First Choice - sea view room, a joke!

London50

As a travel writer and a person that advises on problems the link below {second question} and reply makes a very good point

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/columnists/gillcharlton/6062262/Ask-Gill-When-is-a-sea-view-not-a-sea-view.html

callum9999

PeacefulWaters wrote: »

Here's the link in full for others to use.

http://m.imgur.com/1Hy7ScM

That's about the view I recall getting 20 years ago. Keep pushing them. You might not get £334 but you'll get an offer.

Out of interest, how tall is your husband and how tall are you?

If you don't have a view of the sea because of your height you don't have a sea view. I'd expect the small claims court to order full reimbursement. If not, at least the payment for the one person who couldn't see the ocean.

That doesn't change the fact that the view was there though - First Choice now even have a photo from a completely unbiased source (the "opposition") proving that fact!

I'd also expect the small claims court to order something back, but that seems like quite a risk considering First Choice told the OP that the view may be partially obscured by trees so they've technically done nothing wrong. You'd be pretty much relying on the court awarding damages on the basis it's morally wrong.

meer53

So do you think that travel companies should start asking people how tall they are before allocating "sea view" rooms ? Maybe they should put boxes in the rooms for small people to stand on ?

Your claim that your Husband could see the sea but you couldn't will cause much hilarity at First Choice.

PeacefulWaters

meer53 wrote: »

So do you think that travel companies should start asking people how tall they are before allocating "sea view" rooms ? Maybe they should put boxes in the rooms for small people to stand on ?

Your claim that your Husband could see the sea but you couldn't will cause much hilarity at First Choice.

If somebody of adult height can't see it I'd suggest they're extracting the urine selling that view to anybody for a price.

Those trees may have grown a bit since they assessed the suitability of sale as a sea view too.

LizardLady

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Do you have anything from the hotel confirming it isnt a sea view room?

Do you have a photo from your point of view or when sitting on the balcony which doesnt have any sea in it? This would have been the better photo to use rather than arming them with a picture where the sea is just visible.


To go off topic, I've always questioned the value of paying for sea views. Whilst honeymoons may be slightly different I've never found I tend to spend much time in the hotel bedroom so not been too bothered about what the room looks out onto other than for any night time noise.

This did change for our august bank holiday break where we went to Crete and the hotel beach was poor but we had our own "private" pool on the balcony over looking the sea and we spent more time there (with cheap drinks from the local supermarket) than anywhere else.

Still not convinced its good value in most places though.

I do understand what you are saying, its the fact that they have the audasity to class that as a sea view room and charged that amount of money for it, its is insulting and feels like as a customer I am being made a fool of.

LizardLady

callum9999 wrote: »

That doesn't change the fact that the view was there though - First Choice now even have a photo from a completely unbiased source (the "opposition") proving that fact!

I'd also expect the small claims court to order something back, but that seems like quite a risk considering First Choice told the OP that the view may be partially obscured by trees so they've technically done nothing wrong. You'd be pretty much relying on the court awarding damages on the basis it's morally wrong.

Yes a tiny tiny piece of sea is there but its the point that as a customer I feel wronged for my money being taken, and so much of this for what is a complete joke, calling that a seaview rooms is a p***take and I will not stand for it.

LizardLady

meer53 wrote: »

So do you think that travel companies should start asking people how tall they are before allocating "sea view" rooms ? Maybe they should put boxes in the rooms for small people to stand on ?

Your claim that your Husband could see the sea but you couldn't will cause much hilarity at First Choice.

I am not soley basing my claims on the fact of my height, you cannot look at that picture and think it is not an insult to class that as a sea view room and charge an extra £13 PP for it, I do not care if they will find it funny or not, its the truth, I am 5ft 4, quite an average height for a woman in the UK and could not see jack s**t, just the sky and the trees.

mgdavid

sad to say but the more you stamp your foot, and the more indignant you get, the more people will laugh at you.

LizardLady

mgdavid wrote: »

sad to say but the more you stamp your foot, and the more indignant you get, the more people will laugh at you.

I don't think I am really stamping my foot at all, I just think it is ludicrous that we have paid what we have for that view and feel it is unjust and will pursue until I received a satisfactory outcome.

bagand96

So you paid for a sea view. You got a very poor one. First Choice's T&C's cover them for this.

However given what you paid I'm with you and I would be mightily peed off. You've done the right thing and told them you don't consider the case closed. You now need to complain again. Keep it concise and short stating the facts and what you want them to do.

ABTA have a great step by step guide on how to take this further (obviously you're at step 2) http://abta.com/go-travel/travel-clinic/complaints As First Choice is an ABTA member you can use them.