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Original poster

Feather Down Farm - last minute group split... Advice

461 replies

Nicky1234 · 02/08/2011 17:37

A group of 5 families has booked early in the year to stay with feather down farm and were advised that we would all be together. Now 2 weeks before our stay we have been advised that in actual fact we are being split up because a group of 2 wants specific tents and so it makes that field too small for us.
Anyone been to one of these farms and do you think it will be a problem, we have 10 kids between us, 6 and under, so I am worried that they'll disturb other guests (rather than all being together they'll have to find each other). Also though there is a brook between the 2 fields so we're going to have to shepherd them about and it seems such a shame they cant just roam a little free (poor loves get no freedom). Selfishly the adults won't be able to hang out in the evenings either...
Im also really upset that we have to split up as seems unnecessary and unfair...
Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions to put my mind at ease.
Thanks

OP posts:
ChaosTrulyReigns · 16/08/2011 14:20

What did it say lisa?

Willabywallaby · 16/08/2011 18:05

Another nosey one here!

TeamEdward · 16/08/2011 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lisad123 · 16/08/2011 20:23

we were lookingat booking a group next year but made it clear that because of this thread I wasnt considering it, especially given their failure to sort this OP problem. He said

"Dear Lisa
Mark here, the MD. I too regret the events of last week as a result of which I am reviewing our systems.

Should you decide to change your mind about your booking with us next year, please don't hesitate to contact me and I will handle it personally.

Regards"

ChaosTrulyReigns · 16/08/2011 20:25

Meh.

Not bad.

Smile
TheSkiingGardener · 16/08/2011 20:54

I think Mark needs to post pictures of what he did to his staff when he saw what they had done to his companies image and goodwill.

Then I might consider looking at them again for holidays.

TheQueenOfDenial · 20/08/2011 16:58

I'm shamelessly bumping this just in case the OP fancies updating us as to how the weekend went, whether there were any grand gestures and who the hell the couldn't be disapointed twosome were Grin

pamplemousserose · 20/08/2011 22:45

Bumpy wumpy

gapants · 20/08/2011 22:48

It is not really on that the MD now has to handle all the bookings though now is it. Maybe I might book, maybe not, maybe I will only book if the MD calls me up to confirm my dates and speaks in a german accent whilst doing it. FFS Just be professional with good staff.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/08/2011 23:03

Yes, I want to know who the other people in the other two tents were and why they couldn't be moved.

LIZS · 21/08/2011 09:14

Just got back form holiday ourselves and hoping for an update ! Thought of this thread when we drove past a 4* campsite yesterday.

PaperView · 21/08/2011 18:44

So he would handle your booking himself? What if you wanted specific tents?Wink I would want the MD to be looking into what happened and making sure it didn't happen again tbh.

WHere is the OP?

Nikkid21 · 21/08/2011 20:52

The situation was described on the holiday trouble shooter page of the times today. The follow up said that they had decided to cancel, get their money back and not go away at all.

NettleTea · 21/08/2011 21:09

oh, that is so sad.

LIZS · 21/08/2011 21:22

Definitely today's Times ? Not in my edition as far as I can see Confused

Doilooklikeatourist · 21/08/2011 21:26

Saturdays times , Travel query question

Nikkid21 · 21/08/2011 21:31

Sorry - weekend papers get lumped together in our house.

It's on page 30 of the weekend section of Saturday's times in the bottom right hand corner.

Was a bit surprised that time columnist claimed credit for discount and babysitting offer.

LIZS · 21/08/2011 21:32

Ah, didn't see yesterday's but I wonder how far in advance that column is written

TheQueenOfDenial · 22/08/2011 07:29

Wow - times took credit for obtaining discount and babysitting? Shock or was the friend a Times columnist? Or was this whole thread the work of a journalist....

...goodness me how the plot thickens!

vigglewiggle · 22/08/2011 08:05

I was wondering if the thread was started by the journalist looking for some leverage. Conspiracy theories abound!

NettleTea · 22/08/2011 08:34

well, if it was a journalist I am hoping for a big double page spread in the Times when we finally open!!
And a comment about how lovely canopy and stars was......

Hulababy · 22/08/2011 10:12

Did OP go away or not then?

LondonSuperTrooper · 22/08/2011 11:03

OP, where are you?!

Please come back & tell us how you got on!

feelingvfrazzled · 22/08/2011 14:10

Sorry not to have posted - we did all go away for a sunny weekend on the south coast and we had a lovely weekend with fantastic friends, as we all knew we would.

Fdf made sure we had beds made up, towels provided plus wine and biscuits in each tent on top of the 20% off of the group booking. The MD was very apologetic and sincere, I am working with the mantra "mistakes happen"...

Re the times we made contact to see if there were any alternative accommodation suggestions they could make. As far as we were aware they made contact with fdf to help resolve but no negotiation took place on our behalf. We haven't seen the article nor were we advised it would be used. I'll search it out...

Oblomov · 22/08/2011 15:36

Had to come back to this thread, after our week camping in Dorset. To find out what happened.
Glad you had a good time OP. I think you were, and are now, beyond generous !!
But I have to say that the whole thing, the whole way it was all handled, was a DISGRACE.