Hotel reviews forcing change

Jacko60

We have booked a package holiday with easyjet but recent reviews of the all inclusive hotel are very poor. On the easyjetwebsitethehotelisdescribed as 4 star but the manager in reply to reviews states 3 star Therefore I phoned easyjet and changed the booking to another hotel with better reviews.  This cost £400 even though prices on website are very similar.  Is there anything I can do to claim back the extra money?

Hoenir

Was your choice to switch hotels. The rebooking cost would have been clearly stated before you did so. 

Pollycat

What did Easyjet say when they told you that the change would be £400 and you pointed out the similarity in pricing?

How close to departure did you make the change?

Holidays Help Centre (easyjet.com)

bagand96

From Booking Conditions (easyjet.com)

12. If you change your booking

If, after our booking confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your holiday arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our best to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Please refer to the tables below for information about changes (including details of any amendment fees payable).

Any request for change must be made online using ‘self-service’ (where possible) or through our Customer Services Team, by the lead person who made the booking. If the changes are possible and you do not use self-service, there will be an administration charge as per the table below.  This is in addition to any increase in the price of the new arrangements including charges made by suppliers. You should be aware that these prices could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible.

When changing your holiday details, the price of your new holiday arrangements will be based on the price that applies on the day you make the change. These prices may not be the same as when you first made your booking. If the new price is lower and you make the change more than twenty-eight (28) days before travel, we will apply the reduction to the amount you have to pay. You won’t be entitled to a price reduction if the change is made within twenty-eight (28) days of travel.

They re-price the holiday at today's price when you make amendments.  So the fact the hotels are similar price today isn't relevant, if it was more expensive than it was when booked you have to pay the difference.   I don't think you'll be able to recover the money as it was your decision to change.

NoodleDoodleMan

Did you check reviews prior to the original booking ?

It would be useful if you could identify the hotel in order to check the range of reviews.

heatherw_01

You can't claim anything because the hotels reviews are lower now. There is usually a rebooking fee if you decide to alter a booking.
It was your choice to change hotels.
Unfortunately there is nothing you can do.

eskbanker

Jacko60 said:

We have booked a package holiday with easyjet but recent reviews of the all inclusive hotel are very poor. On the easyjetwebsitethehotelisdescribed as 4 star but the manager in reply to reviews states 3 star Therefore I phoned easyjet and changed the booking to another hotel with better reviews.  This cost £400 even though prices on website are very similar.  Is there anything I can do to claim back the extra money?

The change wasn't really 'forced' though, was it?

If you'd gathered actual evidence that the hotel was officially rated lower than presented by EasyJet Holidays (something more definitive than a manager's comment on a review site!), then you could have taken this up with them and requested a (free) move to a hotel of the standard you'd paid for, based on quantifiable measures, but if you chose to believe reviews and rebooked yourself then there's no comeback now....

Indout96

Without knowing the hotel its hard to say but beware of a group of negative reviews all around the same time all by people where it is their first review, also watch for the same phrase cropping up. This is possibly fake accounts set up to back the first reviewer in a claim so they can cite others saying the same thing.
They are normally reasonably easy to spot. I normally ignore reviews with no other postings and check out the reviewer if they have a lot of reviews, are they all negative ect or a balanced mix, then I take it in to account.

Jacko60

Thanks for replying all. I guess it is a lesson (expensive one) learned.  Unfortunately when my partner booked the holiday I didn't really look at reviews until it was too late to change easily.  Perhaps it would be better to actually go on the holiday and then complain but that seems to be crazy.  You have confirmed what I thought anyway so appreciate the feedback 

NoodleDoodleMan

Knowing the hotel in question would be useful.

"Perhaps it would be better to actually go on the holiday and then complain but that seems to be crazy."

No longer an option now.

Pollycat

eskbanker said:

Jacko60 said:

We have booked a package holiday with easyjet but recent reviews of the all inclusive hotel are very poor. On the easyjetwebsitethehotelisdescribed as 4 star but the manager in reply to reviews states 3 star Therefore I phoned easyjet and changed the booking to another hotel with better reviews.  This cost £400 even though prices on website are very similar.  Is there anything I can do to claim back the extra money?

The change wasn't really 'forced' though, was it?

If you'd gathered actual evidence that the hotel was officially rated lower than presented by EasyJet Holidays (something more definitive than a manager's comment on a review site!), then you could have taken this up with them and requested a (free) move to a hotel of the standard you'd paid for, based on quantifiable measures, but if you chose to believe reviews and rebooked yourself then there's no comeback now....

Most package holiday companies use their own ratings for accommodation.
TUI use 'T' ratings.

This is what Jet2 say about their accommodation ratings:

How we grade accommodation: All the accommodation featured on our website and in our brochure has been carefully chosen to ensure that you are able to get the very best out of your holiday.
Although the local authorities in each country set standards for official hotel star/quality ratings, we know standards can vary between hotel and apartment accommodation of the same official rating in different countries and even in the same country which does not give you a consistent way of comparing accommodation standards.
To help you choose your holiday, therefore, with hotels and apartments we feature our own star ratings to give you a general guide and to help you compare.
Our ratings are based on our knowledge and customer feedback of the facilities, food and service available at the accommodation, as well as the characteristic differences between accommodation types such as apartments and hotels. Our ratings are set using a scale of 2 stars through to 5 stars and represent a range from basic, good value, no-frills accommodation to above average, more comfortable accommodation with a wide range of facilities. 

I'd be surprised if Easyjet were any different.

Reviews of hotels and restaurants are generally subjective rather than objective.
Some people clearly have an axe to grind.
Some people don't like the resort so slate the hotel.
Some people have unreasonable expectations, such as "disgusted that there was no 24 hour room service" in a small self catering place.

Easyjet holidays doesn't have a great reputation.
From Which?:

Which? verdict

While easyJet holidays can provide an affordable beach/resort, all-inclusive, city, family or solo holiday package, it doesn’t excel at any of them. Several competitors in a similar price bracket beat it on customer score, with its customer service proving to be an issue of concern. It’s worth looking elsewhere.    

EasyJet Holidays Review - Which?

I'm not sure if the OP is an inexperienced traveller but I guess they have learned the right way to book a holiday.