First Choice Holiday Rating Dropped from 4* to 3*

BlackJack1

Hi, the star rating on our £1300 holiday at Hotel Escorial in Gran Canaria has dropped. As we are clearly not getting what we paid for (a 4* hotel), are we entitled to recompense or cancellation and refund? Would be grateful for constructive viewpoints / facts, especially if you're in the trade.
Many thanks.

bagand96

The hotel's official rating is 3* and probably always has been. The tour operator's ratings are not official and just a marketing thing they put in their brochure and websites. They are quite often higher than the official rating.

As we are clearly not getting what we paid for (a 4* hotel)

At the moment you only know First Choice are marketing it differently. If it turns out some of the facilities advertised when you booked won't be available, then it's a case of not getting what you've paid for. It might just be a case of noting has changed at the hotel and it's just a marketing thing.

Have you spoken to First Choice? And asked them why it's changed? And confirmed if anything has actually changed with facilities etc?

Pollycat

BlackJack1 wrote: »

Hi, the star rating on our £1300 holiday at Hotel Escorial in Gran Canaria has dropped. As we are clearly not getting what we paid for (a 4* hotel), are we entitled to recompense or cancellation and refund? Would be grateful for constructive viewpoints / facts, especially if you're in the trade.
Many thanks.

Where are you looking?

According to First Choice website, it's still 4 stars.

It's 3 diamonds on Monarch and seems to be 3 whatevers on most websites.

I'd be more inclined to take notice of actual reviews rather than a rating given by a tour operator.
According to Tripadvisor it looks pretty good.

From the latest review on TA:

The hotel is currently a 3* but by far is worth a lot more,

BlackJack1

Thanks for your constructive remarks folks - it's just that First Choice originally marketed it as 4* and now it's 3* - I really wanted a minimum 4* hotel, with the expected services. Really not happy with it - could have got a similar holiday for a lot less cost. :-( I've sent a communication but it can take up to 8 days to reply to it and I've tried telephoning, spent a lot of money on calls to achieve nothing - I get through the initial screening, the call goes through, then goes silent and then gives out an engaged tone.

Pollycat

BlackJack1 wrote: »

Thanks for your constructive remarks folks - it's just that First Choice originally marketed it as 4* and now it's 3* - I really wanted a minimum 4* hotel, with the expected services. Really not happy with it - could have got a similar holiday for a lot less cost. :-( I've sent a communication but it can take up to 8 days to reply to it and I've tried telephoning, spent a lot of money on calls to achieve nothing - I get through the initial screening, the call goes through, then goes silent and then gives out an engaged tone.

Have the services been downgraded though?

What does it say in First Choice T&Cs about a hotel being downgraded?

BlackJack1

As suggested, I've just read the latest reviews and you are right - it sounds excellent. I never thought to look there - haven't looked since we booked the holiday last year :-). Thank you so much everyone.

Pollycat

BlackJack1 wrote: »

As suggested, I've just read the latest reviews and you are right - it sounds excellent. I never thought to look there - haven't looked since we booked the holiday last year :-). Thank you so much everyone.

So are you still going?

Maybe ask FC for a gesture of goodwill for booking a 4* hotel that they are now rating as a 3*
Are they really saying it's been downgraded from 4* to 3*?
Not according to their website.

And as this poster says:

bagand96 wrote: »

The tour operator's ratings are not official and just a marketing thing they put in their brochure and websites. They are quite often higher than the official rating.

bagand96

I really wanted a minimum 4* hotel, with the expected services.

But you booked a 3* hotel. That's it's official rating. It's just that First Choice chose to market it as 4*, but that's their own rating and is nothing official.

The First Choice website right now shows 4* (of their own stars) however underneath below the photos quite clearly says "Official Rating 3*". What's making you say it's dropped?

Reviews look great. I'd go with it.