Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Help! My paid for holiday has awful reviews what do I do??

40 replies

Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 09:12

Booked all inclusive in July after a lot of research. Some bad reviews some fine, like anywhere. It’s due a revamp this month so we thought great! However yesterday was in the daily mail (yes I know!!) people complaining of undercooked meat, huge queues waiting for food, supposedly rats etc.... what do I do? It’s been paid in full!! In 2 months it will be full season... do I wing it and hope it will be ok? I can’t afford to lose the money and pay for another one Sad

OP posts:
Devondoggydaycare · 14/05/2019 09:20

Did you book it independently or through a travel agent?

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 09:21

It’s booked through Tui? But from a Facebook page Iv been reading the reps there don’t seem to be helping the people currently there? My mum and family are also going and she thinks nothing we can do and doesn’t seem concerned....

OP posts:
Processedpea · 14/05/2019 09:23

unless they are incredibly horrific just ignore, you aren't going to just stay in the resort are you?

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 09:24

First choice not Tui. Yes we will be staying in the resort as it’s quite remote and we are only there 4 nights.... as it’s all inclusive we will eat all our meals there...

OP posts:
DesparateDino · 14/05/2019 09:24

Can Tui swap you to another hotel for a fee maybe?

What hotel is it? Quite often people wont review when all is fine only when it is bad.

Devondoggydaycare · 14/05/2019 09:27

I would definitely get in touch with your travel agent, explaining that from the reviews, the holiday you have been sold is unlikely to be the holiday you will get.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 09:32

It’s the Marina Parc hotel in Menorca. As I said before now some reviews were good some bad, we thought the bad ones weren’t an issue (people moaning about wasps for example as you get them anywhere) but this week seems to be an influx of bad reviews and people saying the same bad things? I could ring first choice yes but we chose this resort specifically as it fitted all the criteria we had. Kids will be gutted but at the same time with one dc that is autistic he won’t wait with long queues for food which seems to be an issue too....

OP posts:
Branleuse · 14/05/2019 09:34

I wouldnt do anything. Id go and just use it as a base if it was a bit rough.

DesparateDino · 14/05/2019 09:38

Just had a look if they won't switch you just go and document anything negative there. Take pictures and inform the rep of any issues then if it is crap you may get something back. There are a lot of nice reviews as well.

RottnestFerry · 14/05/2019 09:38

Not exactly my cup of tea but it doesn't look that bad on Tripadvisor..

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g672804-d502177-Reviews-Hotel_Marina_Parc-Arenal_d_en_Castell_Menorca_Balearic_Islands.html

TheCanterburyWhales · 14/05/2019 09:38

Menorca is famous for weird wasps. We called them "double wasps"

Remember that far more people post negative reviews than positive. We have a tendency to tap on when something goes wrong rather than comment when something goes right.

I always go with Tui and have never had a problem. Last year the reviews of the hotel I'd booked in Portugal were iffy "old fashioned, in need of a revamp" etc. I can only say I think these must be people who have shite ikea furniture everywhere and twigs and shit as decor because yes it wasn't fashionable minimalist hygge. But it was amazing.

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 09:44

I’m not remotely worried about wasps or insects, I’m just saying those were the only real ‘bad’ reviews when we booked and that doesn’t bother me. Also said the waterpark dirty but it says on first choice it’s being revamped ‘for May 19’ so again wasn’t concerned. People showing pictures of raw meat and 25 minute queues for food concern me due to dc? I can’t afford to eat out as Iv paid for all inclusive..

OP posts:
spanishwife · 14/05/2019 09:46

Help! My paid for holiday has awful reviews what do I do??

Not go on package holidays...

madeyemoodysmum · 14/05/2019 09:49

Helpful Spanishwife

NoBaggyPants · 14/05/2019 09:58

There's a bus from Arenal to Mahon, where you can then get buses to anywhere on the island. The hotel doesn't look the best, but I'd guess that's reflected in the price paid.

