occidental allegro problems

[kcciorra]

We are travelling to the Occidental allegro on 30.5.08. After finding this website last night, I am very concerned about the issues regarding the sewage disposal. I read all of the points raised and spent an hour trying to talk to a customer service agent with First Choice. i was adv ised that they knew absolutely nothing about the sewage problems and would ring me on Monday after investigating. I asked if their Health and safety rep had been to the hotel to ensure that it was safe for guests to stay there, and if so, I would like a copy of the report e-mailed to me. Quite frankly the customer service rep was trying to be helpful, but wasn't able to do anything to quell my concerns. I asked if I could be given a direct number to the customer services department, in order not to have to listen to 1/2 hours worth of info about toppings, but was advised that they do not have direct numbers?? I will be keeping a written and photographic record of our stay from 30.5.08 and will let you know how the trip went. If anyone has just come back from the occidental Allegro, or returns before 30.5.08, could you let me know what your experience was like. Forewarned is forearmed! many thanks!!

[mr stacey]

Hi, I have just returned from the Allegro and I can confirm that the problem has NOT been sorted out and is unlikely to be sorted out for some months. While there room 513 flooded with raw sewage and was left for over 3 days. When I questioned the general manager his exact quote was 'Thats not you problem, thats my concern' and that was after the smell made my wife ill. All he offered was a room change and let us see the on site doctor free of charge, normaly $200 for a visit, mind you the doctor was very busy while we were there, I think about half the guests had stomach trouble at one time or another. The smell comes from the sewage tank infront of block 14 which is next to the show theatre and it more often than not woffs over the buffet resturant at night. THey have tried to put in a new tank but have been stopped by the person who's land they were trying to use. They can only let out 120 rooms out of 300 max because of this problem but the benifit is you have a choice of sunbeds and get served at the bar quick but remember to take plenty of medicine as nearest town is 45 mins, $60 round trip, and I nearly forgot you have to walk down 38 steps to get to the bar, pool and resturant, that is not in the brochure. I have filled in 4 pages of the complaints form so you and I know First Choice ARE aware of the problems, I wish you good luck, and hope you enjoy Costa Rica if you can ignore the hotel problems

[kcciorra]

Hi, sorry to hear that the problems have not been resolved. When I contact First Choice tomorrow, can I tell them that I know about your experiences. I don't need to mention your name, but I feel very unnerved that they are denying any knowledge of the sewage problems. Although we do not want to go on a typical sun sea and sand holiday, and are looking forward to seeing the real Costa Rica, I was surprised and frankly annoyed to find out that the nearest town is 45 minutes away, again something that was not mentioned in the brochure. I knew that the hotel was "on a steep hillside" was not aware that it involved climbing so many steps. Do you know what your next course of action is going to be?? When we get back from Costa Rica, I will let you know how we fared and believe me, if we experience any problems, I will take legal advice. I read a different reviewers experiences of First Choice on another website and he was forced to take a small claim action against First Choice which they settled out of court, prior to this, they appeared to be very unhelpful and denying any responsibility for the customers poor experiences. Doesn't that sound familiar???

Oh well, here's hoping that things may be resolved tomorrow.

Many thanks for your reply

Maria

[mr stacey]

Hi
My first course of action was to contact ABTA prior to traveling, then see the rep on arrival, he is a good rep, John Baxter, as we met him in Goa some years ago, and registar my complaint, at the end of our holiday I filled in FOUR customer service reports, and now I am writing a letter of complaint, as it is a matter of principle that we should ALL have been informed of the FULL FACTS prior to travel. Some of the holiday was good, but not the bit with the Allegro, as the Genral manager found out. As I am in the T&GWU I get free legal advice so I am able to sue them for free, but my point is, it should not have come to this if Occidental and First Choice were honest to start with. I hope you Enjoy Costa Rica and the lovely people as we did, but insist on block 11 or 10 for your room, they are the upgrade blocks but kick up enough fuss and they give way. Block 5 is the one that flooded and 14 overlooks the sewage pit and smell, I hope this helps. Also I booked some trips with Swiss Travel, which is located just behind the reception, not the Hotelbeds desk, I found Swiss Travel offered better trips & cheaper that First Choice/Hotelbeds, one of the same. Have a good time

[debbieq]

Hi, we have just returned from occidential the same time as Mr Stacey and I can clarify that his wife was unwell, several people we spoke to in the hotel were also unwell, my husband, myself and the people we sat with during the days were fortune enough not to be ill, I don't know if this was because we were only there for a week as we did a weeks tour before arriving at the Occidential.
I have to say that we found our stay very enjoyable, our rooms were very clean with no smells, perhaps this was because we were in block 11!
The staff were lovely, very helpful and to be honest we couldn't find fault, but I will say I think First Choice are useless, we also phoned before we travelled and they knew nothing of the sewage problem, to the point of arguing with me!! we will not be travling with them again.