Arillas Bay Apartments 2008....BEWARE!

[GaryS]

Well after over four and a half months of dispute with Thomas Cook, we have finally received what they claim to be their final offer of NOTHING, ZILCH, ZIP and DIDDLY SQUAT. They take on board our concerns regarding our personal safety during that first week, but it appears in our view the lives of their customers amount to nothing during the current financial climate. They appear to say procedures they failed to follow correctly regarding questionnaires, reports from other guests and reps at the resort mean they can not offer anything else  (basically they are calling us liars) As for others, its been documented enough if you go back to the start of the thread by guests in the same position as us. Obviously the other customers moved from the AB in June and July did not exist, events did not happen and their decision to drop the AB quicker than an English wicket keeper was simply for the sport of it. We seriously pity anyone who really has to rely on this company in the future because from our experience they are not fit for purpose.

[sharonF]

How frustrating and disappointing for you Gazcaz.  Well, we all believe you and one good thing is that you discovered the Akti and its fantastic hosts and at least it hasnt put you off Arillas.

Also, that Thomas Cook are not a company we would like to book with again, (sorry joe, you are the exception!).  We are booking direct with Akti this time.

Really hope that you have a brilliant holiday in Crete and hurry back to Arillas in 2010!

Sharon x

[justphil]

Well said Sharon. At least this thread has opened opened our eyes to what can go wrong and shown ways to overcome it. That is really what the forum is for. We all felt for you and your family GazCaz, and all the others who were so badly affected. Without your regular updates, the whole thing would have disappeared under the carpet. It has been a tense and controversial thread, but I am glad it happened.

Phil

[Ang]

Just another hurdle Gaz Caz keep at them if you can principles.
Ang

[GaryS]

At the end of the day all we wanted from TC was a prompt and detailed personal response to our serious questions regarding safety and standard of accomodation. To this day we have had a series of in-personal robotic computer generated guff which spews out buzz words and phrases such as 'taken on board' 'fully understand' 'new procedures in place' without ever once saying what actually was done. All we have seen is the dropping of the AB from TC 2009 list. We are taking this up with ABTA now to try and force TC to explain our situation. Its not about the money, we still had a wonderful holiday, but that was down to the Akti and the wonderful people and restaurants of Arillas, who apart from the AB were superb in every department. You pay your hard earned cash in the hope that you get a wonderful holiday, but you also pay your cash in the hope that the tour operator gives a damn about you and your precious family. When you get the response we have had, you wonder if this is true. You can take other holidays, replace cameras and clothes, but your family and loved ones can not be replaced.

Heres to 2009 and another wonderful summer for the lovely people and resort of Arillas.

[justphil]

You are right GazCaz - we have been hurt too, but we still dream of our favourite place and will be back next summer. Arillas is still a fantastic place to be if you want peace, quiet, a fantastic beach and good food and drink. A slice of heaven...

[GaryS]

Hi all, as promised a little update regarding our fight with Thomas Cook about the errr, shall we say well documented on this thread problems last year.

Basically TC have washed their hands of it and ABTA, because TC offered us the "standard" pathetic TC £90 voucher with conditions of use (read back we are not the only ones to get this offer for a whole host of different problems) are also washing their hands of it and suggest arbitration. This of course costs us at least £70 just to start. Basically ABTA give you a reference number for your complaint should it not be resolved and they feel that the tour operator have made some kind of effort, no matter how piterful and this allows you to take it further at your expense...........bit like a crime number with the Police for the insurance man.....sort of fits well from our experiences Basically unless your holiday is cancelled you are p***ing into the wind on your own.

As you can guess we are not taking it further as £70 is a nice night out on Holiday. We will be back in Arillas, hopefully 2010 as this summer its a family get together in Crete, but Caz's parents have two holidays this year and hit Arillas in June, back at the Akti....lucky them

Thanks for all the comments and feedback relating to this thread, but for us this is the end of the very long moan. I hope the AB pulls it round in 2009 and to all you lucky people holidaying in Arillas in 2009......have a wonderful time.

Gary and Carolyn

PS we never accepted the TC voucher, would have choaked on it after all this