hi to you ... meerkat2505.....great comments..........regards.john-doe

I see Glynis at Admin has posted a message to 'Lawyer' asking for qualifications details. Sort him out Girl. Lots of people can't spell, use incorrect grammar etc, but I've never seen such a load of .******from a so called professional.

Good one Sagres - I loved it!!! hi john-doe I don't usually reply in that way to posts, but found myself unable to stop. Yes, I would agree with you Judith, but there seems to be something not quite right here...bet Glynis will get him sorted out pretty quick if that's the case. Perhaps we'll not hear from him again.

Going back to the original post - I understand how you feel Macca. About six years ago I booked a holiday to Tossa de Mar with Skytours (part of the then Thomson group) which market the Skytours brochure as offering family holidays. The apartments we booked were advertised as being suitable for families and also as exclusive to Thomson in the Uk. Within a day or so of our arrival a very large group (I can't remember how many now but over 20) of teenagers (approx age 17) appeared on some form of school trip with three adult staff members (I guess) - this booking was made through Skytours. The apartment facilities were somewhat on the mean side and therefore a group that size completely took over the pool area - the language was pretty grim and they were a nightmare for families with small children staying there in the evenings - due to their alcohol consumption, running up and down corridors etc. Our kids were teenagers themselves then so we were out until the small hours every evening so this didn't really cause us any problem. Overall it was comparable to staying in a youth hostel.
The apartments were also playing host to a coach party of younger school children who didn't cause the same kind of problems and were also taken out on educational trips every day - whereas the older group mostly stayed around the pool. However we did feel we were in a school canteen at meal times (we had booked half board).
I complained to the Rep in the resort and was not offered a complaint form but told to complain direct to Thomson's on return to the UK.
My written complaint was based on the following:-

That the accommodation was advertised as 'family' and I did not consider a very large group of older teenagers constituted a family.
Also that this group monopolised the communal areas.

That the accommodation was described in the brochure as 'Exclusive to the Thomson Group in the UK' and yet had a coach party of school children staying there from the UK from another operator.

I stated that the reason for the complaint was that I felt they should alter their brochure description and state that the accommodation took parties of school children.
My reply from Thomson's made me feel as if I'd been asking for monetary compensation (I wasn't) and was along the lines of ....'we cannot be responsble for the behaviour of guest bookings made through other operators' (huh - what about the 'exclusive to Thomson in the UK' and the older large group were your booking).
I guess I should have replied and actually asked them to read my letter but decided instead I would not book with Thomson's again (but have to admit to having had several absolute bargains to Crete with them several years later - so Thomson's I have forgiven you!)
You'll get a reply very similar to mine I expect but the very best of luck if I had booked for the hotel you stayed in I also would have expected quiet and relaxing.
They didn't change their brochure description either!