Iberostar Dominicana...NOT UP TO STANDARDS!!

CindyP71 · #1 09-28-2004, 09:05 AM

So, after all this time, the Iberostar wasn't telling the truth (last week, when I called, they "claimed" the hurricane missed their resort).

I received an e-mail from our travel agent stating that she received a voice mail message when she got in this morning from last night, telling her that they are canceling this Wednesday's Punta Cana flight which I was scheduled on. Apparently PUJ is not up to their standards yet in regards to the clean up process they've been going through since the hurricane.

Because WE are canceling the flight, your options are that you can cancel with a full refund or they have indicated that there is nothing available until the weekend.

So, for all those going to Punta Cana (especially those staying at the Iberostar Dominica)... call and double check.

As a side note, the Iberostar is attached to anther hotel... but I can not remember the other hotel.

FireGuy · #2 09-28-2004, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CindyP71

...I received an e-mail from our travel agent stating that she received a voice mail message when she got in this morning from last night, telling her that they are canceling this Wednesday's Punta Cana flight which I was scheduled on. Apparently PUJ is not up to their standards yet in regards to the clean up process they've been going through since the hurricane.

...As a side note, the Iberostar is attached to anther hotel... but I can not remember the other hotel.

Both the Iberostars (3) and Rius (5) are side by side on that stretch of beach. What has started happening is what you are experiencing. First this is hurricane season and consequently the resorts and the planes are not full. Due to the impact of the Jeanne some resorts are closed causing even lower load factors for the airplanes fron US, Canada, etc. When the load factor gets low enough that the Tour Operator will lose money - they cancel the flight EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE UNDAMAGED HOTELS WITH RESERVATIONS FROM WILLING PASSENGERS.

You may want to believe the Tour Operators "company line" but it's all about $$MONEY$$.

Gregg

planner · #3 09-28-2004, 12:22 PM

Gregg is right Cindy, the hotel may very well be up to standards! They may not have had any damage at all but just clean up. The problem is the general area and the progress they are making....

hopefully things will get better

Robert · #4 09-28-2004, 12:57 PM

Gregg hit the nail on the head!

Tracy · #5 09-28-2004, 01:23 PM

You may want to believe the Tour Operators "company line" but it's all about $$MONEY$$.

Gregg[/quote]

I had 2 honeymoon couples scheduled to depart to Punta Cana Oct.4, with Vacation Express. Both were cancelled and are now going to Cancun.
Another honeymoon couple coming Oct. 25th and a family of five coming Oct. 29th. I went to the web site just to make sure the final payment had been posted on one of the bookings and found the flights to be cancelled already.
I never would have thought they would have cancelled their flights that far out, let alone all flights to PUJ being cancelled until Feb. 2005. Things just didn't add up until I realized their contracted charter service is almost complete and they will have a new charter company starting in Dec.
So IMO they are using the situation as an early way out of their contract.
The family of five have also been rebooked to Cancun, however my third honeymoon couple still want Punta Cana and are holding a reservation now with Apple Vac. with scheduled air and the same dates...

Tracy

CindyP71 · #6 09-29-2004, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireGuy

Both the Iberostars (3) and Rius (5) are side by side on that stretch of beach. What has started happening is what you are experiencing. First this is hurricane season and consequently the resorts and the planes are not full. Due to the impact of the Jeanne some resorts are closed causing even lower load factors for the airplanes fron US, Canada, etc. When the load factor gets low enough that the Tour Operator will lose money - they cancel the flight EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE UNDAMAGED HOTELS WITH RESERVATIONS FROM WILLING PASSENGERS.

You may want to believe the Tour Operators "company line" but it's all about $$MONEY$$.

Gregg

You may be right, but if that were true, the agency would have easily had the travelers stay in the hotels that "claimed" there was no damage. By doing that, the anency would have still made money.

We'll have to see how the vacations turned out for those who still had to go.

locofoto · #7 09-29-2004, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CindyP71

You may be right, but if that were true, the agency would have easily had the travelers stay in the hotels that "claimed" there was no damage. By doing that, the anency would have still made money. [...]

Really? The biggest part in costs of an all-inclusive vacation package is the airfare. If the plane is not full, it has a big impact on the tour operators profit.

I personally stay away from all and any all-inclusive packages. There is no such thing as a free lunch ...

SafireDream · #8 09-29-2004, 02:08 PM

Okay, Cindy, I am not saying this to be harsh but are you mad at the world about your trip cancellation? I have read your message on several threads. I know a couple who just returned from Iberostar Bavaro (one of the three in the Iberostar complex) and they did not have complaints. They said that the resort was surprisingly nice since winds of over 90mph and torrential rain hit the island. There were some minor damages that needed to be repaired and from their account, the workers were very busy making repairs. Of course, many in that area are still cleaning up. After all, Jeanne was a very destructive tropical storm/hurricane. It is quite possible that because the chartered airlines were not full as they usually are, your travel agency cancelled your trip. I know that my flight on AA is full so there will be no cancellations from my travel agent. Understand that natural disasters do occur and that sometimes we must accomodate "Mother Nature" instead of having our way.

Tracy · #9 09-29-2004, 04:56 PM

It is the individual Tour Operator or Airline that determines cancellations.
If booked through a travel agent, the agent notifies the client of the cancellation.

What tour company or airline were you booked with to travel to PUJ?

When they are the one's that cancel then you are given options on what can be done. I had 5 different bookings to PUJ with Vacation Express all cancelled. They were offered a full refund, another destination they had service to and comparable hotel, or wait until they offered PUJ service again..Most opted to go to Cancun, only 2 bookings were refunded.

My main concern was that my clients be rebooked and that they didn't have to pay another penny, even if the agency lost money.

Tracy

FireGuy · #10 09-29-2004, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CindyP71

You may be right, but if that were true, the agency would have easily had the travelers stay in the hotels that "claimed" there was no damage. By doing that, the anency would have still made money.

We'll have to see how the vacations turned out for those who still had to go.

You either didn't read or didn't understand what I posted.

I stand by my posting.

Gregg