'First Choice' fiasco! UPDATE reaching crisis point.

fridgehead

We had a simular problem with first choice, we booked a last min holiday about 5weeks ago, and picked a nice looking hotel in mexico, they told us that there was work going on but it had finished.
Anyways we turned up and it hadnt been finished not very happy, sent off a letter of complaint just waiting now. Good luck with them

Voyager2002

Relax! If you arrive and your hotel is not available, or they offer somewhere of a lower standard, then just insist on an acceptable substitute. I suggest that before you go you research places there, so that you will know where to go if the rep is clueless.

Horace

I have been told by a friend who used to travel there frequently (he was part of cabin crew) that the Dominican Republic should be avoided. You cannot leave the hotel compound because it isnt safe plus they are not as hygienic as we are and they don't particularly care about broken sewers, insect infestation or leaving food out to be walked across by flies and other horrid insects. His advice to me was never go there as he likened it to being incarcerated in a concentration camp.

Sit in the travel agents if needs be and see if they can move you to a totally different resort preferably in another country.

Good luck

Voyager2002

Horace wrote: »

I have been told by a friend who used to travel there frequently (he was part of cabin crew) that the Dominican Republic should be avoided. You cannot leave the hotel compound because it isnt safe plus they are not as hygienic as we are and they don't particularly care about broken sewers, insect infestation or leaving food out to be walked across by flies and other horrid insects. His advice to me was never go there as he likened it to being incarcerated in a concentration camp.

Sit in the travel agents if needs be and see if they can move you to a totally different resort preferably in another country.

Good luck

Total nonsense!

I had a wonderful time there, and I travelled around by day and by night. I stayed in small hotels that did not have compounds, and were always welcoming. Actually, considering the gap between the rich and the poor I was astonished at how safe I always felt, and at the general lack of any evidence of crime.

As for hygiene: people who live in tropical countries quickly learn how to keep clean (otherwise they would be dead) and are often horrified at how unhygienic WE are.

Incapuppy

Agree with Voyager, total scaremongering by Horace (although obviously posted with the best of intentions).

If people were to be worried about such things as horrid insects they would never leave the UK!

silvercar

If you booked with the travel agent, your contract is with them. Pester them in the morning until they sort out a atisfactory alternaitve for you.

If the don't seem interested in accepting their problem tell them you will contact local trading standards (or whatever they are now called) and ABTA.

Saint_Chris

well i had a fantastic time in the dominican

the food was lovely, our hotel was spot on, the locals that we met were fine.

we did venture out of our resorts both day and night

but we did have a bit of caution about us at night, just like we do when we go anywhere,

i have caution when i'm out in my home town at night.

remember there is 1 thing that people forget to take on holiday

common sense

and i read your thread today on holidaytruths and i hope that everything works out for you

pattycake

Horace wrote: »

I have been told by a friend who used to travel there frequently (he was part of cabin crew) that the Dominican Republic should be avoided. You cannot leave the hotel compound because it isnt safe plus they are not as hygienic as we are and they don't particularly care about broken sewers, insect infestation or leaving food out to be walked across by flies and other horrid insects. His advice to me was never go there as he likened it to being incarcerated in a concentration camp.

Sit in the travel agents if needs be and see if they can move you to a totally different resort preferably in another country.

Good luck

This is absolute nonsense. We have been to the Dominican Republic over a dozen times in the last 11 years and have always had the best time. That is why we keep going back!

I am sure the OP is worrying unnecessarily. If the hotel is not available to them upon arrival, First Choice will put them into another hotel. As long as they insist that the standard is as good or better than what they have booked, they should not have a problem. Punta Cana is fantastic, they will have a brilliant time and wonder why they got so stressed.