2 things -
What hotel is it?
Also, we changed a hotel in Las Vegas booked via United Vacations a few years back after reading some bad reviews. We jad to pay £15 each plus the extra cost of the 2nd hotel and it was worth every penny for the peace of mind. If you dont change, you're going to be tense and worried right up to your departure, then you might not enjoy your stay.
Good luck
Bridd

Hello There

Thanks for the prompt reply :-)

The hotel is the Masters Inn Kissimmee. Note that there are 2 in the Kissimmee area - the one we're talking about is the one on Bronson Highway, not Maingate. Ironically, even Virgin get them confused - they emailed me back and implied I was over-reacting the first time, until I pointed out they were looking at the wrong property
If you have time, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the feedback also :-)

I think you have two distinct choices:

1) pay the £30 each and write it off to experience in as much as you should have sought opinion and accessed the web sites prior to booking. If there's 2 pax £60 not too painful. If there's a bunch of you, well...you decide.

2) stick with the Masters Inn and hope like hell it's not as bad as reported. If it is you can TRY to recover compensation from Virgin on the basis that you requested a change at the outset due to bad reports and hence brought the possible problem to Virgin's attention and they clearly chose not to resolve the issues prior to your arrival. Virgin could in turn try to defend themselves by saying they offered you the choice of moving but you declined - the £30 will be covered in the Terms & Conditions so is not an unexpected charge.

I'd first research the hotels that Virgin would be able to transfer you to. I've been to Orlando and Kissimmee in particular many times and would gladly offer advice should you so wish as will other better qualified H.T. posters I'm sure.

Then, seek availability from Virgin for you chosen alternates, arrange the transfer, pay the £30 x pax by credit card (especially if there are 4 or more pax - hence more then £100 transaction) and instruct Virgin, in writing, why you are changing. This leaves you the option of trying to recover this admin fee should the transfer not be successful for reasons beyond your control.

Make sure that if you do change both you and Virgin are clear in which hotel you're talking about - I find it amazing that two hotels are permitted in the same resort with the same name.

Hope this helps, Mike

Another option for you would be to not use the accomodation booked with Virgin but have a look at the various accomodation only sites around and book your own. You have probably not actually paid much for the hotel anyway when you take into consideration your flights.

Generally hotels in Orlando are quite cheap and especially if you are booking fairly last minute you may get a bargain. Most prices are based on the room which can often sleep 2 adults and 2 children. Or perhaps consider an apartment. I don't know when it is you go and how many people we are talking about.

Do check out the reviews before you book though to make sure you don't get another ropey one. I have looked at the reviews on Trip Advisor and it does not look good.

Pippa

With reference to my last posting - take a look at Wintersunshine Holidays. They have quite a lot of hotels and apartments in the Orlando area.

Pippa

The reviews on tripadvisor are certainly not good and isn't a recent problem, this has been a continous problem for several years.
There are a couple of good reviews but they are so much at odds with the rest that I think they have got the 2 Masters Inn mixed up and put a review up in the wrong location.

I have also looked at the reviews on http://www.holidaysuncovered.co.uk/ and they are just as bad, but the interesting thing here is that a guest mentions putting a complaint in writing to Virgin regarding this hotel, so Virgin have had previous complaints but chose to ignore them.

If it was me I would ask Virgin to find me alternative accomodation and if it was dearer I would pay the difference in the accomadation cost, but I would not be willing to pay the £30 per person admin fee to change from what is clearly a disgusting hotel and one that I am actualy surprised a reputable company like Virgin is still using.

If you do decide to go to this hotel and it is as bad as it sounds make sure you fill in a complaint form in resort with the Virgin rep and get a copy.
You should also try and get photographic evidence to back up any claim for compensation and any additional cost incurred if you have to move accommodation.

Graham

There are details of what to do if you arrive at accommodation that is terrible in our holiday advice centre:- http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=57910

The advice given is written by Travel Law lawyer Ros Fernihough.

Quitelife are you also registered as Needagoodholiday who posted regarding Virgin vouchers:- http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?p=617775&highlight=#617775

Thanks for all the replies - really is appreciated :-)

Re: the other posts by Needagoodholiday - yes that is me - sorry for appearing to join twice. With all the aggro over this I totally forgot I'd already signed up - sincere apologies for that :-(

That's the irony; this holiday was booked on the back of some Virgin vouchers we were sent last time we travelled with them (gluttons for punishment I can hear many of you saying already). Although in fairness the problems we had that time were not due to accommodation. Although I have had experience of how powerless you feel in resort if the reps can't help, and would prefer to sort this out before leaving the UK. We did leave it nearly two years before travelling with them again. It would be ironic if this one turned out to be as bad.

