jewel in the crown rep did come and see us for first two days then another rep came on last day . no assitence was given for food or anything it was 3 days before i saw the rep when i first got there the only good thing she did for me was get me a change of room. whwn the volcano went up that was the day i was do to go home all the rep did was leave message with hotl reception which they never told me flight was cancelled till i was getting in taxi to airport reception had bin told 8 hours earler or more thay maid no attempt to phone me as rep had my mobil number and i was only in my room being ill . so i will never book with them again even people on flight only with tomas cook and thomson paid for there rooms and gave them money for food and drink at hotel not going on any more as i be here all day still tired from long journey home friday dubai for 5 hours then cyprus for a while then home .the extra 6 days would of been enjoyed if jitc had done more but not for me any more

welcome home Kevin and Jill ... what a nightmare for you!!!
chilly

I must mention Olympic holidays who we booked our 2 week package holiday with - the way they treated us and other people who where stranded in Goa can only be best described as diabolical - we where staying at the Magnum in candolim on a b+b basis and after our flight home was canceled we where told by our rep that olympic would pay for our accomodation but we had to move to a cheaper, more basic hotel with no aircon ( night temps 30 deg plus and up to 85 % humidity) we said this was unacceptable and stayed at the Magnum at our own expense . What Olympic did was probably legal but when we saw what Thomas cook guests at the same hotel wher being offered i.e. stay in your own room and upgraded to half board free of charge . This may have been a money saving exercise by Olympic but must be a P.R. disaster when everyone that was there could see how the different tour opperators where performing . I doubt many people who witnessed this first hand will ever book with olympic or jewel in the crown again - we certainly wont . sorry for meldrewing but people should know the facts
We finaly got home 7 days late after a 23 hour journey .

When a disaster such as this occurs we as travellers are dependent on so much.

Most vital of all are resources both in the U.K. and the destination to have any sort of chance.

The training of local staff is so important in order that they adopt a calm and measured approach.

Most important of all is someone showing leadership.

If early in the crises someone back at base shows the correct leadership then things will be so much better overseas.

Then vital to have a comitted well trained local rep to communicate policy to the guests on the ground.

Running around like a chicken with no head usualy produces lots of customers running aroud as headless chickens.

Good leadership helps to negate these issues.

Papa