Pegasus Tropical Turkey With First Choice

dud52221

I booked a holiday last June to travel to Turkey staying in the resort of Sarigerme with First Choice Holidays for summer 2006

This Hotel complex is split into 2 and is brand new and owned by First Choice.
For those of you who watch BBC Watcdog...this complex was featured last year as it was sending passengers to this complex when infact the complex was still under construction!!

We are travelling with friends who have booked seperately (One of which is a travel agent!!) About 3 weeks ago our friends recived notification that the flights had been changed by nearly 11 hours (we received nothing) About a week later they also received a letter stating that they had been transferred to the sister hotel Pegasus Palace as the room originally booked at the Tropical could not sleep 5 people....strange that as people who booked to stay last year had no problems....at this stage i begin to smell a rat!!

So i took it upon myself to contact First Choice to confirm flights times etc in order to book car parking....only then to be told that we too have been transferred to the Pegasus Palace as the Pegasus Tropical has been closed for the 2006 summer season....now smelling a bigger rat!!

This complex has cost millions of pounds and has not yet been operating for six months and first choice have decided to close half the complex (500rooms) with reduced facilties ie rooms no longer have seaview..no indoor pool etc etc.

Our friends have been told that they cannot cancel but can simply transfer to another holiday without any admin charges. There is no alternative being offered by First Choice and i have been told to check the brochure for other destinations, they also point out that any extra costs will be bourne by the customer!!....so much for booking in advance.

Call me synical but i'm sure we are not being given the full sp here and can visualise us travelling and finding a whole host of other hidden unknowns.
I am annoyed that we have booked since last June and have paid nearly £5000 for a complex that is only half open.

I have checked the usual sites Holidays uncovered and holiday watchdog and the comments guests have made are a little worrying.

First Choice still haven't replied to numerous e-mails...so i have contacted Watchdog as there report last year was quiet damning as it's like banging your head against a brick wall...no one at First Choice will give you a straight answer.

Apologies for going on but i just want people who have either booked or thinking of booking to be aware....personally i think First Choice are trying every avenue to secure current bookings....anyone who has booked for the coming season and experiencing similar problems i welcome your comments good or bad...those of you thinking of booking be warned!!!


Thanks