Honeymoon holiday help!!!!

Madame_Sam

Hi all, thanks for taking time to read this, we've ended in a bit of a pickle!
We're getting married thurs 2nd aug and due to jet off on the honeymoon of a lifetime to the Maldives meeru island resort. However being over busy organising a wedding we've only just started looking into the holiday in detail (we did book on recommendation of travel agent and had a look on trip advisor which looks amazing) and I'm a bit confused.
We've paid a hell of a lot of money for this all inc trip but just found out in forums that were only entitled to the 2 main buffet restaurants on the island and that if we want to use the resorts 3 a la carte restaurants we will have to pay extra. So it's not an all inc resort really is it?
Also when we Booked it had 3 al la carte. Restaurants but as of may 2012 the forums mention that one has been closed down, should we have been made aware surely this is false advertising as the broshure I picked up today from the shop is still stating 3 restaurants.
It's put a bit of a downer on the honeymoon now as we're worrying about where we going to find the extra money from to try the restaurants so I'm calling travel agents tomorrow to see what they advise.
Does anyone think we stand a chance of them acknowledging their errors???
Really want this holiday but stressing
Thanks for your advise
Sam xxx

callum9999

Madame_Sam wrote: »

Hi all, thanks for taking time to read this, we've ended in a bit of a pickle!
We're getting married thurs 2nd aug and due to jet off on the honeymoon of a lifetime to the Maldives meeru island resort. However being over busy organising a wedding we've only just started looking into the holiday in detail (we did book on recommendation of travel agent and had a look on trip advisor which looks amazing) and I'm a bit confused.
We've paid a hell of a lot of money for this all inc trip but just found out in forums that were only entitled to the 2 main buffet restaurants on the island and that if we want to use the resorts 3 a la carte restaurants we will have to pay extra. So it's not an all inc resort really is it?
Also when we Booked it had 3 al la carte. Restaurants but as of may 2012 the forums mention that one has been closed down, should we have been made aware surely this is false advertising as the broshure I picked up today from the shop is still stating 3 restaurants.
It's put a bit of a downer on the honeymoon now as we're worrying about where we going to find the extra money from to try the restaurants so I'm calling travel agents tomorrow to see what they advise.
Does anyone think we stand a chance of them acknowledging their errors???
Really want this holiday but stressing
Thanks for your advise
Sam xxx

I've never gone all inclusive before - but is that not a standard thing at all inclusive resorts? You get all the basic stuff included but if you want extras you pay?

No it's not false advertising as it no doubt says something like "all info correct at the time of printing - confirm details before booking" - though if you bring it up (I doubt they know) then they really should change it.

I personally don't think they will do anything at all - the travel agent hasn't made any errors, they weren't to know it would close, and it doesn't really change anything much. Though as it's your honeymoon, you can try and negotiate with them/the hotel about getting some sort of hotel credit to spend in the restaurants as a "gift" or something - can't hurt to ask!

pennylane99

The Meeru Island Resorts own webpage tells you the all inclusive package is for the buffet restaurants, and does not include food/drinks from other restaurants

http://www.meeru.com/accommodation/all-inclusive.aspx

withabix

Almost every AI hotel I have ever been to has a-la-carte restaurants which are extra.

Similarly you will probably find that premium alcoholic drinks brands will be extra, the included ones being from the part of the world where the hotel is.

Incapuppy

I totally agree with the other posters, the inclusions on AI holidays can vary enormously; it is highly unlikely that an error will have been made with your booking.

Is this really worth stressing about? I'm sure you will have a fabulous time regardless of whether you eat in the ALC restaurants or not.

Enterprise_1701C

This is normal, we always go all inclusive and they normally have "better" restaurants you can use and pay extra for. It is easy to avoid things you have to pay for, just ask!

Have you got a special "honeymoon" package? If not it might be worth dropping the information into a conversation on check in - you never know you might get a little extra thrown in (although I would only give it about a 10% chance!).

Instead of fretting about what you are not entitled to, look at the overall package - it looks very nice indeed, and I am sure you will have a wonderful time.

In answer to your comment that it is not all inclusive - it is, it includes all the food and drink you could want. If you are worried about not being near a restaurant at the time you want to eat, then ask for a packed lunch - we have never been to an all inclusive resort that does not do them.

jillie1974

Meeru has always charged extra to eat at the a la carte restaurants. its stated n brochures too

Madame_Sam

Thanks for all your comments in the light of day it doesn't seem as bad it was last night, but I'm still hacked off (mainly with myself for not checking b4 booking) for spending all this money and not being able to have everything. I've traveled long haul many times and luckily all the al la carte restaurants have been part of packages. Didn't realise it was common to not be!
Thanks again x

budgetflyer

The food in the buffet restaurants is outstanding. Actually you are only entitled to use 1 of them as you are asigned one depending where your villa is. The food is identical in them though.
You really will love Meeru.It is a stunning island

If you are there for 2 weeks you may like to take the All Inclusive complimentary cruise for a couple of days

LEJC

Ive not been to Meeru but friends honeymooned thereseveral years ago...I have stayed at another all inclusive in the Maldives where it was just one buffet resturant and the option to upgrade the food to al a carte if you wished.

We went to the island with the intention of possibly upgrading if during the course of the holiday the buffet started to feel repeatative..it didnt at all....we had lots of fresh salads and many local hot dishes to choose from at every meal and every day either at lunch or dinner there was a cooking station where the chef cooked stir fry or something similar to order....

We did have the upgraded meal once,but that was more to do with the fact that our son wanted to try lobster...and if memory serves me right it wasnt that expensive either certainly not as expensive as a lobster meal would be in the UK...so what you could do is potentially upgrade as a special treat once or twice during your stay if as honeymooners one upgrade meal isnt included in your package.


I'm confident that you will have a wonderful honeymoon...the maldives are a wonderful place to relax after the planning of your wedding you will probably take off your shoes when you arrive and not put them back on until you leave.... have a fantastic time...

jtr2803

Good old travel agents and their endless love for Meeru (and Kuredu at that!).

It's the Maldives and AI there is absolutely nothing like you will have experienced or heard of in the caribbean, or even in Europe.

Your AI package will only include the buffet as stated and as I believe Meeru operate a similar AI package to their sister island Vilamendhoo (where I stayed last year) you will get one cocktail a day included free and four spirits - Vodka, Gin, Rum and Whiskey. All other spirits and branded spirits are chargeable. I don't think Meeru has AI plus like Vilamendhoo so your mini bar will also be chargeable (unless that has changed recently - it might have).

This is fairly standard for this class of resort and unless going up to the likes of Athuruga/Kuramathi select AI then you won't get any more than that. I hope you manage to enjoy your honeymoon all the same, the buffets are generally of a very good standard and we only ate in the asian wok once last year (Meeru has the same asian wok style restaurant) and we were there for two weeks.

My last bit of advice is that if/when you start looking to return to the Maldives, find a travel agent who actually knows what they are talking about. Almost everyone I know who has visited a high street travel agent gets recommended Meeru or Kuredu, is it merely a coincidence that they are two of the biggest island in the Maldives and Thomson et all have a lot of rooms to sell....I don't think so.

Just relax and remember.....no news and no shoes!