Advice needed - Cape Verde holiday with Thomson

alphatango_2

Hi guys I am new and it's nice to be here.
Could someone offer me some advice ?
We are due to travel to Cape Verde for a 1 week holiday in 3 weeks time, and Thomson have sent us an email today stating that the hotel has started a building extension on both sides. The building work is apparently visible and audible from some rooms, and particularly affects the adult pool area (which we paid extra for).
As far as Thomson are concerned they are being courteous and just informing us, but we are not happy with this because we particularly wanted a relaxing holiday
Can we get our money back ?
Any advice greatly appreciated ...

DomRavioli

What do your holiday Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) state regarding this? I doubt you would get a refund, as you can still go on the holiday, although this is completely and wholly dependent on the terms and conditions you agreed to.

richardw

Is it a RIU hotel owned by TUI, the same parent/sister company as Thomson?

bigadaj

alphatango wrote: »

Hi guys I am new and it's nice to be here.
Could someone offer me some advice ?
We are due to travel to Cape Verde for a 1 week holiday in 3 weeks time, and Thomson have sent us an email today stating that the hotel has started a building extension on both sides. The building work is apparently visible and audible from some rooms, and particularly affects the adult pool area (which we paid extra for).
As far as Thomson are concerned they are being courteous and just informing us, but we are not happy with this because we particularly wanted a relaxing holiday
Can we get our money back ?
Any advice greatly appreciated ...

You need to enter into a dialogue with them.

State that you are not happy for the reasons you've given and what are Thomson going to do to resolve your concerns. It's unlikely to be a full refund but can they offer you a different hotel, a partial refund in compensation, or is there anything else that would help you to accept the disruption you're likely to face?

alphatango_2

Thanks for replies. Yes it is the RIU Touareg hotel booked through First Choice. Will speak to them and let you know the outcomes.

richardw

So TUI owned RIU and First Choice didn't talk to each other about this proposed building work before booking, which is very poor indeed.

HoofeHearted

TUI do not own RIU. They have a 50% share in it.

With the 1990s came the opening of RIU’s first international hotel. The Riu Taino began to welcome its first guests in November 1991 in Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic. This was the first step in RIU Hotels’ impressive growth in America, where it currently has over 30 hotels. The partnership with TUI was strengthened even further in 1993, with the creation of the company RIUSA II SA, with TUI and RIU each owning 50%, which operates the RIU line of hotels.

Source: http://www.riu.com/en/Acerca_de_RIU/historia.jsp

alphatango_2

My wife did not get much joy after making a number of calls to Thomson, but we did get a refund in the end after going to the 'Superstore' we originally purchased from (it's not local to us).
I think we were helped by the fact that the resort is fully booked so an equivalent hotel was not possible.
So kind of a result - but no holiday.
Thanks for the advice

Poppie68

I've been to the Touareg several times, the first time only we booked the Adults only section but found we enjoyed the main section more and frankly it wasn't worth the money...The first pool nearest the Adults only section is a salt water pool which is beautiful and it was always the quietest area.Maybe ask for a refund of the extra you paid for Adults only or see if you can change to one of the other hotels on Boa.

richardw

50% is enough of a shareholding to act reasonably with sister companies to share knowledge about programmed building work.

FBaby

Indeed, have you looked at the alternative on Boa Vista?