Holiday Village resort

[Hammer_Up_North]

I was speaking to someone the other day about the excursions & they mentioned a catamaran trip & they have a water fight with another catarmaran. Anyone know anything about this or was it just a one off thing?

 

[Bodders]

GaryC, I would agree with so much of what you have said. Why the hell they don't audition for a local band who can do a residancy here I don't know. A half decent band who can cover most standard stuff, but perhaps specialise in music of the Caribean. eg. Reggae, Salsa, etc. First Choice seem to think that all we want is audience participation stuff, with some really camp bloke running around screaming out 'are you enjoying yourself?................ hey i can't hear you.........ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF?'.......... every song is chosen so that they can call out.... 'join in on the chorus here'......... GOD!! My vote is for a resident band for two one hour sessions every night & a once/twice a week 'special' such as fire eating, limbo, local dance troup, whatever.

Illness - I too have suffered the runs & I'm aware a few other people have, but in this heat & not drinking enough water, etc, I'm not totally suprised. When i went on a fishing trip last week i was told by a group of Canadians that some people had been sick at their hotel too. I think it was the Gran Ventana, so maybe this isn't a Holiday Village issue. Either way, I don't see an epedemic,

Cheers.

 

[garyc]

hi bodders are you still on holiday now how long have you been here i agree with you i cant stand that little camp bloke if he could sing it would not be so bad. Last night there was a young kid on stage who sang a song it put all the entertainers to shame he was excellent.

 

[Bodders]

Homeward bound

Hi Gary, we are packed & ready to go now. Just met up with Planner to pass on ouir left over books, so if you have any at the end, give her a shout. I'm sure she will appreciate them.

Last few hours of sun & swim now, so off back to adult pool to0 enjoy.........:bunny:

 

[GROGAN]

First choice really need to sort out their advertising.

I booked HVGB for my wedding as i wanted to get married on the beach. F/C stated that you could choose either a beach location or gazebo.

Now apparently the beach option is out of the window.

I am disgusted as I have always said I wanted to get married on the beach and now this cant happen. F/C letting everyone down yet again.

My dream wedding not happening as it should be GUTTED
kelly

 

[planner]

So sorry to hear this!!!! I am sure this is very upsetting for you! I am sending you an email or PM Kelly.

 

[Lambada]

Last night the assistant entertainment manager got a telling off in the restaurant for picking food out with his hands and not using tongues really he should know better

I have a very odd mental picture..........:laugh: I think you mean tongs.

Interesting that the person who posted later who is vegetarian did not get sick & others did. I'd normally say it was probably the fish but then having read that they leave precooked burgers around for a re-heat.......Unless that re-heat is to a sufficiently high bug zapping temperature, probably best avoided. If people are 'more than tourist tummy' sick get yourselves tested for giardia when you get home. If you're from UK be firm with the doctors, many may not know what you're talking about unless they're tropical medicine specialists. And don't worry, it is very easily treatable - 10/12 days stiff antibiotic doses should get you through just fine. One week later have stool tests to confirm it really has gone.

And just to endorse Martin Espinal. We've known him for years, he started off with a small taxi company & grew to become an excursion company. Nice to see the hard work put in by the whole family paid off. They did have some lean years. And GOOD for him, phoning a customer the next day to check all was well.

 

[little-n-luvly]

So basically as long as we watch the meat, eg check in the middle to see if it's cooked right through/smells ok etc and avoid the bird invested (lol) salad bar we should be ok! Which we always do anyway! To be honest it has actually put my mind at rest at least knowing why people are getting ill, rather then just a mysterious illness that "everyone" appears to be getting. Not, I say "everyone" as to me it appears according to this site alot of people have/had a bout of illness but I do not know out of everyoe who has ever been to the HV got really poorly.

 

[v.gadsby]

kelly i am also very upset by this i will call the wedding department at f/c and let u know how i get on

 

[CLOWE]

first choice

First choice are getting very good at stating a pack of lies, im also awaiting a call back from them ref the wedding location. she said if thats what is stated in the brochure then thats what they should do.

 

[v.gadsby]

i also called them they said that they very rarley do beach weddings and thay are normaly near the beach!? i am waiting for them to call in a week with some answeres

 

[ginam]

it should state that in the broucher if thats the case i only picked dom rep because of the beach wedding ill be very annoyed if i cant get married on the beach

 

[Dolphincaz]

Ok guys all packed and ready to go, we are leaving in 6 hours ouch we better go get some shut eye, whoever is at HVGB, see you there!! Will try and do a few postings to let you know how it is all going, hopefully we are going to be pleasantly surprised. Take care guys, chat soon. Caz and Ade

 

[BushBaby]

Grogan, CLOWE, ginam & v.gadsby.

