Still Lying Through Their Teeth..... (First Choice)

Member Name: Superlexia24

Product:	First Choice
Date:	05/02/02 (671 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, and, Cheerful

Disadvantages: Liars, Cheats, Swindlers

It was a cold winters day, My husband and i practically blew into the travel agency, partly from the gusts of wind, and partly from our excitement.

We had picked out a hotel in Benidorm, going with Airtours, to the hotel Cristal Park, however, i was upset to find all the Airtours allocations gone for this hotel, a year before departure!! So we grudgingly went with First Choice, who had spaces left. The total cost of our holiday was £1,080. We have two children, and loved the idea of having an indoor pool and also going all inclusive, we wouldn't have to worry about any hidden costs.

So January 19th 2001, we booked a 7nt break to Benidorm, flying out on new years day 2002. In May, i recieved a letter saying that sky would not be available in our rooms, i wasn't worried by this. Then in June, we was told no video's in our room, and again we wasn't bothered. We paid our full balance in August, and a week later recieved a letter saying that there was building work going on opposite the hotel to build a new town hall. Again, i was not worried by this, as i had been reasured this would not affect me. Then in November they stated i would not get a clear view of the park, but i wasn't bothered by this.

Abruptly in December, i recieved a phone call saying that the building work opposite was so bad, i would have to be transfered. i was angry, because i was moving to a hotel with no indoor pool, and none of the facilities i was looking for. I was given no other options, so i had to agree.

So off we travel. The first problem was that the kids did not recieve their kids meals on the plane that i paid £10 for, even though i booked a year in advance! We was then placed on the 11th floor with a five and three year old, in a room where the windows would not lock, to my shock, and the bed was broken.

Then to my horror, after talking to a fellow guest i was told my original hotel had actually closed for r
efurbishment!!! I was now fuming, never had i been told that the hotel had closed, only that there was building work going on opposite.

When i came back to the UK, i sent a very long, angry letter back, and recieved a reply saying that it was not their fault and no compensation. Not even a sniff of an apology was given. Then after a phone conversation with them in reply to this, she told me i did have the option before i flew to change resorts or even destination. WHY WAS I NOT TOLD THIS?? The woman at first choice said to me the closure of the hotel in december was not their fault, but the club rep told me it had closed in October, when i put this to her, she told me the rep was lying. So i took it upon myself to ring the newly refurbished Cristal Park, to ask when they closed, and the receptionist informed me they closed on 20th october. So they lied to me! She then said it was my travel agents fault for not informing me of my other options, talk about pass the buck!! After a phone conversation with my travel agents, they told me First Choice did not tell them of other options!

I am now trying to battle First Choice for compensation, on the grounds they mislead, and deliberately kept information from us, as well as take our money for a holiday we did not want. They are also trying to pass the blame onto anyone but themselves.

My advice: DON'T TRAVEL WITH FIRST CHOICE, as you can see from the recommendations, First Choice is not fondly thought of, and i for one will never travel with them again.

Summary: