Cancun In April. Help Wanted!

becky004

I am booked to go to Cancun in April, due to Wilma the hotel has been badly damaged. We have rung the hotel direct who say that one tower block is up and running and most of the facilities will be available in April. However one tower block is currently undergoing repair and will not be completed until July/August. First choice sent us a letter to the same effect, I spoke to them prior to this letter to ask about changing as we have 2 small children and they refused.
Having looked on tripadvisor.com it appears that noisy drilling and building work is going on from 7am to 7.30pm hardly makes for a relaxing holiday! I wouldn't mind so much but it wasn't exactly cheap and I can watch and listen to building works where I live! It will also be the last holiday we can take for a while as we are about to buy a house, so I'd like it to be a good holiday. Any suggestions on what I should do?

saveapenny

Did they advise you of building work when you booked?
If you had the letter after you booked ring them again or get your travel agent to ring them (usualy more weight) and request a change of hotel I dont think they can refuse to let you change outside 6 weeks of departure as long as you pay the admin fee. If its major work they should let you change free of charge

Becles

I would push for a change of hotel, but I don't know what your rights are.

We're going to the area in April, but we're staying near Playa del Carmen which is about an hours drive south of Cancun. I've read on forums that this area is nearly back to normal with minimal building work, whereas Cancun has still got a lot of buildings closed due to damage. If you can get a different hotel, you might like to try one further down the coast.

This forum is really useful as it's run by locals www.playa.info

becky004

We booked last March before the hurricane struck! I asked to change as soon as the hurricane happened as at that time the hotel was closed until December. I booked online with First Choice and when I asked to change they point blank refused and said I would receive a letter in due course if there was a problem. Rang the hotel in Mexico to clarify the state of the place then rang First Choice back. Received the letter this week which basically says that some (a minority) facilities won't be available and that the second Tower will still be undergoing repair which means the building work will still be going on!

becky004

What I grudge is paying that sort of hard earned money for 2 weeks of noise. Am paying 5* price for half a hotel on a building site! Although having read the reviews in tripadvisor it wasn't 5* to start with lol.
Main reason we booked it is that it was the only one in our price range with a Kids Club for 2 year olds, as he was a little b**ger when we went away last year.

Cardew

I would involve ABTA now and demand to get to another area of Mexico(the Pacific side) or another country.

All along that part of the coast there is a lot of re-building going on and the beaches lost most of their sand.

Above all get everything in writing and copy your letter to ABTA(ABTA won't open a file yet - but it might frighten First Choice)

becky004

Cardew wrote:

I would involve ABTA now and demand to get to another area of Mexico(the Pacific side) or another country.

All along that part of the coast there is a lot of re-building going on and the beaches lost most of their sand.

Above all get everything in writing and copy your letter to ABTA(ABTA won't open a file yet - but it might frighten First Choice)

Thanks for that and all other replies. How do I contact ABTA?
I would have preferred another country to be honest but First Choice wouldn't entertain any sort of change even though we had spoken to hotel and read reviews online. Have paid 80% of holiday maybe thats why they wouldn't incase I went for a bargain holiday and they had to reimburse me!

saveapenny

If your not going to get the holiday you booked ...i.e ALL the same facilities you are entiled to a full refund on all monies paid or to change free of charge.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/uksi_19923288_en_1.htm these are the regulations that goven package holidays.
Even if when you booked it said 3 bars and now there will only be 1 bar they hvae to let you change.

Becles

Have a look at this report from December and the video (top link, right hand side)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4541782.stm

Just gives you some more ammo for a hotel change

Cardew

becky004 wrote:

Thanks for that and all other replies. How do I contact ABTA?
I would have preferred another country to be honest but First Choice wouldn't entertain any sort of change even though we had spoken to hotel and read reviews online. Have paid 80% of holiday maybe thats why they wouldn't incase I went for a bargain holiday and they had to reimburse me!

ABTA(from their website)

If you have already booked and have a query -

and have not yet travelled, Tel: +44 (0)20 7637 2444
Tell them there is no beach and the whole place is a building site.

Keep us informed.

becky004

saveapenny wrote:

If your not going to get the holiday you booked ...i.e ALL the same facilities you are entiled to a full refund on all monies paid or to change free of charge.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/uksi_19923288_en_1.htm these are the regulations that goven package holidays.
Even if when you booked it said 3 bars and now there will only be 1 bar they hvae to let you change.

I rang them today still no joy, refuse to move us. I have now written to them quoting from the above regulation. Lets see if that works then I'll move onto ABTA. It comes to something when the consumer has to ring Mexico to get an accurate picture of the situation there! Will keep you posted.