It appears that hotels in the redseahotels group (Grand Makadi, Makadi Palace, Grand, Grand Resort and Siva Beach) have been dropped by
Mytravel. Don't know whether they are casualties of the Thomas Cook takeover. I emailed the Grand in Hurghada on 2 November regarding this and received the following reply 'Thank you for your email and for your interest in booking our hotel. Would like to inform you that we are in the process of contracting with a UK tour operator. In a month time we will get back to you and advise you how to book our hotel. Thank you & looking forward to welcoming you again in our property, Rezk Mounir,Tour Operator'

Thank`s caro,
We had also heard that Thomas Cook had taken over let`s hope the legal issue is them taking over as we are really looking forward to this holiday , If you hear any more will you let us know.
Many thanks Mel.

hope things will we ok as we go in late feb08

Have you spoken to your tour operator? I would imagine (but do not know!) that any existing bookings would be honoured.
Regards, Caro

Hi Caro,
Yes I rang them but they couldn`t really tell me anything except they are not accepting bookings at the present time.

i have tried for the past week or so to find out exactly what is happening re makadi palace(as i go in late feb) i do think for definate that airtours/t/cook have no longer got the contract and i am concerned that i will end up getting a letter just before i go to say that i have a change of hotel or something...i was hoping that someone who has been very recently or is due tp go very soon could give us some info as to wether their holiday went ahead ok.to top matters off i got a letter stsing that there is building work now taking place just 20 metres from the palace to build a new hotel, i have a feeling this is perhaps a try from tour operator to get me to change my hotel.i will ring them to see

Oh emso,
At least we don`t travel until August,my travel agent has told me that there is no change to my holiday as yet! However I really think they are not telling me.I have read on another site The Thomas Cook group (which is now very large) are no longer using the Red sea hotel chain,they are using Sunrise hotels instead.The Sunrise Royal Makadi seems to be the one that people have been changed too,It looks nice but we are still hopeing to go to the Palace!!

Help - We are going to the Makadi Palace next week ( 18th Jan 2008 ) and have just received a letter from our tour operator to say that there is building work in the hotel next door, there will be noise and visual disturbance ( wonderful - there goes our rest and relaxation ). Can anyone confirm if it is tolerable or not. Thanks

We have booked to stay at the Makadi Palace on 22nd Feb via Thomas Cook and would really like to hear from anyone who has just got back to confirm how much of the building work affected their holiday. Also if anyone has any more news on whether holidays already booked will be honoured due to the contract ending? Thanks.

Since I saw this yesterday I have been trying to ring Manos about my August booking(who didn't know anything) and finally Thomas Cook who let a little bit out of the bag. They are ringing me back tomorrow with the probable option of a flight only deal as I do not want an alternative Hotel. Problem I have is that 8 of us were going, we had also arranged to meet 2 other families/relatives who are travelling from Germany at the Makadi Palace. I have booked pre bookable seats with the airline (thomas Cook) as this option wasn't available at the time through manos. I have also booked 2 cars in at the airport for two weeks.

It certainly does appear that the sunrise group are the alternative offer. The makadi sunrise is far inferior both from cosmetic and all inclusive facilities points of view. Compared to the palace it is more 2 star than 5???

Question is where do I stand from a cancellation point of view? And how can I get to go to the Palace for these dates as it seems I am unable to book it through a tour operator or through the red sea hotel group itself.

I am extremely angry about this as the tour operator isn't coming clean about the situation

Well they rang back today and I must say the girl was very helpful. She had been advised by the accomodation support team that the contract has indeed been cancelled so the Makadi palace would not be available. The options I have are amending the holiday with a plus or minus cost or cancel with full refund. Alternatively I could wait until they advise me of the new accomodation with a plus or minus cost adjustment. The hotels on offer appear to be the sunrise holiday resort or the sunrise makadi bay .

I could also take a flight only option if I wanted to book directly with a hotel

Well upset

Hi chelsea 1,
We are booked to go in August with Direct Holidays,I have rang them on several occasions and they are still telling me our holiday is fine!! However I have to say I really don`t belive them!
Company`s do change and I don`t have a problem with this but I would like peace of mind and am very worried that they will not be able to give us a family room else where as I know from experiance these get booked up quickly.I have asked for it in writting from them about my enquirys but they just say there is no need.
Mel

Hi Chelsea, If you wanted to book Makadi Palace direct, contact them through http://www.redseahotels.com marking the e-mail for the attention of Makadi Palace and explain the situation. If you check out the cost of flights for your particular date you will have some idea whether the prices they quote you are reasonable and its always worth haggling if not!

When I contacted the Grand, Hurghada, about booking direct they were helpful. I'm waiting till after I get back from the Novotel, Sharm in March before making a booking.
Regards, Caro

Mel,

I am afraid that yours will affected by this as all of the group is. I pushed for an answer and got it through Thomas cook central operations. That is why you no longer see any redsea hotels on the internet sites only sunrise. They have been put on lock.

This means that your accomodation will be changed, at a point of when they get there act together. If you don't like what there offering, as I certainly don't, you can get a full refund.

regards

Stew

i was due to go to makadi palace at end of feb and was getting concerned about the situation,i was assured i would still be going to that hotel,but i also asked how much it would be to change to sunrise makadi andwas told that no family rooms were left.... i was worried where i would end up also if i went to palace what it would be like as surely the hotel will have lost its loyalty to thomascook etc. i decided since the building work was mentioned to ask for a full refund. i am awaiting the cheque now (its been 8days) they said allow up to 10 days. i have managed to book something else now. its all really sad as i wanted to go to makadi palace but felt as though i was just going around in circles wonderering what to do. hope you all get the out comes you want.

Hi We are booked to go to Makadi Palace in April and have also been told about the building work but one of the girls working at Going Palaces has come back from there (Nov 07) and she says the buliding work did not distrube her at all and still recommends we go even though we have 3 weeks from today to choose another hotel. They say that they can still book to go to this hotel now and if the work was bad then they wouldn't be allowed to booked there now.
Have anyone got any more news?
ps we booked through Airtours.

Thanks

Stan,

All holidays are ok until the end of april. The hotel is so big I'd be surprised you would hear much. Most of the main construction work was done by august when we were last there. We couldn't hear anything ourselves so I really think you need not worry. I think mytravel are painting a blacker picture than it is for some reason.

Emso,

I feel you have lost out on what would have been a wonderful time. The makadi sunrise isn't a patch on the palace. Shame you've gone for the refund option

Mel
I have been in touch with the hotel and they are able to take reservations themselves. I have asked for a quote and I will let you know how I get on

regards

Stew

Hi Stew,
Thanks for a bit of good news,I too really want the Palace and will look at paying direct with them if we can.I again rang Direct holiday`s yesterday but still get told ther is no change with our holiday( I most certainly don`t agree with them)But at present there seems very little I can do about it.
Has anyone else heard if Airtours can still book there?
Mel.

Thanks Stew for your reply-it sounds alright I don't think we will be changing as we are going mid April. Why did you say it would be alright until end of April and not further on?

Mel-Spoke to Going Places yesterday and they are still booking for Makadi Palace (Airtours).

Cheers