviews - but never mind.