Re: Checking up on the property first - ironically I did look at the Masters Inn in Orlando, but (like Virgin) got confused with there being two properties with the same name so close together. It seems odd that the other one - on Maingate - scores more highly for a budget hotel than this one we're currently lumbered with :-( I will certainly live and learn from that...

I don't want people thinking I am expecting the earth on a budget - but have been taken aback by the volume of negative reports this place seems to get. Like someone else said, given that at least one customer has already complained in writing about this, you wonder why things haven't improved, or why the property hasn't been dropped altogether?

I contacted someone by email at the company today to ask what our options were. They have until now been quite quick to respond but as yet I have not heard anything back. I'll certainly let people know how it goes from here.

Thanks to everyone for their input, and to the organisers of this site - a great resource!

Best Wishes

Please, Please go with your instincts, DON'T go there and just hope that others are exagerating........it's usually NOT the case. Is it worth it, really? I know that I would pay £100 to change if I thought I'd made a mistake in the hotel that I booked............£30 isn't too bad for your peace of mind!! I agree that you shouldn't have to be put in this possition, maybe you could look at some of the reviews and pick out parts where you think Virgin will 'breach the contract', ie. if breakfast is supposed to be included but people are saying that it isn't served to them. I would send an email or printed version of the complaints and tell Virgin that you WILL sue for compensation if there is ANYTHING different from the brochure description. Maybe they will think that it's easier to give you a choice of another hotel and not charge the admin fee.
Good Luck, Lisa,x

I am familiar with both the Masters Inn Maingate (in current Virgin and Thomson brochure) plus the Masters Inn Kissimmee - which I think Virgin use for late deals as is not brochured.

If you are familiar with Kissimmee and the US192, the Masters Inn Kissimmee, the one you have booked, is the Masters Inn hotel close to the "big orange" on the right hand side of the road heading East to West.

The hotel is a basis 2/2+ star motel type hotel - suitable for a base, but like most motel/hotels of this grade has little else to offer other than a pool and reception/lobby. Breakfast will be a simple donut/pastry, juice and coffee type affair and really for something to grab on route to the theme parks rather than a filling cooked English.

With your doubts in mind I would recommend paying the amendment fee and picking something a little more appropriate to your standards/expectations. I would have thought if you are offering to book a 3 or 4 star higher rated hotel at a higher cost then Virgin may even waive the fee. If not then I would pay the £30 and ask to amend. No point going on holiday with this worry on your mind. Sometimes it is better not to necessarily book the cheapest deal - but to find a deal that offers the best value to your circumstances or holiday expectations.

I would just point out that the Masters Inn Kissimmee is often the cheapest hotel on the Virgin website and used as a lead in to Florida holidays being advertised. I have run a couple of booking searches on the Virgin web site and notice that for a late deal it is coming up at £465-£485 per adult. A fly-drive for the same dates is £323-£343. Taking the fly-drive cost from the Masters Inn Kissimmee cost that leaves just £142 for 14 nights accommodation - so for a tenner per person per night you are not going to get much for your money! Virgin are also offering 10% discount if you book online so you may have been lucky and got an even better deal.

Hope you get it sorted and have a nice holiday.

Traveller makes some good points. I checked out the Masters Inn on their own direct web page and rooms are available for about $36 per night (sleeping 4 or 5) with 13% tax on top of that. About £24 per room/per night incl. tax.

I understand lisa b's idea and to some extend agree. However, the hassle of chasing Virgin after the event is best avoided by solving the problem before the event. I like her idea of using the threat as leverage, together with the promise of additional spend, to try and get Virgin to waive the admin. fee. Depends if they are customer or profit focussed.

Mike

Yes I have driven past the masters inn Kissimmee many times and have to say I would not fly all that way and spend all that money in Florida only to return to that standard of motel every day.

My advice is pay the extra and have an enjoyable holiday. You're paying enough overall anyway.

Over the years Virgin have used some pretty grotty motels.Our friends went with Virgin a few years ago and stayed in the Broadway inn in Kissimee.They moved after 2 days to the Hampton Inn at great cost to themselves.I would get it sorted now otherwise it will ruin your holiday.I used to always stay on International drive as you could walk out on an evening instead of having to use the car which you have to do in Kissimee.