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Very unsuitable hotel, WWYD?

163 replies

GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 02:58

WWYD. please tell, it's a longish one

Booked a holiday, DH, DS(17), DD(2) and myself✈.
Explained to the travel agent i needed somewhere a suitable for both kid, in particular where DS could wander off and entertain himself alone some of the time whilst I could stay and relax with DD by a pool in a toddler friendly environment.

Committed a fair amount of money to having a nice holiday having had a dire stressful time health and work wise.
Arrived at hotel, over 100 steps, wound higledy pigbledy over cliff wihout bannisters, from property entrance to front door, virtually impossible with a buggy. No open spaces where a toddler can safely safely walk as everything is on a clifft top with no barriers or railings and sheer drops to rocks below.⛰🏞 The pool is small, is only deep, has no space around it in which to walk as it is stiffed full of loungers. A hotel with capacity for 950 has approx 200 loungers. And the poll is pretty packed with the poll from that many in. The suggested shingle beach is in fact a small concrete platform over more rock with ladders to the water. The "playground" is only suitable for kids aged maybe 8 years and is also surrounded by cliff edge drops.
Making matters worse, DD has serious dairy allergy, i checked in advance hotel had oat milk which was confirmed. The hotel have yried twice to pass hrt off with soya milk yo ehich she is also evtremely allergic- she could die. Despite this they ate oblivious. Despite caiming to stock the ost milk on the phone, on arrival they didn't even know what it was and I have to travel I hr to get it-i had space to bring it had I known.
We are totally restricted on what to do, we are at a loss. There is nothing resembling a beach nearby. We trekked to the nearest rocky scrap which is hopeless and without an inch even to swing a cat in.
Have contacted the agent explained the problem. She contacted the hotel who (surprise surprise said their hotel was totally child appropriate). There is even a hole the width of my toddler through the balcony wall-on the 9th floor.
Family is awfully stressull, I'm not in best health to be trekking in a sightseeg mission is really not what I need and that really unfair on a child who is only just 2.
There are 2, maybe 3 children we have seen here. The whole hotel, definitely the resort is catered towards the more eldery guest.
I know this is rambling. Sorry.

But WWYD?
We,re/I'm going a bit nuts; the stress is starts to show already😫😫.

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 11:35

@Soola
Erm..your point?

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 11:39

I don't mind not have v a beach TBH. I'd be happy with a pool for the toddler to splash in.
We didn't use the beach at the Abama recently, only the pools.
That's the standard I think you can expect from 5 star.

OP posts:
WhenOneFacePalmDoesntCutIt · 17/07/2019 12:04

I don't think you can expect anything from a hotel, you need to do your research.

The star rating is usually not such a great indicator anyway, it's more about facilities than luxury but it can be many facilities, none of them child friendly.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

MarthasGinYard · 17/07/2019 12:09

'The 'beaches' can be accessed down wooden ladders....' it says on one TA post.

I remember similar In Madeira

You needed to be Bear Grylls to get down there Grin

Was gorgeous though and you don't go to Madeira for beaches

Villanellesproudmum · 17/07/2019 12:09

Let you husband book? Seriously! Op just needs to do a bit more research, sure she is a perfectly capable human being.

Ali1cedowntherabbithole · 17/07/2019 13:31

There are very few sandy beaches in Croatia.

There are other hotels in Cavtat or nearby Dubrovnik. At this point asking for a transfer is your best bet.

LittleSwede · 17/07/2019 13:52

Sorry you have ended up in such an unsuitable hotel. As others have said maybe try to change for other hotel in same chain.

I might be wrong here but isn't Croatia sort of known for not having sandy or child friendly beaches? And despite being beautiful it's not really a place to bring small children as even the shingle beaches are steep and there are loads of rocky bits? With this in mind maybe turn it into more of an exploring holiday and less of a sunny/beachy one? Take trips out or look for local play parks and follow with lunches then siesta and once DD is asleep a drink on the balcony? Maybe there is an animal park/zoo or something to visit in Dubrovnik? Not the holiday you wanted but maybe salvaging a difficult situation.

DH wants to go to Croatia but having looked it up quickly (this was a while ago) I said no as it would be totally unsuitable for young DD. Looks stunning but those beaches don't look the bucket and spade type.