Menorca is beautiful. Make sure you get out and about whilst you're there.

redhotchill · 14/05/2019 09:58

You won't get a penny back from them afterwards but if you ring up telling them they've sold you a holiday from hell judging by the news they might switch resort.

At least it's only 4 nights. With the food queue issue, I used to get our meals myself before OH and kids joined me in the restaurant. Made things slightly easier when it was busy

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 10:01

red what do you mean? You went and ate first before dc? I’m thankfully not on my own as my parents are coming, we always go to restaurant when it opens de to the fact my autistic dc can not queue. I’m praying the people moaning about waiting 25 minutes as food has run out are the people who don’t go in when it opens in the evening?!?

I could only afford 4 nights plus my autistic dc doesn’t like to be away from home long. This is our only holiday so I’m just worried about it being ruined....

OP posts:
Everydaypeople · 14/05/2019 10:05

There’s some reviews saying it’s not as bad as people are making out.

redhotchill · 14/05/2019 10:06

No I mean I went into the restaurant as it opened, got a decent table and then grabbed food I knew we all liked (plated up food for the kids and then soup and bread rolls each for me and him).

So when they came into the restaurant (I waved Grin when I was ready) they hadn't had to queue etc and we could at least eat one course all together. It's a faff but the lines were ridiculous so was less stressful.

I've just looked at the reviews for your hotel and yeah, they look shite tbh. But I think if you arrive at the restaurant 15 mins before it opens in the evening you could beat the rush. As for undercooked meat - just don't choose that!

redhotchill · 14/05/2019 10:08

I do think it's those people that turn up at 10 for breakfast and 7.30 for dinner that are having the worst time. Just beat them by an hour Wink

BallyHockeySticks · 14/05/2019 10:16

Ring Tui, you've nothing to lose by asking if you can change to a different hotel. They are likely to put you off and reassure you about what is changing, but that too would be good for you to hear. Much better to have at least had the conversation.

Queues can often be minimised by going early or late. Get DC on a schedule - either be the first people into the dining room, or give him a poolside snack at teatime then a late dinner. You might even find after the bad publicity that it's suddenly suspiciously quiet, and the queuing problem magically solves itself Smile. I know it's easy for me to say from my sofa, but the publicity should hopefully lead to them addressing all these issues very quickly.

Branleuse · 14/05/2019 10:18

it doesnt look that bad to me at all. I wouldnt worry. Some people whinge at anything

Original poster
Inbedbynine · 14/05/2019 10:19

I have just seen a couple of positive reviews that weren’t there when I looked before, that makes me feel a bit better. I might still make a call.

Ha yes I was hoping maybe it would get quiet after poor press!! We always get there early for anything as it’s easier for dc so maybe we’ll be ok...

OP posts:
flissfloss65 · 14/05/2019 10:20

I’s be worried about the revamp. Has it been done? If not it could be going on when you are there.

ImpracticalCape · 14/05/2019 10:21

Menorca is great. Just eat out a couple of times a week if it's awful. Much to explore in Menorca and beautiful beaches. Cuitadella is gorgeous. No need to sit around a pool with a load of whining Brits

The reviews on google are ones that wouldn't bother me like this one. The usual 'no food for the kiddies', 'I had to watch my own kids in the pool', 'we went at 7.30 and there was a 'que' at the buffet' (the irony given they whinge about it being 'Spanish orientated'):

"3 days to get a smoke detector in the room, serving squid rings calling it “ onion rings” in the children’s food section, yogurts, milks etc are stored on modern fridges showing 15.5 degrees staff are rude and keep you waiting, if you make it pass the ques in the restaurant your unlikely to find any cups, plates or bowls except dirty ones if you do get lucky and find one you won’t find food to go on it but if you do you won’t find a table, the hotel is unkept they do not clean around the pool daily and no life guards around hotel pools, the water park only has a few rides operating every day. it’s Spanish orientated and they are catered for well"

Swipe left for the next trending thread