The Occidental Allegro Papagayo still shut?

[mr stacey]

Hi Folks,
We are booked to go to the Occidental Allegro Papagayo in a few weeks and, after we paid the balance of the holiday, we found out that the hotel has been shut down by the local Costa Rican authorities for pumping raw sewage in t the local rivers. We are still trying to find out if we still have holiday. First Choice Holidays didn't even know that the hotel was shut until we told them, but they will not give us an alternative so we can plan foru or relaxing holiday. Any infomation would help as it is rumered that the Occidental Grand Papagayo will be the next to shut, so where do we stand?

[d360]

I was just at the resort a week ago and they wouldn't let me in.. now I know why. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I would demand a suitable replacement hotel and if they can't give one I would dispute the charges with your credit card company and book a new hotel. Four Seasons is the only other open in Papagayo but really expensive. Interested in something more towards Tamarindo? I could recommend one.

[thomasr]

The news is terrible, the resorts were quite nice too although i have ready varying reviews from guests who have stayed there. It is a shame especially as they're denting the 'paradise' image some people have of Costa Rica.

I have to agree with d360, Four Seasons is extremely nice but comes with an extremely nice price tag whilst Tamarindo boasts a whole range of hotels for whatever budget you may have.

[Miettemeg]

Hi,

We are booked to go to the Allegro Papagayo in August with First Choice, we emailed them and here's the reply we got from them:

"Further to your enquiry, the hotel is due to reopen for the summer season.
If you would like to look at amending your holiday you can do so but this
will cost £20.00 per person amendment fee to do so. If the hotel did not
reach our health and safety standards we would not send our customers there
and would look at alternatives for you. We are not currently cancelling any
bookings to this hotel for the summer."

Any news about your holiday mr stacey?

[thomasr]

Hmmmmm,

i quote from above what FirstChoice said: "If the hotel did not reach our health and safety standards we would not send our customers there"

I really wonder what FirstChoice's standards are then. Only by going what other customers have said about theur experiences there, the seas are contaminated with the hotel's waste plus you can smell the problem whilst on site there. They must have pretty low standards to ignore that in my opinion. I know of a few agancies out here that are understandably refusing to deal with them again.

I really hope this isn't case anymore and that they are sorting it out.

[debbieq]

[We also have a holiday booked at the Occidental Allegro,for the beginning of May, and just the same First Choice knew nothing about it until I phoned, then the advisor said "it will be OK by the time you go " so just the same I'm worry as its not a last minute cheepie!
I received an e-mail from First Choice yesterday saying that the hotel is now open, but I've looked on the web and can't find out any information.
I have to say I would never travel with First Choice again, we have always travelled with Kuon before and will definatly go back to them!

[mr stacey]

Hi Folks,
The latest update is that after 3 weeks the Costa Rican Embassy has replyed to me and said, as of today the holel is open for business, The Occidental Group and First Choice have yet to reply, but is this a suprise as they both wanted this kept quiet. AM Costa Rica, web site see a few days ago that the hotel was still shut and there are more problems further south at Tamarindo. When we fly out on 2nd May we intend to push this matter further, and as for First Choice not knowing, what about my letter of 23/2/2008 and my e-mails on the same day, All I am told by First Choice is that they have 30 days to answer my letters, or is it they can't,answer it. Again us British are treated poorly as Occidental sort out it's Canadian clients first, yes I have that number as well.

[debbieq]

Originally Posted by mr stacey

Hi Folks,
The latest update is that after 3 weeks the Costa Rican Embassy has replyed to me and said, as of today the holel is open for business, The Occidental Group and First Choice have yet to reply, but is this a suprise as they both wanted this kept quiet. AM Costa Rica, web site see a few days ago that the hotel was still shut and there are more problems further south at Tamarindo. When we fly out on 2nd May we intend to push this matter further, and as for First Choice not knowing, what about my letter of 23/2/2008 and my e-mails on the same day, All I am told by First Choice is that they have 30 days to answer my letters, or is it they can't,answer it. Again us British are treated poorly as Occidental sort out it's Canadian clients first, yes I have that number as well.

Hi mr stacey

My husband and myself are booked to go to Occidental Hotel on the 2nd May also, so lets keep in touch shall we? As I said in my previous message I would never travel with First Choice again and really don't trust them, I still find it unberliveable that they knew nothing about this problem,part of the answer I received via e-mail was that as they only use this hotel in the summer so wouldn't have needed to check!!!

[mr stacey]

Hi Mrs Debbieq and Husband,

My wife and I will look forward to exchanging horror replies from First Choice with you, and any other passanger that want's to listen on the plane out to Costa Rica, With such a uncommon male name I will be easy to find. I hope to use local tour operators once in Costa Rica, stop First Choice earning any more money from us, and we are sure others will do the same, then post them here for others to use. Look forward to seeing you on the 2nd May, Mr Stacey and Shirley

[debbieq]

Hi Mr Stacey and Shirley

Thanks for your reply, unfortunately we already have a tour booked with them, we are doing a weeks tour for the first week then a week at the Occidental Allegro so they have already had our money! but never again.

If we hear anything else I'll post it on here.

Debbieq