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Original poster

Dreading Holiday

81 replies

onceinawhilethere · 27/07/2016 12:37

Hubby has booked a holiday, I've been looking at the reviews that some of aren't very good, I'm secretly dreading it :/ What would / do you do if you turn up and it's awful?? Is there anything you can do??

OP posts:
justaweeone · 27/07/2016 21:42

Oh no!Shock
If you can't change accommodation and it is part of a package you could still book either accommodation elsewhere
Booking.com
Travel republic
Etc

MiddleClassProblem · 27/07/2016 21:44

Definitely not a family hol location (maybe off season?). So sorry op but at least you know in advance. Fingers crossed you can get it sorted x

Chewbecca · 27/07/2016 22:04

If it is with a holiday company, call them and try to change hotel.

If you cannot, I think you should use the flights that come with the package and book an inexpensive hotel elsewhere on the island,

Chewbecca · 27/07/2016 22:07

Stay somewhere like here instead

bringbacksideburns · 27/07/2016 22:50

Have you asked him why he picked that area? Or did he just not think?

When do you go? It might not be too late to swap hotels and choose a more family area?
I've never been to Zante but I think Tsilvi and two places close to each other beginning with A are where you may feel happier. Ring your tour operator?

ssd · 27/07/2016 22:57

how can you both be a lot older than 50 with a small child

unless its a grandchild?

anyway, change holidays op, sounds murder

mummymeister · 27/07/2016 23:24

Give the agents a call and say that it was an honest mistake. if you are older than their target audience they wont want you there anyway because all you will do is give their rep grief.

I really wouldn't go if I were you. you are though at the mercy of the booking agents and company. you might unfortunately have to suck it up. surprised that a grown adult didn't see this "minor" detail when booking. would be really cross about it with DH tbh because it will be no fun for your child either. we all remember 18-30 resorts - the vomit, the sex and the language. fine if you are all the same age together not if you are a family with a small child.

BarbaraofSeville · 28/07/2016 09:22

I googled the hotel and this seems typical of the reviews:

I really liked the location of the hotel, it was just off the main strip and to get to the strip you had to walk down a street full of bars and resteraunts. It was MUCH cheaper to drink here, getting great deals on fishbowls, shots ETC. I would reccomend 4play, a bar right opposite the hotel, offering sometihng like 10 or 15 euros for AS MUCH as you can drink till 7 in the morning.

What do you mean, you don't want to stay there? Grin

But seriously, what on earth was he thinking? Is he hoping to relive his youth? Does he realise what sort of hotel/resort it is? Why on earth did he choose that hotel?

If it's a package, maybe if he contacts them and explains the mistake, the booking could be swapped for another resort and hotel - I'm sure there are other places on Zante that are more authentic and not party resorts?

FinallyHere · 28/07/2016 09:33

It doesn't sound brilliant, does it.

However, i gather from your post that he booked it, as one task you could off load onto him. Sooo, please don't fall into the trap of rescuing the situation: that just feeds the myth that you do, indeed, have to do everything. Show him the reviews, as him whether that is the sort of hotel he wanted. If so, suck it up and if not, get him to work out how to rescue the situation. Ask yourself why you are doing everything?

Is he always this useless or....

apostropheuse · 28/07/2016 12:05

I accidentally booked a club 18-30 package holiday a few years ago. I still don't know how I managed it! Anyway, as soon as I got the confirmation I realised my mistake. I made a frantic phone call to the package provider and explained what I'd done, saying that I couldn't possibly go as I was 46. The woman I spoke to found it hysterically funny - probably because of my horror at what I'd done - and the fact that I kept saying, I'm 46! Anyway she was extremely helpful and changed my booking to a suitable hotel free of charge.

After she stopped laughing she said don't worry, it would have been picked up on and you wouldn't have been able to go anyway!

I hope you get it sorted.

BusStopBetty · 28/07/2016 12:21

The Thomas Cook site actually says its restricted to under 35s in the summer, so hopefully they'll allow you to swap.

Original poster
onceinawhilethere · 28/07/2016 12:45

Hubby is playing golf today so unable to sort it, we're supposed to fly Monday nice to know the prorities are there but thats another thread AARRGGHH I have mentioned to him he has a choice to sort it or go on his own Angry he'd probably enjoy that, and yes were both over 50 with a 9 year old child someone shoot me now Wink

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 28/07/2016 13:16

Omg you had a child in your 40s! How very dare you ShockGrin

Ssd, you're a numpty

ssd · 28/07/2016 17:04

oh behave

the way I read it, it sounded like a late 50 something with a toddler

SilverBat · 28/07/2016 19:58

Well consider it a lesson learnt!
YOU book the holidays from now on, no matter how busy you are.
It's the sort of thing my DH would do, that's why I don't trust him. Most men don't put as much thought into it IMO.
Looking at the reviews, I would probably be staying at home too - but make sure he takes DD, so at least you get a holiday of your own!
Hopefully you will be able to swap though - fingers crossed Smile

plusthree · 28/07/2016 20:07

I've had a look and it doesn't look the best choice for a couple with a 9 year old.
Can you ring the TO and ask them to change it? Even if you have to pay more it would be worth it. Or have a look at the cancellation charges.

Original poster
onceinawhilethere · 29/07/2016 12:09

We booked with 2bookaholiday they are saying were not entiltled to any kind of refund and they hold no resonsibility...( is this really the case?? does anyone know??)
Were supposed to fly on Monday, looks like im having 2 weeks at home :(

OP posts:
MiddleClassProblem · 29/07/2016 12:17

Oh no!

MiddleClassProblem · 29/07/2016 12:17

Is there any other options like pay a small admin fee to switch it etc?

Original poster
onceinawhilethere · 29/07/2016 12:23

Shes saying not... we called yesterday am... shes just sent a email to say cancellation before 4 days notice is 100 charge... Ive actually challenged yesterday and a flight at 13.55 on monday as being over 4 days.. ive told her we may just have to book something else ourselves and take advise upon our return,, ive documented everything via email so have a papertail as our deffence, not sure it will help at all Angry

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 29/07/2016 12:34

Is there actually an age limit - Ie under-35? If not, I'm not sure you should be entitled to change your holiday or a refund, if it's just that you've changed your mind about the hotel?

BarbaraofSeville · 29/07/2016 12:52

Oh no OP, that's not good. Problem is that at short notice, in the school holidays, there isn't going to be much else available Sad.

What does your DH say about it all - does he realise how inappropriate the hotel that he has bizarrely chosen is?

I've looked at booking.com for available accomodation on Zante for 2 weeks from next Monday and it says it is 98% reserved and of the 12 properties available out of 646 on the site, there are a couple of studios for 1600 to 1800 euro and everything else is stupidly priced villas of 10-20 THOUSAND euros, with one at a laughable 66k euros.

Bambooshoots14 · 29/07/2016 13:02

Don't think agents are to blame but if I was you I'd use flights and stay somewhere else, even if it takes a bit of a drive to find an available hotel

Coconutty · 29/07/2016 13:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Grausse · 29/07/2016 14:06

Laganas is a resort for teenagers to go and drink themselves silly. Like Magaluf or Kavos or Faliraki. Mostly big groups on post exam trips.
We were in Zante a couple of weeks ago and drove through Laganas. It was grim and is not a place to take children.
The rest of Zante is lovely with lots of nice family resorts. It's popular this year. We liked our hotel so much I asked if I could book for next year and it was already full for June and July 2017! Not even in school holidays!

It's quite common for Greek hotels to charge separately for air con, I usually factor that it to the cost of the holiday.

I think the best you could do is keep the flights and try to find something else on the island before you go?