I saw your posts on the Weddings thread first & have posted a response there.

http://www.dr1.com/forums/travel-questions/58907-weddings-32.html

DON'T give up all hope just yet! ~ Grahame.

 

[little-n-luvly]

Can any one please tell me what lades can wear in the evening? For example I have a nice out fit planned, short denium shorts with this flowing t-shirt thing so I wouldn't say I am over exposed. Would this be accepted in the buffet but not the a la carte?

 

[Bodders]

aranoid: little-n-luvly, I really wouldn't get hung up over what to wear. There is NO dress code for ladies & virtually anything goes. Just wear what feels comfy. There is a real mix every night, from shorts to posh frocks in the buffet, though most ladies dress up a little for the a la carte's.:cheeky:

Forget anything that leads you to think that this is a 4 star resort. That is First Choice's own rating (I believe). Believe me, the buffet restaurent is more like a big cafeteria, so dress down if anything!!!

OK, well we have been back for a few days now, so lets deal with this whole illness thing.:bored: As I posted at the time, I & my other half did have the runs. Diacalm sorted it as & when it happened & it happened only 3-4 times in isolation. YES, others had similar problems & some got a lot more ill than us, but THERE IS NO EPEDEMIC AT THIS RESORT!!!! First Choice are crap at organising entertainment, are rip off merchants on excursions & should never be allowed to interfere with the running of a hotel but they are NOT poisening
everyone. As I also mentioned in previous postings, i was told that there were similar travellers bugs at another hotel. We got our flight back last saturday evening with slightly 'wobbly' tummys, but had a good flight back. We travelled back from Gatwick by train & after arriving back home about 10am on sunday we were at our local pub for 12 noon for sunday roast & proper beer! We slept Sunday afternoon had a snack Sunday evening & slept well that night. Our tummies have settled & we have had no ill effects. Neither of us needs intensive care nor even a visit to the Doctor's!

I don't deny some have been very ill but:

1) This does not appear to be isolated to just the holiday village.:surprised
2) It is recommended that we all drink about a litre of water a day in normal life. I know i do NOT do that, so when confronted with a temperature far in excess of what we are used to, is it any suprise our systems break down? I drank more water than normal, but over there I probably should have done 2 litres a day & doubt I quite managed 1.aranoid:
3) Some do bring illness with them & planes recycle the air god knows how many times over a 9 hour flight.:cheeky:

So, If you are booked there, go to enjoy it. If you are NOT in the Royal Suites, be prepared for a noisy 3 star experience. If you want to chill peacefully, pay for the upgrade. Don't do nothing & then spend 2 weeks making the rep's life miserable & wasting your holiday. Just cough up or move resorts. If you do move resorts though, do NOT assume you won;t get travellors tummy!:bunny:

Right...time for bed......sleep needed............ or might have to book another holiday........... :tired:

 

[Bodders]

One of the things i reported on from the holiday village was 1st Choice's disgraceful tactics in trying to scare people away from using other excursions. If you have any contributions to add to this dialogue Planner started another thread on it & comments can be added at http://www.dr1.com/forums/general-stuff/61879-tour-operators-excursions-3.html The thread is NOT for just bashing 1st Choice, but to allow comment on what all operators are up to so far as selling or misselling excursions is concerned!

 

[lusky]

pictures

Hi all fellow veterans of HVGB, we returned the Sunday just gone and apart from certain aspects of the hotel (and a last night personal accident) the holiday was fantastic. Planner is the kindest and most wonderful person we have ever had the pleasure to meet and the afternoon we had with her visiting the sites was among the best we have had (dont let her take you shopping though)
As for trips we booked all of ours through Martin Espinol and saved lots of money whilst enjoying the same standards as those that had booked through First Choice.
Now a plea to anyone else who has recently stayed there. Would anyone have any pictures either at night or during the day of the area between reception and the buffet, alongside the fountain and the toilets? If so please can you pm me as I would very much like to have copies of these.
Take care and if your off to HVGB then enjoy and get out and see the real Doinican Republic with Planner.

 

[margee & pargee]

We are jumping from thread to thread at the moment, we have just been on excursions !
As mentioned on that page we changed from HVGB in January because of the feedback.
We went to DR in March and at the resort we stayed at ,we didn't meet anyone who had suffered with "tummy bugs" and so I am not convinced it is not a HVGB thing !

 

[coo]

We are jumping from thread to thread at the moment, we have just been on excursions !
As mentioned on that page we changed from HVGB in January because of the feedback.
We went to DR in March and at the resort we stayed at ,we didn't meet anyone who had suffered with "tummy bugs" and so I am not convinced it is not a HVGB thing !

I would definately agree with that. I spoke to many other people who stayed at other resorts and they were shocked to hear of all the sickness at HVGB!