MiniMaxi · 17/07/2019 15:02

OP you aren't far from Dubrovnik, could you find a cheap apartment near there to move yourselves to so you can just enjoy your holiday? Tell travel company what they booked wasn't appropriate and you expect a refund.

It may or may not work but if you can afford to stump up the extra it might mean you're not so stressed.

GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 15:52

Some posters are misding my point. I didn't come for the beach at all. A reasonable pool with areas around it which is accessible from the road, not via a single buggy for 30+ guests.
Using a specialist independent agent has always been successful and I've travelled all over the world extensively. They should have reliable knowledge. I was unaware you could do advanced searches about children on trip advisor and have gone through loads of reviews. It's not like I've been totally remiss.
And for @soola's bizarre suggestion that a man is apparently superior, we booked it together, probably for the first time ever!

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 15:56

On mumsnetters, find me an ideal hotel and location. Place for me to relax with places for dd to run around and play with safe pool. Nearby to interesting town for DS to wander to. He likes walking. Must be hot. Must be luxury. Not super long haul. Not self catering. I have a house abroad and it's no break as it's as much work as being at home -No fun and no rest.
Challenge set!

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 17/07/2019 16:00

'was unaware you could do advanced searches about children on trip advisor and have gone through loads of reviews.'

Hi Op

Yes, it's really useful. Go on property and then put in key words of what interests you. 'Suites' 'pool' 'golf' 'toddlers''families' etc and it brings up all the posts where these words are mentioned.

You can also put in 'suite 34' room 'block 4' number 20' etc and see if anyone has left reviews if you know room location prior.

TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 17/07/2019 17:34

It’s pretty cheap for a luxury hotel - that would have has be digging for info.

MrsGrindah · 17/07/2019 17:39

OP..are you joking in your last message?! You have to research these things yourself!

stucknoue · 17/07/2019 17:41

In the future book a cruise, kids clubs, teen activities, luxury, safe pools, my parents swear by Norwegian whereas I prefer Cunard.

GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 17:55

@TheInvisibleMrsCrane its not my defjnition of cheap! Whats yours? On a par with others I 've stayed at I europe. 5k a week b&b is not cheap.
I've researched to the best of my abilities. Obviously not a genius like some mums that maybe don't work 24 hour days including weekends having so much time to research. I've done as much due diligence as I could and employed a regional expert. They admit they were wrong. If nothing else well get a refund.

OP posts:
GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 17:56

24 hours, no 14mean. Typo!

OP posts:
crustycrab · 17/07/2019 18:02

Bloody hell, you hit the local spirits op? Grin

Massive high five to you for working 14 hour days every day of the week

WhenZogateSuperworm · 17/07/2019 18:20

@GlamGiraffe

totstotravel.co.uk/resort/green-garden/

GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 19:17

@WhenZogateSuperworm
Have you been there?
Suitable for a big teen too with places to walk too? He likes art and history- churches, walls, pictures etc.walka for miles too. Abama in Tenerife is fantastic for small people but not much to do in the vicinity.
We've travelled so much and even before the toddler it's hard to find a fab hotel with good stuff around too.

OP posts:
TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 17/07/2019 19:30

I could book a week in August for £1653 - I imagine I would have got reasonably priced flights if I’d booked in advance.

WhenZogateSuperworm · 17/07/2019 19:35

@GlamGiraffe no I haven’t been myself but a friend has with her toddler and says it was amazing.

I’ve been looking myself for somewhere that’s suitable for a toddler but that you can walk into a town so that grandparents can have a cultural afternoon while toddler plays but so far not come up lucky!

GlamGiraffe · 17/07/2019 19:45

@TheInvisibleMrsCrane It becomes a problem when you have 3 adults to pay for though. Everything suddenly soars in cost. Gone are the days when we could take our son for a snip.

He's a family boy so it's a pleasure having him with us and his sister so I can't really complain.

OP posts:
MarthasGinYard · 17/07/2019 19:47

'They admit they were wrong. If nothing else well get a refund.'

Really

Wow

TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 17/07/2019 19:49

That was for a 2 adults a 17 year old and a 2 year old going on August 5th. Flights would be extra, but no where near the 5K you’ve paid.

TheInvisibleMrsCrane · 17/07/2019 19:50

That was for a 2 adults a 17 year old and a 2 year old going on August 5th with Booking.Com Flights would be extra, but no where near the 5K you’ve paid.