Sally our members might be interested in your reponse.

Glynis apologies never thought like that, ok -

FB you are going to make yourself ill with worry over this, you have to decide now - cancel or stick with them and go forward with your plans. Dir Hols have confirmed they have a contract with the Tucan over the winter - which explains why they are in the Tropical Escapes Brochure till April06 but not in next summers brochure.

Direct Holidays knew of this reduced allocation in Jan this year, we booked our holiday then (for Dec05) and we were told that due to a reduced allocation all they had left were the Junior suites which we have booked. This is why I am pretty sure we will get our holiday.

It does not explain though why they have not told their customers due to go this summer (most of whom booked last year) of these changes much sooner.

I believe you have exhausted every avenue with this one - your wedding is not booked via Direct Holidays which is why they have not mentioned it, it will not be noted on your booking form. Its an awful situation to be in but you and your future husband now have to make a very hard decision. I wish you all the best and keep us posted xx

Thanks Sally

This will shock you all. Just had to ammend our honeymoon yet again. Hotel number 3 is the Nichupte Spa Resort. Quite new and only read a couple of reviews, one good, one very bad. Spent best part of my morning on the phone arranging this. It was either this hotel or a 3 star in Cancun that looked like a block of flats in Blackpool. So, even though the Nichupte is NOT really suitable, we had so little choice in the matter.

However, and this is the bit that might shock you, the service I have received from Gillian and Collette at Airtours Programme Management was excellent. Even after I became angry about my lack of choices(sorry Gillian, its been a rough few months), they were still very helpful. Which takes me back to an earlier posting. The staff in the tourist industry do their very best for the customer.

Its the nameless, faceless managers who make these decisions that are the weak link in our Travel industry. Although even I can't blame these people for the hurricane, they are still coming up short when it comes to running and organising an honest, decent Travel business.

Will do a full and unbiased review of this hotel when we get back. If anyone has any details on this place, please post it when you have chance. Thanks.

Sorry to hear that Dizzy. What wrongs with the Copa?
Have they compensated you at all?

Gald you got to deal with some reasonable employees unlike some of us!

Have a safe holiday

We'll get a refund of the difference as hotel number 2 the Copa is a bit more expensive than hotel number 3 Nichupte. Have to call back Monday and see how much and try and get it in the bank before we go. Apparently the Copa does not meet health and safety standards at the moment. Though i'm sure that will change very quickly. Guests going next month will probably be ok. I'll be glad when this holiday is over to be honest. This has to have been the worst TO experience so far. Typical it has to be on such an important holiday. Hope you are ok!!

Hi Dizzy - I hope it turns out third time lucky and you have a FANTASTIC honeymoon. You don't sound like you're the type who would sulk and 'throw away your dummy', but know how to enjoy yourself wherever you are. Treat yourself and hubby to some of their spa treatments as you certainly need some R&R after the last couple of months hanging on the phone to Airtours!!!

All the very best to you both. Can't wait to read your review.

good luck with everthing dizzy, as you say 3rd time lucky. let us know everything when you get back!!

Dizzy - its showing up as 861pounds on an Airtours late deal from Gatwick on 23rd. Surely they will reimburse you the difference as this is a lot less than the Copa?

Hi Guys
Thanks so much for the lovely words. It means a lot. I have been known to get stroppy but not very often. I'd just put so much into sorting this as you will all know full well, i'm not going to let all the setbacks mess up everything. I'll adapt our plans to the situation. But I am fed up with it all.
And yes, we are due a decent refund. This was one of the things the call taker at Airtours is dealing with. I will call back on Monday to find out how much we are due and the method of payment. Will put it towards another trip somewhere else maybe.

And boy do we need a break after all this. Thanks to all of you for the advice and info. This site is a valuable source of support and help.
If anything else goes wrong, you'll see me rioting on the news......

Dizzy,
Am glad that you finally know what is going on and wish you all the very best of luck. Have a great holiday, relax and enjoy as so many here say you deserve it

Hi SS
Thanks for saying such nice stuff. And yes, finally knowing where we are going is such a relief. We can do our research and email the resort to sort out the little extras etc. And when we get there, have a nice rest and maybe get a tan.

And a special thank you to ya SS.
Your help has been totally appreciated. And your views on the subject of travel are always welcome.
Best wishes to you.

Hi dizzy, just to say hope you have a good honeymoon after all that you have been through. Just keep smiling and enjoy the sunshine and relax. its not the honeymoon you wished for but it will be a lovely holiday all the same I am sure.

Take care and have fun

Hi Sallymac
Thank you. We will do our best. I've been researching hotel number three today and although it isn't the five star property we've booked and paid for, it does seem to be quite nice. And my hubby said that as long as we are together, then it doesn't matter where we are!! Bless him!!

And we haven't had to change flights, days off or airport hotels and parking, so again, thats a plus. We were offered another destination but we would have had to change everything else and we did really want to go to Mexico.

Will do a review when we get back.

Apologies now but -

its just to let you know... we have had to cancel our holiday in December to the IB Tucan and am totally gutted about it. Nothing to do with Direct Holidays, its purely a personal decision.

Basically within the last 5 weeks we have bought a new house (Fantastic new house I hasten to add!!) but we had to spend more than we were really prepared to .. so there wont be a holiday to Mexico this year. Have shed tears over this I can tell you but the new house is worth it.

So... we wont be going to the IB Tucan in December this year

I hope all who are have a wonderful holiday and have a drink for me please!

PS - added 25/8 - have to say now that if we hadnt already cancelled, we would be doing so... because of the mess DH are making of these holidays to the Tucan. I wouldnt be holding out for the next couple of months wondering IF we were going to get the holiday we had paid for.

Futurebride - please let me know how you're plans work out.

Sally

I have also cancelled our wedding holiday and we have lost our dep. Perhaps if Direct Holidays had replied sooner or at least taken my letter seriously then maybe things would be different. Instead I had to contact a member of MYTravel to forward my email to Direct Holidays before they replied.

I am so gutted and will never use this company again. And I will urge everyone not to use Direct Holidays or any of their sister companies in future.

I cant believe you have lost your deposit.. i am going to look at booking somewhere now and Airtours and Direct holidays will not be on my list. Not even if they were giving it away. Hope you get somewhere sorted out.

Yes I have lost the dep and I am sure my letters of complaints will go unanswered. I will though send off my story to the media and I really couldn't care less what happens to this company anymore.

Due to all the stress and lies Direct Holiday have told me- we have decided not to book a wedding abroad and will now leave it for another year or so. A harsh lesson learnt.

Good luck and keep us all informed on your situation.

anyone know what happened to merv?